Page 60 of Duality

“Maybe you shouldn’t have been playing with your food then,” Evelyn shot back, holstering her gun and coming over to me.

“You’re one to talk,” Carter shot back, but all I could see was Evelyn.

“Hi,” she breathed, digging a pocketknife out of one of her many pockets.

“Hi,” I breathed back, all words escaping me as her sweet orange-and-sandalwood scent filled the air between us.

“Are you okay?” she asked softly, sawing at the ropes tying my feet. “I’m so sorry.”

I frowned at her. “Why are you apologizing?” I was the one who’d fucked up and trusted Finch.

“I didn’t catch his connection to Citadel in time,” Evelyn said, dropping her eyes to her task. “I missed it.”

“He was always a wily motherfucker,” I said gruffly. “You have nothing to apologize for. If anything, it should be me apologizing.” I swallowed roughly as she lifted her head. The gold flecks in her eyes sparkled even in the harsh fluorescent light. “I’m sorry, Evelyn, for not trusting you. For allowing my past to blind me. You didn’t deserve my anger, and I fucked up.”

Her expression softened, and she smiled. The movement lit up her face, and my breath caught in my chest. Something flashed behind her eyes, and the smile dimmed slightly. My heart dropped. I should have known that simple words wouldn’t earn her forgiveness.

“It’s okay. I forgive you,” she said softly. Wait, what? “Maybe we can start over,” she continued. “Friends?”

I didn’t want to be her friend. I wanted to be so much more than her friend. But I had to earn that.

“Friends,” I agreed.

“As touching as this is,” Carter drawled, coming up behind us and slicing through the ropes around my wrists. “We’re about to have three angry men descend upon us.”

I narrowed my eyes when Evelyn grinned sheepishly. “Did you leave them behind?”

She shrugged but smiled. “They were taking too long to come up with a plan,” she said simply.

I growled at her, and she laughed at me. I stood slowly, rubbing my wrists and wincing at the pins and needles in my legs from sitting in the same position for too long.

“Evelyn! Marcus!” I recognized Alexander’s voice from the hallway.

“Here,” Evelyn called back. She turned back to me. “Ready to face the firing squad?” She grinned wryly, and I laughed.

“Sure thing, troublemaker. You go first.”

She winced dramatically but faced the door, anyway.

Sebastian was first through the door. Some of the darkness in his eyes receded when his gaze landed on us all standing there. He swept Evelyn up in his arms, twirling her around before setting her down. His hands roamed over her, checking her for injuries as he scolded her.

“Evie! You scared me half to death! Next time, take me with you on your shenanigans. I thought we were partners in crime. You’re supposed to be letting me help!” He eyed her sternly, and she deflated.

“I know, but his death was mine,” she said softly.

Sebastian looked to the side and saw Finch’s body.

“I would have let you take the kill shot.” He nuzzled her cheek. “I just would have roughed him up for you. Maybe tied him up with a bow like a gift.” Sebastian had kept a tight grip on his darkness over the years, but Evelyn was bringing it out of him more and more. At first, I had been worried, but she also reined him in.

Adrian clapped a hand on my shoulder, squeezing tightly before he nudged Sebastian out of the way. “We’re going to have a conversation about you running off without us.” He cupped her cheek and frowned when he saw the bruises starting to form around her throat.

“Mmm… and what kind of conversation will that be?” Evelyn asked, pressing her body against him.

He barked out a laugh before cradling her gently in his arms, holding her like she was the most precious thing on earth. Which she was.

I was so engrossed in watching them that I didn’t see Alexander coming. He smacked the back of my head, and I groaned.

“Hey, a little sympathy for the kidnapping victim.”