Page 99 of Entangled

“Dominic will save them,” I blurt. “They all will.”

Alastair tsks. “Your Ranger didn’t even want these civilians. Do you think he’d risk his men to take on more burdens?”

He really does listen to everything. How much did he note that day in the cave—staying silent while we all bickered? Even as it makes my skin crawl, though... maybe that kind of shrewd craftiness is what they need.

DoI believe that Dom would risk his men for those strangers? I remember what he said a few days ago—“We can’t do anything for Sam’s captives—it’s just the way it is.”

DoIeven want him to?

I just got my men back. The thought of anyone being held captive crushes me... but I don’t think I could take losing them again. I won’t risk myself, and I won’t risk them.

Coward, coward, coward.

“No,” I whisper, but not in refusal this time. “No, he won’t risk it.”

Alastair’s grasp on my wrist gentles. “Free us, clever girl. Free us, and I’ll free them.”

I bend my head, panic and adrenaline seizing me. If I do this, I’m betraying them. Heather would never forgive me. Dom was so clear in his orders—he’s made it no secret that he expects me to obey them. He listened to me, let me reason with him, and made his decision. I told him I would trust him.

But Idon’t.

Not in this.

He’s making the wrong call.

Shaking violently, I nod to Alastair, and he releases my wrists. I scramble for the little multi-tool Jayk slipped into my belt, and it takes two tries for my trembling fingers to peel out the knife.

I press them to his ropes, and then pause.

“I need your word,” I say.

Alastair tilts his head. One eye is almost swollen shut. “I told you I would free them.”

I shake my head slowly. “Not that. I need you to swear that you won’t ever return to Bristlebrook.” I shift the knife until it’s against his throat, and take a deep, steadying breath. “And that you will never, ever cause harm to one of my men ever again.”

“Get that blade away from his throat.” Mateo’s voice is a flame kissing a Molotov cocktail, one lick away from exploding.

I press the blade deeper into Alastair’s skin, until even in the darkness, the blood drop glows. “Your word on it.”

“I give it,” Alastair says in his hushed, husky voice. “On one condition.”

I wait, expectant.

“If your men ever enter Cyanide, my promise is void.” He shoves forward, so quickly that I need to snatch my knife back before I cut his throat. “Cyanide ismine.”

Fear and dislike shiver over me, but I bring my blade to his ropes and slice through them quickly, then the ones around his waist, and finally Mateo’s.

I stand, glancing around as Mateo helps Alastair to his feet. The forest gloom stands in silent judgment, but nothing moves.

Keeping them to be tortured and killed felt wrong, but so does this.

Dom has a sore, vulnerable spot where leading civilians is concerned. If he finds out I broke his trust...

Guilt is already eating into my veins when Alastair turns to me. He’s still supremely injured. He might not make it back to the city anyway.

“This is as much as I can help you. If they find you, I can’t do anything.”

“They won’t find us,” Mateo says firmly.

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