“And what? Killed me?” I growl. “Because we both know Knox would never leave her behind alone, I would’ve been here when Roman attacked the base, and there is no way in hell Roman would keep me alive.”
Her mouth opens then closes.
She doesn’t deny it.
“Roman will rape her, Bryn!” I roar, the words ripping through the room like shrapnel. “He’ll destroy her!”
My fists clench. My body trembles with fury.
And she juststands there.
“We made a deal,” she says. “He needs me as much as I need him.”
She steps back, slipping the gun into the back of her leggings.
“Why do you think you’re still alive, Dante?” Her gaze flickers. “Because I told him not to kill you. BecauseIsaid you were needed for now.”
Like that’s supposed to make this okay. Like keeping me breathing makes her some kind of savior.
“Knox hates me,” she mutters, quieter now. “If I went back to the base, I’d have to live under his rules again. Never having a say in anything! That’s not me, Dante. I am not the submissive woman you think I am. I am not Aspen!”
I shake my head, jaw clenched so tight it aches.She’s fucking insane.
“Knox would never hurt you. He was devastated when Aspen told us you were dead.”
And this, this is what it all boils down to?
A grudge. A power trip. A twisted fantasy of control?
All this chaos, all this betrayal because she couldn’t have her opinion heard?
She never even tried to give an opinion. We would say “jump” and she would ask, “how high?”
“What are you, twelve?” I snap.
Her eyes flash. “Ethan wasright!” she yells. “We can’t live like this forever, just the seven of us playing house while the rest of the world burns! You think that’s survival?! That’s delusion!”
“The fucking world barely exists, Bryn!” I shout, stepping toward her. “Everyone out there is dead or trying to kill. You and Ethan were safe with us!”
She turns, like she’s done with the conversation, like it’sbeneathher, but I grab her arm and spin her back.
“Don’t let Aspen come here.” I grunt, trying to contain the urge to snap her neck. “You don’t know Roman like I do. You think you can control him, that he will bend over pussy! He’s evil, Bryn. He’ll chew up and spit out whatever is left; that includes you!”
Her eyes find mine.
And for a second I see it.
Worry.
But it’s gone just as fast; the mask clicks back into place.
“I promise nothing will happen to her,” she says, yanking her arm from my grasp and storming out, slamming the lock behind her.
I stare at the door. Jaw clenched. Chest burning.
Shereallybelieves Aspen will be safer withRoman?
Why the fuck would she think that? He fucked her; is that it? Roman never cared for anyone but himself.
