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Straightening my skirt, I meet his gaze one last time. “You wanna fuck, we’ll fuck. You’re good at it.” My lips twitch. “But that’s all you’re ever gonna get from me.”

The fire in his eyes flares and the tension thickens again, swirling around us like a storm on the verge of breaking.

But it doesn’t matter.Hedoesn’t matter.

I can't look at him anymore. Can't let myself believe in his promises. All we have is the wreckage of what we were, and I can’t keep picking up the pieces. Not anymore.

My palm clasps his cheek, his jaw clenching beneath my touch. “I’m done with you, Cillian. Whatever we had, it’s over.”

The hardness in his eyes shifts to something that resembles pain.

I should stay. I should say something, anything, to make him hurt less.

But I don’t. I’ve already learned how to live without him.

CHAPTER35

CILLIAN

Days later,and her words keep echoing in my head, haunting me. The look she gave me, full of hurt and anger…it hit harder than anything else. That was the moment I realized the depth of the damage I’ve done and how much I’ll have to work to fix it.

The hum of the engine dies down as I pull up to the industrial building, slipping the black mask over my face. I didn’t plan on returning to the club, but it’s the anniversary party, and there’s a gut feeling she might be here. Can’t let her show up without me keeping watch.

Fionn slides his mask on next to me. He invited himself when he caught wind of my plans. Said he didn’t want me doing something reckless and ending up dead. Fair enough. But if he gets in my way tonight, he won’t be able to stop me. No one will.

We move into the elevator, and Fionn chuckles. “You look like you could use a drink.”

I throw him a cold glare, the doors sliding open as he continues to laugh behind me. The moment we step into the party, my eyes are scanning, darting from room to room.

She’s here somewhere; I know it. If she’s with another man, it’s not going to end well for anyone.

The place is packed, more so than usual and it’s harder to find her. My patience is close to thinning.

Then I see her. That mask she always wears on her beautiful face.

My chest tightens. She’s stunning, as always. A sheer white gown that clings to her curves, hair pulled high into a ponytail with a few strands loose, framing her face. She’s the kind of beauty that makes everything else fade in comparison.

Time’s changed a lot of things, but not much has changed for me. I’m still crazy about her. Always will be.

She doesn’t notice my presence at first as she talks to some women. A few men stand around her, listening. If they don’t walk away, they’re gonna end up dead.

I slip behind her, tension coiling tighter in my chest. But then one of them reaches out, fingers brushing her back. The next moment is a blur. One second, he's laughing; the next, he's howling in pain as I twist his fingers backward.

“Keep your damn hands to yourself,” I growl, my face inches from his.

Dinara’s voice rises in the chaos, shouting my name. But there’s no stopping this.

“You don’t touch her. You don’t even look at her. Understand?”

“Yes, yes!” He’s nodding frantically, wincing through the pain.

When I shove him off, he staggers back, then rushes off. The others quickly retreat as well, leaving only Natalia and Alisa behind.

But my focus is locked onher.

Dinara stands there, gaze icy, contempt dripping off of her in waves. The sharp edge of her silence cuts through the air between us.

“Can we talk alone?” I ask her.