Page 64 of Bound to a Killer

“Get the fuck off of her,” I bark, the rage pumping loud in my ears. I glance back at Tanner, the lines in my foreheadpulling tighter as I wait for him to do something. Explain what the hell is going on.

His hand flies to the back of his head, ruffling his hair before it drops to his neck. He doesn’t look physically hurt, but he looks tired. Frustrated. Agitated. “He just wants Aria,” he says finally, his gun hanging at his side.

My mind short-circuits.

I can’t comprehend what is happening right now. None of it is real. I can’t believe he’d bring him here. That he’d be dense enough to fall for whatever fucked-up lie Antonio fed him so he’d lead him straight to us.

“It’s true,” Antonio hedges. “Just trade the girl over and all is forgiven between us.” His beady eyes flick to Aria, who is still hiding behind me, her fingers shaking as they claw into the leather at my back.

I scoff. “You expect me to believe that?”

He gives a slight lift of his shoulder and cocks his head toward the only person I would’ve entrusted with my life.

Tanner’s frown deepens. “He didn’t bring anyone else with him, Ledger. It’s just us.”

I shake my head, unable to process anything.This is wrong. All of it is wrong.

“I know how you feel about her. And in a way, I get it. I do,” Tanner says, voice softening. “But Ledger…She’s not worth all of this.”

My hand stays clasped around her wrist as I keep her sheltered behind me. Jagger’s utility knife drips more of his blood onto my boots, useless now, just like he was.

“I trusted you,” I say, my jaw clenching hard against the churn of emotion.

I wait for Aria to pull away. To run. To beg. But she stays quiet, leaning into me like she still believes I’ll keep her safe. That I’ll protect her.

Fuck, baby. I really wish I could.

But we’re backed into a corner.

There’s no getting out of this.

For a second, his eyes soften, like there might be some regret, but it vanishes fast, hardening into stones. “And I fucking trusted you, too. Trusted you to come to your goddamn senses. Trusted you to have my back at that meeting. But here we are. This is it, Ledger. It’s her or us. There isn’t another way.”

“Don’t do it,” Frankie sobs as Antonio jostles her again.

“I’d keep quiet if I were you, sweetheart,” he snaps. “Your life depends on it.”

With defeated rage, I hurl the blade to the ground, the metal clattering at Tanner’s feet. “Let Frankie go.”

Antonio bristles, his patience thinning. “Aria first.”

Tanner dips his chin to his chest, brows drawn, a silent plea behind his eyes.

He knew exactly what this would do to me. And he did it anyway.

He went behind my back, knowing I’d have no choice once it came to this.

If not to save him, then to save Frankie.

Damn him.

God fucking damn him.

All he had to do was sit tight and wait. I would’ve come back for him.

But this wasn’t about his faith in me.

This was about The Ringer.