Page 112 of Dangerous Promises

Dad takes a step back like he's been slapped and I slam my palm across my mouth.

Oh, fuck.

I feel all the blood drain from my face, and I see it drain from my father's face.

I want to look back at Alexei. I want to see his reaction to this. Or maybe I don't. I've done so well at pretending not to care. At pretending that after all of this is over I will go back to the death promise, and we will never forgive each other for all the wrongs we've committed. I want to talk to him. To explain this somehow.

Unfortunately, I run out of time.

Chapter

Forty-Six

Alexei

Being with him feels like finding home.

The world I know comes crashing out from under me. My feet feel both anchored to the spot and so weak that I might fall over at any second. My heart, which I bury deep in my chest still unsure if I even have one, bursts free and explodes. I feel it beat like I'm coming to life for the first time.

If I was dead, I am alive. If I was blind, I can now see.

Everything and nothing is now so differently the same.

There is no discernible change in my expression, but the world as I know it is irrevocably changed. There are thousands of ways to interpret what she just said, but with pure clarity I understand exactly what she meant.

I want Sage to turn around, I want her to look at me so I can see in her eyes what I know is in her gut.

It is foolish of me to dwell on this. Because I know what's coming. I know what Angie set in motion by being so meddlesome and stupid. First, Dimitri would come for me, Sagewould follow. Next, we'll both realize we're alone in neutral territory without any backup. Then we'll all figure out that Chet knows this too.

The man who never comes out of hiding unless he knows he's sure to have the upper hand. And Angie just gave it to him, by telling him exactly where we are, all the people he wants to see hurt, without the force of our empires behind us in protection.

This is, in fact, the perfect trap to bring him out into the open because it's the only time we're all unprepared to see him. We need to get Sage out of here.

But my stupid, careless heart takes control, and all I can hear is her voice as she said she was mine. That I am hers.

I never hated being right until now.

At that moment, we become surrounded faster than I can take stock of. All I can see are the swarms of men that pile into the bar from every possible access point, blocking every chance of escape.

They're behind us, in front, on either side and about to be above us, too. I look up to see giant spider webbing cracks appearing across the ceiling and I know they're about to burst through the roof right where we're standing and crush us.

Dimitri tries to run towards Sage, but Anton grabs him around the shoulders and pulls him back away from the collapse. I get to her just in time, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her back to get us as far away as possible. We land with a thud on the ground as my body shields hers.

The ground shakes as the roof caves open and several of Chet's men jump through the hole to pile in front of us, too.

I take Sage's hand in mine, dragging her up with me and keeping her close. I'm not letting go of her hand for anything until we're walking out of here together.

From the other side of the collapse I can just see the others through the dust. They all appear unhurt but getting up in varying states of confusion.

"Well, well, well," the voice, like the hiss of a snake, reaches me from across the room.

Behind the bar the smoke clears and I make sense of where the voice is coming from. He stands with his hands resting on the bar top and watching us all like we're a delicious meal, but Sage and I in particular.

"Chet."

It's been a long time since I've seen my uncle in person. So long even that I'd think I'd forgotten what he looks like until I see his face now and all the memories of him come rushing back to me.

I try to push Sage behind me, but she struggles to get in front of me with a determined little frown on her face.