“She missed them,” I say, half to myself. I remember the grief in her eyes. How broken she looked.
“She missed the power she almost had,” Knox growls. “She wanted to rule them.”
“She drew the map we found. Not Ethan.” Dante’s voice is colder now. “She’s been playing the long game, and we fell for it.”
I can barely speak. I’m frozen, mind spiraling.
“You want to know what she planned for you?” Knox steps forward, grips my arms, not rough, but firm. “She told Roman about you. She wanted him to use you as bait.”
“No…” I breathe.
“She told him you could have a normal life there. A boyfriend. A baby.”
I start shaking, trying to pull away. But he won’t let me go.
“And if you didn’t,” Knox leans in.
“Knox,” Dante warns.
I snap toward him. “Didn’t what?” I punch Knox’s chest. “Say it!”
He swallows hard. “If you didn’t do as told, she wanted to use you, pet. A woman with a soft face to make the men follow her.”
It guts me.
I saved her. I trusted her. I let her talk me into going back that day with Max, with Knox.I got caught in a trap because of her.
My eyes are blurry.
“Doll,” Dante whispers gently. Knox finally releases me, stepping back.
All of them are standing now. Their hands clenched. Breathing ragged.
“She used me,” I mumble.
“I think she cared for you… in her twisted way,” Dante murmurs. “She wanted you by her side. On her team.”
I feel bile rise in my throat.
Her team?
What? After she turns the guys into corpses? She thinks she can rule the base with me at her side, smiling like some fucking puppet?
She’s insane.
I shake my head. “When you find her… Promise me you’ll let me talk to her. I need,”
My body is shivering.
“Closure,” Dante finishes softly.
I nod, my eyes locking with Knox’s. “Promise me.”
“I promise,” he says with no hesitation.
I breathe deep. “When do we move?”
“Tomorrow,” Knox says. “At sundown.”
