Page 26 of Flame

“You think you scare me?” The man laughs. “Your own uncle doesn’t even keep you in the loop. You have no idea, do you? The game he’s been playing at your expense? Setting you up to take his fall like the little patsy you are—”

“I said go.”

“You really want to fuck around like this, Rafael? Steal from me?” The man doesn’t move for so long I lose feeling in my clenched hands. Finally, he backs away, his knife still raised. “You’ll pay for this.”

“Come on.” Reaching past me, Rafe snatches the case, tucking it under his arm. His hand latches onto my forearm next, imparting a strength that keeps the fear at bay long enough to navigate the ruined buildings.

We return to the car surprisingly fast, but when I finally see his face, it’s apparent just how much effort maintaining the façade cost him. He’s pale enough to glow in the dark, swaying on his feet.

“Just drive,” he chokes out before collapsing onto the passenger’s seat. “Drive…”

But he never drops the gun. If anything, his grip on it tightens as if any second, he expects to use it.

And he’s more than willing to do so.