Forty-Eight
Fallon
I t was go time.
The fuse was lit, and it was time to act. After Stella had cornered me in the science building, I’d been running high on anxiety. All that bitch had to do was spill my secret to Hail, and it was game over.
Then there was the fucking new demand from Matteo De Santis. Deliver Bianca to him. He’d put her in that hell house he’d created.
I’d pushed her at Dominic in the hopes he’d fall for her and love her as much as I did and would save her so both she and my sister could survive.
It was a hell of a gamble, but I’d seen him with her.
He gave a shit. Even if I died, maybe Dominic would love my princess enough to keep her alive. Maybe I could still save Natalia.
I hated the odds, but I had nothing else. I was out of ideas.
I turned the engine off on my Lexus and got out with a plan in my head.
I was supposed to meet Drake and Tate by the main entrance to Bolten and then deliver Bianca to Hail.
Instead, I’d parked at one of the side entrances beneath an old willow tree.
If Drake and Tate got her before I did, they wouldn’t be able to leave because I was the driver.
I kept to the shadows of campus as I made my way back to the dance. With any luck, I’d be able to grab her when Drake and Tate created the distraction which consisted of cutting the power and setting off the sprinkler system.
Before I could reach the dance, I saw Bianca running from it, her feet bare and her blonde hair whipping behind her.
I sprang into action and snagged her from behind, making sure to cover her mouth. She fought and kicked as I hauled her into the darkness of a building’s shadow.
“It’s me. Shh. It’s me,” I soothed in her ear.
Immediately, the fight left her, and she turned, sagging against me.
I swallowed, hating what I had to do to her and praying she’d forgive me someday. “Are you OK?”
She sniffled and shook her head against my chest.
“Tell me what’s wrong.”
We had to get the hell out of there, but I couldn’t bear the thought of making the move to end everything. Instead, I ran my fingers through her silky hair and held her close.
God, I’d missed holding her.
“Levin,” she choked out. “They used me.”
She didn’t need to explain herself. My heart sank. They hadn’t wanted her like I’d hoped so hard for.
“It’s OK.” I kissed the top of her head fiercely.
My mind flashed to my sister and what was at stake.
I had to make a choice: the girl I loved or my sister.
The gun tucked in the back of my jeans reminded me if it came down to it, I’d go out with a bang.
There was also the option of fighting and killing Matteo De Santis.
Then Dominic would come into power. Bianca might be able to escape.
I wouldn’t, but I’d die fighting to free her and Natalia.
Fuck, I hated this.
I squeezed my eyelids closed and forced the words out. “Run away with me.”
She pulled away and stared up at me. “What?”
“Me and you. Run away with me. We’ll leave here. We’ll fight them all—”
“OK,” she breathed out, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’ll go.”
The assholes must have hurt her badly for her to agree so fast. Or maybe she just trusted me that much. I hated that she did. I was a disgusting monster.
I took her hand and led her through the darkness back to my car. I opened the passenger door just as I heard the screeching of an alarm. Guessed the bastards had decided to go extra with their distraction.
“You swear you won’t hurt me?” She turned to me before she got into the car, that plump bottom lip of hers wobbling.
There were the doubts. I’d wondered if they’d ever surface.
“Swear,” I managed to say, nausea roiling through my insides with the lie.
Was it really a lie if I didn’t pull the trigger myself?