Maybe it’s just the adrenaline. No, it’s not just that.
He’s confident and in control. Like he’s fought like this countless times. Like he’s been trained.
Uncle Lyle’s words swirl inside my head.
You’ve been sleeping with a New York gangster for the last few weeks.
Rowan kicks out one of the men’s legs and then rams his angled palm against the other’s nose. I shut my eyes when the man's face bursts with blood. But a second later, I’m looking out again. Both of the men are on the ground now, and Rowan’s pummeling one of their faces with his fists until the body goes limp.
The second man gets back on his feet and then falters. He spots a discarded gun and dashes toward it, but as he reaches for it, another dull shot rings through the air.
The man yelps and falls to the ground.
The bullet went through his hand. It’s now a bloodied mess.
I gag, pressing my palm to my mouth.
Rowan walks to him slowly. He stops right before the man. Even through the glass, I can hear the man pleading for his life, just like Uncle Lyle did.
Rowan kneels beside him, pushes the gun between his lips, and pulls the trigger.
They call him the Angel of Death.
I let go of the curtain and back away from the window.
He just killed him.
He just killed five men like it was nothing.
I stumble over something. Uncle Lyle’s feet. My hands are shaking, and I can’t make sense of what I just saw.
Rowan saved me, but I don’t feel safe. I feel like I’ve been seeing everything through a veil, and it’s just been lifted.
The door swings open. Rowan’s covered in blood, but most of it isn’t his own.
He extends his hand toward me. “Let’s go.”
I’m frozen still. I can’t move. His fingers are stained red.
He glances down, grimaces, and disappears into the bathroom. I hear the water running. I should run, save myself from whoever this is, because this man isn’t Rowan. I have no idea who he is.
By the time I manage to suck in a shaky breath, he’s back.
“You’re safe now. I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.” His eyes are burning with a lingering fury that still hasn't subsided. He grabs my hand and pulls me out the door.
My heart hammers inside my chest. I wish I could trust him, but how can I when the truth is finally clear to me?
Rowan’s been lying to me.
He saved me from Uncle Lyle, but who’s going to keep me safe from him?
CHAPTER 43
BLAKE
I don’t fight Rowan as he walks me to his truck, but on the inside, I’m spiraling. An atomic bomb’s been dropped, decimating everything I thought I understood.
Rowan murdered those men in cold blood. At least some of what Uncle Lyle told me must be true, if not all of it.
