“Isn’t it? You can walk away at any time. You’re not forced to be anything to me.” Evie’s gaze stayed steady, her chin liftingslightly, that stubborn fire burning in her eyes. “You don’t owe me anything, Aiden. If cleaning up after me is such a burden, then don’t. I can take care of myself, and tonight proves it.”
The words were like a punch, and I could feel them sinking in, twisting deeper. She thought she didn’t need me. Hell, maybe she didn’t. But that didn’t change anything—I needed her safe. And seeing her like this, blood-stained but standing strong, had me caught between pride and frustration.
I took a step closer, lowering my voice more. “You think that’s what this is about? Me feeling burdened? If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be breaking every damn rule I set for myself to make sure you’re okay.”
She softened, only a bit, a flicker of something in her eyes that almost looked like understanding. “Maybe you should start putting yourself first, then. Start thinking about what’s best for you, not everyone else.”
My jaw flexed, fighting the urge to pull her close and remind her exactly why I couldn’t walk away, why I would always care about her more than myself. But with everyone around us, I couldn’t do that, and I couldn’t do it even when everyone left. Instead, I forced myself to back off, nodding toward the exit.
“Get out of here, Evie. The body’s moved. Go home. We got it now.”
For a second, she didn’t move, her gaze lingering on me, and I realized how many things I would have loved to hear from her at that moment, but I didn’t expect any of them.
I expected angry Evie, who didn’t want to be told what to do.
Instead her words came like a wrecking ball, taking one more hit to the resolve I thought I still had.
“Thanks, at least,” she said, her words soft. “For always beinghere. Maybe I don’t always need you, but it’s nice to know I don’t have to do things alone.”
She walked off toward her car, Regan and Harper trailing behind her, and I felt the ache settle deeper.
She was grateful—she wanted me to protect her and some days I believe that’s what I was born to do.
But that made everything so much worse.
The blood dripping down my temple had dried, the small puddle it had created on my jeans and the floor next to me still wasn’t, but it wouldn’t be long now.
I had trailed after our target for two days—a gnawing hunger for success keeping me going long after I wanted to quit. I wasn’t even far from home—our apartment in Valeport couldn’t be more than ten minutes from here—but distance didn’t matter in a large city where no one knew where I had gone.
Rook and Evie had to have noticed by now when I didn’t come out of my room this morning, but it wouldn’t matter—they wouldn’t be able to find me.
The target we had been hunting down was nothing more than a criminal, a thief, a killer. I would be dead soon.
Rook and Evie filled my thoughts—the only two people on this earth who would miss me. The only two who would even know I was gone.
It was Evie’s face that stuck. We had celebrated her eighteenth birthday and she would never forgive me for disappearing so close to the date.
My favorite stubborn as hell girl who demanded my respect and attention.
My head lulled. I knew there were more cuts on my body somewhere. I knew I was losing blood, but there was nothing I could do now.
I wasn’t sure how long passed before the door slammed open. Probably my captor coming to dispose of my body by now.
My eyes cracked open—long, dirty-blonde hair filled my vision, followed by bright blue eyes.
I nearly smiled at my ending, but the sting of a palm against my cheek jolted me upright.
“What the hell?” I said, trying to get my bearings.
“I should be asking you the same thing.” Evie’s eyes narrowed. “Why the hell have you been here all night? And why do you look like death?”
“I think because I’m dying. Although, I feel like my last dreams should not be you slapping me—no matter how appropriate that is.”
She groaned and pulled at my arms. I hissed, pulling them back. They were tied behind me and I was pretty sure one of them was broken.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, patting me down.
“They took my knife.” My throat was raw now. “It’s over there on the front of that car.”
