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I can’t breathe and there’s three of him right now even though I have on my glasses, that’s what’s wrong.

And he’s still the last person I want to tell, the last person I want to see. So, I seal my lips and wait for my world to stop spinning.

“I want to go home, Adonis.”

Without any elaboration, he knows what I mean and shuts it down faster than I can catch my breath. I want to go back to my studio with Indigo. Away from him. Away from this.

“No.”

There’s too much of him in my space. In my nose. In my veins. I need him to back up, but he won’t listen to me. He just stares at me like he doesn’t understand why I’m upset and that tips me over the edge.

Unzipping my clutch, I pull out the weapon I slipped from Percy’s possession and wait for him to back down.

But he doesn’t back down. He doesn’t do anything but stare me down while I use my shaking hand to aim the gun right at him.

“Why did you bring me here?”

“Because I wanted you with me.”

“Why?” The tremors in my hand get worse and the only way I can suppress them is by gripping the gun harder. “Was it so you could embarrass me? To show your friends how easy it was to get Weston’s little sister to believe whatever you said?”

He only responds to one part of my question. “These people aren’t my friends, Delilah. I don’t give a fuck what they think.”

Lips trembling, I stare at him until the tears in my eyes erase him from my sight.

“Where did you get the gun?”

“Percy.”

“Why were you talking to him?”

“He told me about the auction. He was going to clear my brother’s debt with his bid, but you stole me before he could,” I get out, using the back of my other hand to swipe my tears.

“Is that why you stole the gun? To shoot me?”

“Yes,” I sniff.

“Does he know you took it?” I loathe how calm his voice is. He’s talking to me like I’m a caged animal about to pounce. It’s equal parts patronizing and dehumanizing. But of course, Adonis knows that. He knows a lot and didn’t tell me.

Angry tears betray me, and Adonis’ eyes bore into me.

“Stop looking at me. I don’t want to see you right now.”

“Give me the gun, Delilah.”

It’s my turn to tell him no.

“No. Leave me alone, Adonis.”

He’s not backing up.

He’s not doing anything but getting closer to me and I hate it.

I hate him.

For lying to me.

For making me look as naive as I am.