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He spins, heading down the dock.
“We have to get off this island,” he tells me as I instinctively follow after him.
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere safe.” He hops down into the same boat that Danny attempted to flee in, holding his hands up to help me down.
I cringe at the sight of Danny’s blood on the floor from when Mateo shot the gun out of his hand, the vision of the back of his head once again flashing through my mind. I sway, still feeling nauseous.
Mateo starts the boat then glances over his shoulder at me. He must see something worrisome on my face because seconds later, he’s moving toward me.
“You shot him.” Part of me still can’t believe that.
Why is that so impossible to wrap my head around?
He’s the head of a cartel. He’s probably killed hundreds of people before. But seeing it? It changes things somehow. Like I’m finally starting to see past the man I hoped he was to the man he truly is.
“I didn’t have a choice.”
“There’s always a choice,” I argue, stumbling backward when he moves closer. My legs hit the bench seat and I topple over, my butt landing on the thinly padded seat.
“Why are you looking at me like you’re afraid of me?” He seems almost hurt by my reaction to him.
“Because Iamafraid of you.” My chin quivers as the events of the evening start to settle over me like a dark blanket.
Niko. Danny.
I’ve never seen a dead body before, let alone two. And to have one man killed in front of my very eyes... I can’t shake the sight of it.
“After everything... You still don’t see it, do you?”
“See what?”
“That I’m trying to protect you.”
“Protect me,” I choke. “Is that what you call it?” I shake my head violently. “Ihada choice. To trust Danny or to trust you. I chose you.”
“I’m glad you did.”
“I chose wrong.”
I don’t miss the dark expression that slides over his handsome face.
He opens his mouth to respond, but snaps it closed, something drawing his attention away from me.
And that’s when I see them. Dimitri and Norma, quickly making their way down the dock toward us. Norma has a floral bag clenched at her chest, her face flushed and panicked as she tries to keep up with Dimitri’s long stride.
“You can choose to think I’m a monster.” My gaze flips back to Mateo when he starts to speak again. “I am. But I’m the monster who’s trying to keep you alive.”
With one final sweep of his dark eyes, he turns, helping Norma into the boat.
“The men are gathered on the roof. Anyone comes within a hundred yards of the shore and they’ll be greeted with a bullet between the eyes,” Dimitri informs Mateo.
“Good.” Mateo gives him a stiff nod.
“You want me to stay behind?”
“No, get in. I need you with me.”
