Page 92 of Cruel Betrayal

“He’s been showing you that he can kill you at any moment for the last several weeks! He’s toying with you, and you know as well as I do that he’s setting this fight up to be your last. He gets the territory he needs, and you die in the process because he’s plotting against you, and then what do you have left?”

I ease toward her, wondering if I can make it to the knife before she has a chance to stab me with it.

I’ll drag her kicking and screaming out of here if I have to, but I really don’t want to. This isn’t the way it’s supposed to be between us. She’s supposed to know that I’m doing what’s bestfor us. That I’ve only ever done what’s best for us. That I’m going to keep doing what’s best for us, even if she doesn’t see it.

“We’re going out.” I take a few more steps toward her, moving to the left so she has to turn, her back getting closer to the wall as she takes a couple of steps back.

I keep advancing. “We’re going to go out, and you’re going to see that I’m right and you need to listen to me.”

“All I’ve done is listen to you.”

The knife shifts, the tip angling downward just a little.

I lunge, grabbing her wrist and wrenching it up above her head, slamming it back into the wall. I put pressure on her, and the knife drops to the ground.

With a quick swipe of my foot, it goes flying under the couch.

She glares at me, her lips pressing into a thin line, and her entire body tensing.

“Maybe you didn’t hear me the first time.” I loom over her, face inches from hers.

She could headbutt me and break my nose again if she wanted to, but I don’t think she will. Not with the shuddering breath she lets out like she’s finally giving up.

“Go get ready.” I let go of her, and she rams an elbow into my side, pushing me out of the way before continuing down the hall.

The impact of her bedroom door shutting rattles the frames on the wall.

When she comes back out a couple of minutes later, she’s dressed and ready to go, smoothing her hands down the shortblack sundress. As she leans down, the hem shifts just enough to show off the small knife strapped to her thigh.

I could drag her to the bedroom instead of going out. But it was hard enough to arrange this shit.

We’re going.

Jade sits up as soonas we turn onto Aiden’s road, looking at me from the other side of the backseat. “What are we doing here?”

“You want me to see what being part of your family would be like.” I already don’t want to be here. There’s something about walking into a place where you know someone is likely going to kill you that makes you a little unsettled.

Just a little.

I’m not a pussy.

Pussy-whipped, maybe.

Before Jade, I wouldn’t even be considering stepping into enemy territory for the sake of proving to someone that I care about them. I wouldn’t dare think about spending time with their family.

Jade gets out of the car as the gate to the backyard opens, and Summer comes flying out with a bright smile and her arms spread wide.

They hug, whispering something to each other before looking back at me as I get out.

The hair on the back of my neck prickles.

I don’t have a good feeling about this at all.But I need to make my point. To show her the truth. To make sure she stays.

Strengthening my resolve, I follow her into the backyard where the rest of the Lyndes and their partners are. Off at the very edges of the yard, hidden near the bushes lining the property, are men with guns.

“Are those for me?” I nod to the men as Royce comes over, stuffing a hot dog in his mouth.

He shrugs. “Can’t say I blame Aiden for wanting more protection. Summer said you’re an ass who keeps trying to force Jade to follow along with what you want.”