Kingston
“I told you this would happen!”
Landon’s accusation struck the minute the front door closed behind me.
I removed my jacket under the warmth of the summer sun, draping it over the seat beside me when I climbed inside the car. “Told me what, exactly?”
“I told you this would happen. I told you we’d lose her to him. He’d?—”
“Defend her when he could’ve eliminated her?” I arched a brow as Landon remained planted in front of the car. “No, I believe I told you that. Now, please get in. We need to go.”
“She’s falling for him!” he shouted. “You heard what she said. She let?—”
“She also stopped it from going further, Landon. You’ll have to forgive me if I’m not worried about her after hearing that.”
“And if Max is who she wants at the end?”
I stiffened. “Then, she’ll have made her choice, and I’ll respect that.”
“No. You know what happens if—, you’re not even trying to fight for her. It’s like you don’t care…Is that it? You don’t care that he’s in there right now, weaseling his way under her skin.”
“No. But I see clearly that you do. So, again, I’m going to ask if there’s something you need to tell me.”
He ran his hands through his hair, yanking at the strands like it might stop the way he was so clearly unraveling.
My chest tightened, my heart faltering for a beat and the pain blinding, when he lifted his head and I saw his face.
“You dragged me into this mess with my eyes closed. Train her, get to know her, show her Camelot Court. Failing to mention you wanted her for yourself. And when I found out and protested? You told me she had to win. That I had to be the one who trained her because you only trusted me.”
My hands shook on the steering wheel, preparing for him to say it. I slid them to my lap.
“I did what you wanted. I did—” He cursed and looked away, choosing words that weren’t the ones I needed. “You turned everything on its head when you told me we had to take plan B. But still, I chose to follow you. Now it seems like you’ve given up! Whatever happens, happens! C’est la fucking vie! Why, ?”
“Pulling the strings only put a noose around her neck, Landon.” I thrust my hand in the direction of the house before clenching my fist on the steering wheel. “One that’s still tightening to this day. I’ve stepped back, so I don’t do more damage while I assess our next move.” Taking a breath, I did my best to speak calmly. “And yes, maybe that involves him.”
“Un-fucking-believable.”
“I could say the same to you! Or was I misinformed this morning when I found out Elaine is still here?”
“She didn’t ask for more.”
His clipped tone and partial truth gutted me, but I could only shake my head. “Did you even try?”
He seethed, turning to stare at the front door.
From what I’d gathered, Elaine had all but tried to do Landon’s job for him. “The opportunity to remove one opponent from Quinn’s path was in front of you for six days, Landon. You knew you needed to do your part. How could you fail in that? Because you’re angry you don’t understand my plan? You can’t possibly believe that I believe that.”
“I couldn’t stomach it. The thought of touching her. I?—”
I did understand.
After what those girls had done to Quinn, I understood perfectly why he couldn’t bring himself to do it. The same disgust—the same venom lived inside me, wanting to poison them. Every time I had to interact with them, I felt it.
I didn’t have the luxury of refusing.
But Landon had. He refused to do it, even though it meant disregarding a direct order for the first time in his life. Even though it made things harder for Quinn in the end.
Had he considered that at all?
“What if Elaine makes it to the end, Landon?” I snapped. “How will you feel about not following orders, then?”
Guilt struck his face, but it wasn’t enough to change his stance. “I don’t know, .”
He shook his head, and I believed he really didn’t.
“I can’t think about that. All I can think about right now is what following orders has gotten me so far.”
A growl of frustration left me.
“What does that mean , Landon?”
I implored him with my gaze to finally give me the reason and stop treating me like a fool. But I still wasn’t prepared for how his next words struck me.
“It means I’m not going with you. I’m not following you if it means leaving her.”