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“No,” I reply.

“You will eat. I can’t have you wasting away on me, no matter how much you want to. We have to plan Samuel’s funeral and have it tomorrow evening and then we’ve got to get out of town.”

“What?” I say as he walks to the bathroom.

“I’ll have Mae grab you some food. I’m getting a shower.”

“Have you no compassion?” I ask him. “How can you ask her to do that? Have you fucked her in here? In this bed?”

He turns around. “Where else would I fuck her, Bex? Did you think my life stopped because you left it?”

I narrow my eyes.

“Do you think this has all been a walk in the park for me?” He slaps his chest. “You are a piece of work, girl. Of all the men you could have picked, you picked him.My brother.I told you to stay away from him. Remember? I asked you to leave him be when I saw those text messages you two were sending on the phone I bought you. You might as well have stabbed me in the goddamn chest.”

I grip the back of the chair. “Oh, I love how even after all this time, you think you can control me. The phone you bought me. You told me to stay away from him. You act as though I went after him as soon as you were handcuffed and taken to jail. You did this, you know?

“You were the no-show. You might as well have pushed me into his arms yourself.”

He lifts his chin. “Yeah, maybe I did. But you didn’t put up a fight.”

“Screw you, Danny.” I stand up and walk to the door.

“Where you going?”

“This fucking room is too small for the both of us.” And with that, I walk out.

Chapter Forty-One

Bones

One month three days missing

I’m shaking. Trembling noticeably, because I’m touching her, because she’s letting me and not acting as though I’m disgusting. I don’t want to let her go. Ever. Afraid that if I do, she’ll never allow me to do this again. Can she feel how right we are together? How it’s this easy. We’re older now. Wiser, more experienced. I’d like to see how she looks under those clothes, how her body has changed.

I’m sure it’s magnificent. But this isn’t the place for that sort of thing. We’re in danger. I’m not well, and she’s probably not thinking clearly. Facing death isn’t something I’m unaccustomed to. I’ve seen it, I’ve delivered it. But standing here with her as she promises she’ll run…it’s not the same.

I may die.

I may never see her again and I may never get the chance to make things right with us.

I have a plan, but now I’m not sure if I will ever be able to see it through.

I’m not strong.

I’m the weakest I’ve ever been.

This will end in death.

But will it be his or mine?

Chapter Forty-Two

Bones

2019

I run my hand over the fogged mirror, revealing a man’s face I don’t recognize sometimes. I don’t know why, but my mind goes to Bryce Grant, the ex-club owner who lives in Atlanta. We went down there and took everything he’d built. Something he worked his whole life for. We made him see he had no way out of the situation he was in. The boy was about to do some hard time for illegal gambling and a few other serious charges.