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“We can try to run, or we fight our way through.” He gripped my face, giving me the choice of what to do. With either one, he would follow my lead.

Click. Click.

A gun barrel dug into the back of my head, another one in Croygen’s.

“Don’t even think about it,” a man sneered in English, though his accent was thick. “Hands up.”

Groups of her men flooded back out of the tunnels, their beams landing on us, guns lifted as they circled us, giving us no escape.

“I said, hands up,” the man behind us barked.

Catching each other’s eye, we both slowly lifted our hands, knowing there was no way out of this.

“Turn around,” he snapped, the barrels shoved into our skulls, pushing us so we were now facing away from the tunnels.

A silhouette strolled up, her figure becoming clearer the closer she got to the lights, her saunter full of arrogance and utter confidence.

“Well done.” Her voice matched her strut. “You captured the pirate and the puss.”

Croygen went rigid next to me.

“No,” he whispered.

The woman stepped up to us, her stunning face luminous under the torch lights.

“What’s wrong, Croygen? Don’t tell me you haven’t missed me?”

He stepped back in shock, his gaze locked on her.

“Amara…”

Chapter 4

Croygen

Holy. Fuck.

Amara.

Watching her figure stroll up, my eyes recognized her before my brain did, the integral part of me which knew every curve, every nuance. I had touched it countless times, had watched it for decades, had been obsessed with everything about her, even when she was with someone else. Even the countless times she used me, sacrificed me, turned her back on me. In some sick way, I thought that was the love I deserved. After all I had done, I only merited a life that rotted me from the inside out.

She had me wrapped around her finger for decades and, at my darkest, only pulled me down deeper into the swamp. And I went willingly.

Shock went through my chest like a bullet, my mind struggling with who was before me, but my intuition was the opposite of surprised. Like it had known the entire time, but I just didn’t want to accept it. See what was right in front of me. Identify the insignia she was putting everywhere.

Staring at the woman who had once been my lover and obsession, I only felt hate and disgust.

For myself.

I tensed momentarily, afraid of how my body would react to her. I was like a recovering addict being placed next to my most enticing vice, scared I might not be as done with it as I had hoped. Going back to her had become habitual, and I was terrified deep down nothing had changed.

Staring at her, her familiar pretty face, her eyes that seduced and chilled in a blink, I searched, picking at an old scab. The more I prodded, the more I realized—it was Kat who I felt. Aware of her burning gaze, her confusion, the sensation that I could touch her, talk to her without opening my mouth or moving.

The only thing I felt for Amara was annoyance. I was a moron for not placing her right in the middle of this from the beginning. This was exactly where she’d be. It was in her nature, her entire DNA.

“Croygen.” Amara lowered her lashes seductively, a move I used to fall for every time. “It’s been a while.”

A laugh volleyed from my stomach, booming and bouncing off the walls. Heads whipped to me in surprise, Kat’s gaze only burrowing deeper into me.