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Evie whirls on him, pointing a finger and shoving it in his chest. “You don’t get a say in this situation. She came after me. I get to decide what happens here. You already took that choice away from me with six others.”
Damien looks legitimately frightened by her and I think I am too. I try to approach her, but when she turns those hardened eyes on me, I freeze in my steps.
“You don’t know what it’s like out there for us,” Evie says. “We have to work twice as hard and prove ourselves twice as often. I’m giving her a chance to own up to her mistakes. And now that I’m aware that this entire mother fucking island wants to see me suffer, I’ll be prepared.” She turns back to Nessa. “What’s your choice?”
Nessa looks from Evie to Damien and I. “Will you honor her deal? If I choose a fair fight, will you let me walk away?” she asks us.
I’ve never been too keen on torture, but Evie brings a protective side out of me I never knew existed. I don’t want Nessa to walk out of here, but Evie’s words resonate with me. I don’t know what it’s like to be a woman in our world, and I can’t imagine the pressure they must feel. It doesn’t excuse what she did, but it definitely brings a new perspective.
“If you leave Evie alone, I have no reason to wish you further harm,” I concede.
Damien looks at me with anger clear on his face, but Evie turns to him and takes his hand in hers. She leans into him and whispers in his ear. His jaw tightens, but he eventually relents.
“Okay, Little Shadow,” he says, kissing her hand as a breath of defeat leaves him. “I’ll honor your deal.”
Nessa looks relieved as she turns to face Evie. “I’ll take the fair fight.”
???
We leave the room after letting Nessa go, stepping out into the cool night air. Evie stands between Damien and I as we walk up to the cars. We all decide we need rest before she deals with Slade.
“Thank you,” she breathes, leaning into me.
Her hand reaches out for Damien’s as I wrap my arm around her. “You’re going to make an incredible leader one day,” I tell her.
We stop in front of my car and she looks up at me. “What makes you say that?”
“Not many people choose mercy when revenge is within their reach.” I wrap my arms around her, hugging her close. “What did you say to Damien to make him agree?”
Damien slides up behind her, caging her between us. “I told him my plan. The entire island wants to see me on my knees right now, and showing mercy can be a great way to bring more people to your side.” She shrugs. “It could backfire, but I don’t think it will. Nessa is strong. I think she just needed to be reminded of the power she can wield. She’s not her father’s plaything. We’re here to learn to take over and be better so our organizations can grow.”
“That’s why you’re going to be great,” I tell her, lifting her chin so she looks up at me. “You can think outside of yourself, and that holds power.” I kiss her lips gently.
Watching her beat the shit out of Nessa was exhilarating. It reminded me just how much she holds back in the classroom. Even using the basic techniques and no more, she had Nessa tapping out in less than sixty seconds.
“I’m gonna go on a run,” I tell her. “Damien will take you back so you can shower and get some rest.” I kiss her forehead and untangle my arms from around her. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Damien pulls her along to his car while she watches me drive off. I could tell Evie wasn’t ready to deal with Slade, but I am. I didn’t lie when I said I was going to go on a run, that part is just going to come after I pay our little friend a visit. I’m not the violent one out of the three of us, but tonight my anger is coming back to me, and I know there’s no way I’ll be able to talk to Alexi until I work through it.
Chapter 44
We drive back to the suite in comfortable silence. Damien is holding my hand with his thumb rubbing circles. It never ceases to amaze me just how much that simple act can put me at ease. By the time we get to the suite, my bones feel tired. I knew fighting Nessa would make my body feel worse, but I had to give her a shot to prove herself, and I had to make it up to her that I didn’t fight fair.
I’m not the kind of person who won’t own up to my mistakes. If I took it too far, I want to be called out, and I clearly took it too far with her. I hardly remember that day, but I do remember the instructor pulling me off of her. My mind flashes back to the moment, like a light switch flicking in my head.
My hands are around her throat, her arms and body pinned beneath me as she wiggles her body, trying to get free. I know it’s not Alexi, I know in my soul it’s not him. But I want it to be. I want to make him feel weak, I want him to see he didn’t break me and that I plan to fight back.
My nails dig into the person's throat below me. People around me are yelling, but I can’t hear them. I can’t even see them. All I see is Alexi’s body paling, life leaving him as his lips turn blue, the panic setting into his deep blue eyes, knowing there's nothing he can do. He’s at my mercy. Mine.
Suddenly, I’m being pulled off of him and a snarl leaves my throat as I come back to myself.
“Get your shit together, James, or you’re out of here,” Savage says in my ear.
The curtain over my mind finally lifts, and I look down to see a girl gasping for air beneath me. At first, I don’t understand. Then Lev is there, putting his arm around my back and walking me out.
“It’s okay, we’re just gonna go for a run,” he says.
“Little Shadow?” Damien asks, squeezing my hand, pulling me from the memory.
