Page 53 of Dangerous Promises

Anton's eyes well with tears, and though Freddie is trying to play intermediary, I can see the moment that his heart breaks as well. There's a reason I didn't tell them any of this. Was it potentially a good plan? Sure. But in the end, two people I lovedied for it. I didn't want them to know it was all my fault. I don't forgive myself for it and I could never expect them to either.

"What were you thinking?" Anton says, hurt flowing through his voice as he clutches at his chest.

"I wasn't," I admit.

Anton's expression is a mixture of rage and grief. Something I recognize well because it's what I've carried with me every day since. It sits in a box in my head that I plan to never open again. Instead, it comes spilling out here in front of our enemies as a lone tear races down my cheek.

Isla gives me a sympathetic look and even moves like she's going to come and comfort me before Alexei stops her with a small shake of his head.

"But I did it," I say, standing up straight even as I wipe the tears from my eyes. "It's my fault."

Anton watches me like he sees someone else in my body.

"Way to go, princess," Alexei says, nostrils flaring as he smirks at me. "You made a big mess of that didn't you."

"Hey," I warn. "With my track record, don't be so sure that you're not sitting right here because I planned it all along."

Alexei's eyes narrow.

"I can't even look at you right now," Anton says, still clutching his chest like the wound is raw and new. "Just, don't say anything else."

Anton doesn't look at me even as he walks back to his car and gets in. Freddie spares me one quick look before following him until I lose sight of them in the distance.

"Are you okay?" Isla asks. "I'm sorry, we didn't know."

"I knew," Alexei says. This time I feel nothing but hatred as he stands up and squares off with me, his big dumb smug face satisfied at the new mess he's created. "Anyway the dead guy mentioned something about a flower shop. We should check it out."

Isla nods awkwardly. "I'll ugh, meet you by the car." She stands up, stopping by him to whisper first. "Bring one of them, please. Working together and all that."

Isla leaves Alexei and I there alone, watching each other. Unsure what to say or where I stand since my family seems to have left me here with the man who wants to kill me. I'm not sure if what I see in Alexei is shame, pride or his ever faithful rage towards me.

He clears his throat. "It's getting late. You should go."

I nod but I don't really have any way to get out of here.

Alexei walks away but turns over his shoulder. "I'll have someone escort you out."

"No," I say, with an angry frown on my face, the urge to get close enough to hurt him rearing its head again. I feel drowned and betrayed and I want to take it out on someone. He seems like a good option. "I'm coming with you."

Alexei opens his mouth to argue with me, but my face is a pure challenge that I know he won't back down from. That fucking smirk. His fucking evil gray eyes. The rage I feel when he looks at me like that. I have no choice but to follow him again.

Isla looks up expectantly when we both head for the car, her features twisting when she sees me.

"No," she forces, dropping her folded arms and standing up straight. "Absolutely not."

Alexei shrugs as he pops his jacket on. "She wanted to come."

Isla rolls her head backwards on a grunt. "Just go and get Freddie," Isla begs, turning her attention to me. "Love you hun, but I don't want to play mediator between the two of you today."

Alexei gives her a look, and then ignores her, rounding the front of the car. I step cautiously around her as I follow him. My hand goes to open the door when out of nowhere Freddie does appear, stepping directly in front of me to stop me.

"Sage DeMarco," he says, an air of authority that I rarely see on him. "You are not getting in this fucking car right now."

The relief on Isla's face is palpable.

"We're going to check out a place we think Chet might be hiding," Isla explains. "Or at least, be able to find out more about how many people he's got. Find out what we're actually up against here."

"Alone?" Freddie raises his brow and scoffs. "Did the working together part slip your mind?"