“Maybe tell him that.”
But it was too late.
I turned before either of them could say another word, pushing through the door, my pulse hammering.
I needed space.
I needed out.
The garage door slammed open as I grabbed my helmet off thehook before throwing a leg over my bike. My fingers tightened around the throttle, knuckles white.
“Evie,” Rook warned from the doorway.
“What? You told me to take the bike out more, right? Just listening to your orders.”
“Evie, please, the last thing you need is to go out on that thing when you’re upset.”
I ignored him—ignored both of them.
Even when it wasn’tallmy fault, it was somehow still all my fault.
Fine. Let them think that. Let them talk about how to deal with me like I was some wild animal that needed taming.
I yanked my helmet on and revved the engine, the sound cutting through the tense silence.
Rook stood there, arms crossed, jaw locked, looking like he wanted to yell at me more.
“Evie we can handle this together,” Aiden said.
“I know we can, but just... give me a few minutes. The siblings fight—it’s only going to escalate now.”
He nodded, already knowing exactly what I meant. Aiden had been there for plenty of knock-down, drag-out fights between Rook and me.
“I’ll get him calmed down. Don’t be long.”
So I twisted the throttle and pulled out of the garage, the wind hitting me and the freedom of being alone more freeing than destroying their lives.
Maybe I was reckless. Maybe I did make bad decisions.
But I knew choosing Aiden was never going to be a mistake.
Chapter 41
Shadow
She’d finally made a mistake.
All this time, Evie had been careful. Never truly alone. Always within reach of her precious little pack. I’d watched her slip through too many near-perfect opportunities, her instincts sharper than I had given her credit for. But tonight?
Tonight, she was mine.
No Rook. No Aiden. No pack of overgrown, violent watchdogs at her back.
Alone.
Maybe she thought she was being bold. Or maybe she was just arrogant. Maybe she thought she could keep poking around, getting closer and closer to things she had no business touching.
Stupid girl.
