Page 109 of Split You Open

“Rhett,” Blair says on a sigh. “Talk to us.”

“There’s nothing to talk about except telling us what you want as your prize.” I flash her a smile. It feels silted. “You’re in charge tonight.”

Blair doesn’t smile back. The life doesn’t come back into her eyes either.

“You’re not in the right head space to play, Rhett,” she replies, her answer clipped. “Maybe we should head home.”

I recoil. “What? No. I’m fine.”

“Bullshit,” Santi snaps.

“Oh, it’s bullshit?” I clap back as anger surges forward. Glaring at him, I step forward to get into his face. “And what about you? I can tell something is eating at you but you haven’t spoken up!”

Santi’s mouth pulls into a large grin, but it doesn’t warm his eyes or brighten the features on his face.

“Me? You want to know what's up with me?” He whirls around and storms over to Blair. Blair watches him approach but doesn't react as he stops in front of her. She simply looks up at him expectantly.

“What’s up, Santi?” she asks.

“Why’d you do it?”

She frowns. “Do what?”

“Claim him.”

“Claim him?” She repeats as her brows draw together. “What are you⁠—”

“You carved your name into that traitor’s skin! Even after everything he’s put you through!” Santi shouts, surprising Blair and me.

Her arms drop to her sides and her eyes narrow. I know she wouldn’t hurt Santi but the way her eyes flash with a challenge makes me nervous all the same. I’ve seen this woman in action. It’s impressive and terrifying and she’s fast.

I shuffle forward a few inches in case I have to separate the two of them

Blair tilts her head. “Why shouldn’t I have done it?”

“Because Ledger doesn’t deserve your claim! Why would you carve your name into his skin when it belongs on mine!?”

Blair blinks, looking about as stunned as I feel, then a small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth.

“Don’t tell me you're jealous?”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “Maybe.”

“Santi…” Blair let’s out a nervous laugh as she stares at him with bewilderment. “I mutilated Ledger’s body.”

“That’s not mutilation—your name is art.”

Blair scoffs, then glances my way looking for help. I simply shrug, just as lost as she is in this. When she looks back at Santi, she shakes her head. “Santi⁠—”

“I want that!” he bellows, his words carrying throughout the dark woods. “I want your name on my body. And yours!” Santi looks over his shoulder at me, his eyes alight with anger. “Why don’t I have either of your names carved into my skin yet? What do I have to do to get that type of⁠—”

Blair reaches up and presses her finger to his lips, settling him down. Her smile grows incrementally. When she blinks, that empty void in her eyes fills with life again. The smile on her face is warm and genuine.

“Santi, I would be happy to carve my name into your flesh. If I knew this was something you wanted, it would’ve already been done.”

The tension in Santi’s body drops away like a stone.

“Yeah? You will?”