I don’t know what game she’s playing yet.
“This base could be so much more, Dante.”
She stands straighter, stepping toward me, eyes gleaming like she’s revealing some grand vision. “Ethan was right about that.”
“More?” I grunt, rage boiling up. “You mean more chains? More cages for women like Aspen?” I saw the fucking paper; he wanted to turn this into a prison.
She flinches, actually flinches, and for the first time, I wonder if this isn’t what she wanted either. If it all slipped out of her control the second Roman stepped in.
But she laughs, and it cuts through the air, cold and mocking. It echoes against the walls like a ghost, and she shakes her head with a smile that doesn’t touch her eyes.
“What?” I growl, stepping toward her.
Her hand moves fast.
She reaches behind her and pulls out a gun.
“Back, Dante.” Her eyes blaze with fury. Real fury.
But I don’t move.
I don’t flinch.
I lock onto her like a target.
“What was Ethan’s plan?” My eyes stay on the gun, but I hold my ground.
She sighs like I’m being difficult. Rolls her eyes like this whole mess is exhausting.
“He wanted to build some fucked-up empire,” she says in disgust. “A kingdom of his own, where everyone bowed down andplayed nice.”
“And us?” I press because I need to know how deep this betrayal runs.
“The BloodHawks?” she says, mocking. “Ethan said you’d never let anyone else into the base, that you’d rather be like this forever.”
She steps closer.
The barrel of the gun presses into my chest.
My muscles tense, heat coiling through me, but I don’t move. I don’t even blink.
“You know Aspen was my deal with Roman,” she says. “I told him how obsessed you and Knox were. How she was the one thing that could break you both.”
Her hand tightens on the grip.
The metal digs deeper into my chest, but I stand my ground.
“He wanted her the moment he heard that. But I told him she could be of use, a weapon against all of you. It was a way to be sure Roman wouldn’t kill her. I did it to protect her! I care about her, Dante.” She almost pleads to force me to understand her actions.
My blood’s already boiling, rage turning everything red.
“You care so much you faked your death and nearly got her killed?” I snarl, stepping into her space. “Don’t fucking lie to me.”
“She was supposed to stay at the base with you!” she shouts, voice cracking. “That was the only way to keep her safe. You were supposed to protect her, Dante. Not chase after Ethan.”
She’s shaking now. Angry. Panicked. Like we ruined some perfectly controlled story she built in her head.
“You were meant to go after Ethan and find him dead. That was the plan. While Roman took the base and kept her safe.”
