Eris
Idon’t mean to stop dancing.
I mean to keep laughing with Roo and pretending like tonight is just another liquor-and-glitter therapy session with my best friend. But the second that woman touches him, my body goes still, that feral thing inside me waking up with vengeance in mind.
She says something I can’t lip-read from this far away. But I watch her fingers trail along his arm like she’s trying to leave her mark of arrogance on one of my guys.
Kieran barely acknowledges her, turning only once to say what I hope is a terrifying warning about not pissing me off. He doesn’t move after that except to look at me.
Not past me.
Not through me.
At me.
“I’ll kill her too,” I mutter, the words slipping out before I can stop them.
Kieran’s mouth curves, a knowing half-smile that lives somewhere between restraint and ruin.
I’m happy he can read my intentions so clearly.
Roo spins into me mid-laugh and follows my gaze before she scoffs and rolls her eyes at me.
“Holy, hey Zeus. Are you two always like this now? Because you could set this entire bar on fire with that look alone.”
“He started it,” I point out.
Roo snorts. “He’s definitely going to finish it, too. Shit. I might actually be a little jealous.”
I throw my head back, laughing at her disgruntled expression.
The music shifts, bass dropping into a darker sound. The crowd presses closer, heat and movement bleeding together. Someone bumps into my back and apologizes without really meaning it.
I don’t care.
Roo drags me to the bar for water, glancing around as she asks, “Do you think he’s still waiting?”
“Yes.”
“Probably in the alley?”
“That’s what I’m thinking. So he can walk out as we pass him.”
She tilts her head, studying me instead of the room. “So, still no plan?”
I take a slow sip of my water, eyes drifting once more to the shadows where I know my HimLock guys are stationed. She’s not asking me about a plan to push me into making one; she’s asking so she can know the rules beforehand, so she’s not led by impulsivity.
“I don’t have one,” I say honestly. “I just know it’s tonight.”
Roo’s lips twitch. “Good. Waiting never suited you.”
“Should we bring them with us? Or do you want it to just be us two?”
She doesn’t answer right away, just watches me for a beat before shrugging. “You already killed someone in front of them.”
I glare at her. “Fair, but not the point.”
“Bring them.” She bumps her shoulder against mine. “I need to vet them a little more, anyway.”
That… sounds like a terrible idea, but I don’t argue with her.
“One more song,” she shouts as the music swells. “Then we can step outside.”
I nod. “I’ll give him exactly what he wants.”
“End the bullshit.” Her smile is ferocious. “Ivs is waiting for us.”
Roo pulls me onto the dance floor, just as she always does. But this dance is different. It’s our way of making sure the night stretches just far enough to snap clean in half when we walk outside.
Because Daniel is waiting.
And this time?
So am I.
The night clings to my skin, thick and humid in that way only Crimson Bay manages, like the air itself wants to pin you down and whisper secrets in your ear.
Neon hums overhead, broken signs bleeding green and red across the sidewalk.
Roo is a few steps ahead of me, boots striking concrete with purpose.
I feel him before I see him.
Daniel is here, exactly where we thought he would be, lurking at the mouth of the alley like a bad habit that never learned shame. He’s partially lit by a flickering sign, hands in his pockets, posture relaxed in that infuriating way he uses to convince people he’s harmless.
“Leaving already?” he calls just as I pass him.
Roo doesn’t turn around yet, but she snorts softly. “Surprise.”
The grin threatening to overtake my lips is more difficult to fight than I was anticipating. I have to bite my cheek before turning to face Daniel.
My guys are just around the corner, but he hasn’t noticed the three predators waiting to see which way the hunt turns. Or the heat of their attention… Or the quiet shift of weight.
Daniel steps closer, testing my boundaries, as he tries to steer the conversation. “You look good, baby.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“I missed you.”
“No, you didn’t,” I say with a sigh. “And I didn’t miss you. Let’s wrap this up.”
His smug smile stretches over his face until I want to claw his eyes out. “Funny. That’s not what it sounded like when you were screaming my—”
“Don’t.” I lift my hand, stopping Jace at the corner of the alley. “Not yet.”
He stops, but just barely, muscles locked and vibrating with rage.
Daniel laughs, sounding like broken glass. “Look at you, Anna. Playing queen now? You really think they’re going to keep protecting you forever?” His dismissive gaze flicks past me. “You’re just a thing to them. A phase. A game.”
“I am a game,” I say quietly, stepping closer. “But there’s a glitch in my system.”
His smile falters, confusion leaving a crack in his mask.
“You’ve been circling me for weeks,” I continue, voice steady. “The flowers. Messages. Photos. Breaking into my apartment and sleeping in my bed like you own the place.” I tilt my head. “You had so many chances to disappear.”
“You liked the attention,” he snaps. “You knew I was there, looked right at me. Read all the messages.”
“I enjoy putting down dying animals,” I comment. “But I don’t make a habit of it.”
Daniel lunges.
Fast, but too confident for someone not paying attention to his back.
He never touches me.
Kieran catches Daniel by the shoulder and slams him into the brick exterior of the building. Jace is there a heartbeat later, crowding his space, fury barely controlled.
Silas closes in from the other side, standing closer to me, as if he’s already decided he’ll kill Daniel before he lunges for me again.
Roo and I lean around Silas and watch Daniel thrash and struggle as the guys drag him into the alley.
I don’t rush to follow them, but I make sure every step I take is silent. As we walk into the dimly lit pass-through, my partner in crime hands me a hair tie as if this is any other job.
Roo leans against Jace’s SUV, strategically parked to block the alley entrance into an overflow parking lot. Ivan is waiting a few spaces over, idling in his truck until he gets the call.
“Well,” Roo mumbles, sounding dejected, her phone already in hand, watching like this is exactly how she expected the night to go. “We knew he’d make it easy, but I didn’t think he’d make it this easy.”
I stop in front of Daniel. He’s shaking now, fear and frustration finally burning through the arrogance. His mouth opens, but with him currently restrained, I risk placing my finger over his lips to shut him up. The words are meaningless, but I am curious about his reaction to my name.
“You asked if they’d protect me forever,” I remind him, waiting for him to look me in the eye before I continue. “The answer is no. Because I don’t need protection. I’m not the girl you think I am. Anna isn’t even my name. That entire persona was made up to complete a job.”
“So now we’re back to lying?” he practically shouts. “Is this where you tell them I was sleeping with the neighbor and you’re just the victim in this relationship?”
I sigh and straighten, turning away and giving Kieran a single nod that he quickly interprets.
Behind me, they push Daniel to his knees, splitting open his ego.
Roo has the back hatch of Jace’s SUV open, sitting in it as she glances between the real-life fight scene and her phone.
Knowing the only part of this night they fought for was the opportunity to beat Daniel to near death has lit a fire in me.
And the thing about fire?
It never asks for permission.
Everything is worth turning to ash if it gets in the way.