Page 71 of Unchained

I smile; that’s the truth. The hard truth. “Have you ever killed someone and regretted it?”

He turns to look at me. “Once. You?”

“No. I’m a horrible bitch, remember?”

He laughs, tipping his head back against the rest. “I don’t believe that, G. You dragged Harper out of a burning car and saved her life. You don’t like seeing people get hurt that don’t deserve it.”

I swallow and stare at the flames out of the window. The destruction that was caused by my hands. I chose this way of life, and I know what my fate will be one day. But Harper, she never signed up for this. She’s pure and sweet and everything that needs protecting. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

“Okay. You got me. I hate it when people get caught up in our mess. We choose to live one way; we all know the consequences and are happy to die for them. But everyone else? They didn’t make that choice, and I don’t believe it’s up to us to play God with them.”

He rests his hand on my thigh and warmth spreads through my body. What in the hell is happening to me, and why am I telling him this shit? It’s totally normal to get horny after a murder spree this exciting, but this is the first time I’ve ever had anyone beside me I could actually do anything with.

“Do we even have a choice?” he says.

I don’t respond; the question sits inside my chest and festers. I don’t know the answer anymore. I thought everything up until this moment was my choice. That I’d forced my dad to forge me into this woman, a leader. But the longer I spend away from him, the more I’m seeing the manipulation. The way he talks to me like I’m a possession, not a person. Am I just the next person in line to rule the empire, but no better than a puppet, with him always pulling the strings?

Is that really what I want? To die for an empire that has made me miserable?

“I-I don’t know,” I mutter.

He turns on the engine, flicks the cigarette out the window, and slowly pulls away. “I guess this is a pretty decent reminder that no one gets to touch my wife,” he says, all proud of himself.

I roll my eyes. “It was my idea, douche.”

“Our idea, sweetie.”

I jab my nail into his side.

He side-eyes me. “Those things are a weapon in themselves.”

“I’d like to get into bed and pass out,” I tell him as he helps me into the car.

“Whatever you want, viper.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Colten

Gianna is already fast asleep; she managed half a glass of wine, and she could barely keep her eyes open, meaning I had to carry her into bed and tuck her in.

I didn’t have to do either, but I wanted to. She, of course, relented the entire time, but melted against my chest. I’ll take that as a win.

And now, I’m staring up at the moon shimmering in the dark sky, the waves still crashing against the shore.

So, I call my older brother. Because I don’t know if I need a hit back to reality.

“What time is it?” Hunter asks.

“Two in the morning,” I tell him. “Hello.”

He laughs. “What do you need, bro? All good?”

“Uh, depends how you define good. I’ve got trackers on two guys I believe to be linked to Nikos. And we burned down a restaurant after one of their guys tried to assault Gianna in the bathroom. Now, we’re waiting on a location from Enzo,” I tell him, resting my feet on the table.

“Wait. Hold up. Rewind. You burned down a restaurant? With people inside? Have you lost your mind?”

“Do you think I’m a complete monster? We waited till it was closed, then we shot Nikos’ guys, and we let it burn.”