Page 111 of Cruel Possession

She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. She bites the inside of her cheek like she’s holding something back. When her gaze darts around the room, I know that there’s more than she’s telling me.

And I know better than to keep digging.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but like I said, I know you can handle yourself.” I chuck her beneath the chin before grabbing a beer from the fridge and cracking it open. “And if there ever comes a time when you can’t, you know all of us are here for you.”

“Look, I think I might need your help.” Jade runs a hand through her hair before forcing a smile. “But just with the apartment.”

“Well, then, I can help with that.” I nod to the door. “You going to come back out there, or are you going to keep hiding in here?”

“I’ll be out in a minute. I just need a moment.”

I nod and leave her alone, heading back outside, stopping when I see Zoe huddling close with my sisters, saying something about Mexico. At least, Mexico is the only word I really catch with how fast they’re all talking.

Zoe dissolves into laughter, leaning in and whispering to my sisters, the details about the wedding flying faster than I can catch them as I draw closer to the group.

Not that it matters. All I want to do is marry the love of my life, and that’s happening in a month.

If Noah thinks his little stunt is going to be enough to scare us into hiding, he’s wrong.

I’m not backing down again. The time for negotiating—or at least attempting to—is over.

The only way this ends is with his blood staining my hands.