Page 37 of Relapse

“She can fucking try.”

Despite everything, a quiet laugh almost drags out of me at that because yeah—

That sounds exactly like Blair.

Fighting us half-drunk and glitter-covered in the middle of a beach rave while we try dragging her out before somebody kills her.

Pretty little addict. Pretty little problem.

Pretty little thing we’d burn the world down to keep.

The realization lands ugly and possessive before I can stop it.

Dagger exhales slowly through the speaker. “Noir.”

“What.”

“If Dante’s guys touch her tonight—”

“They won’t.”

Not because I know for sure.

Because they fucking can’t.

Not if we get there first.

The line goes quiet again after that, thick with all the shit neither of us says out loud.

Jealousy.

Fear.

Possession.

The ugly understanding that somewhere along the way, protecting Blair stopped being about responsibility and turned into obsession instead.

And none of us know how to walk it back anymore..

For a second I just stand there in the middle of the apartment listening to the distant bass rolling up from the beach below.

Then I grab my keys and head for the door.

Because somewhere out there, Blair’s chasing another high while the city circles her like blood in water.

And tonight?

Either we get to her first—

Or Dante does.

Chapter nine

Chapter Six

Blair

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