Page 98 of Pretty When She Breaks

“I’m still responsible for you. Besides. You won’t have to worry about that,” I said coolly. “Everything goes according to plan, and they’ll be gone. And you’ll be out of our hair, free to have your heat however you want.”

She stared at me again, her head cocking to the side.

“What?” she said, eventually.

“They’ll be gone or in prison. Or dead. Didn’t you figure that out? We’re coming for them and your father.”

“That’s stupid,” she snorted. “You can’t take down my father.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“You just can’t,” she said, her brows furrowing deeply.

“Right, well if you think of an actual reason, let me know.”

She tossed her hair over her shoulder, regaining her composure. Before I could stop myself, I’d reached up and removed the leaves from her braid. We just stared at each other for a second. I cleared my throat, turning away.

“Am I free to go now?” she asked.

“Sure,” I replied.

Before she left, she shoved something at me. A small, cheap phone with a cord dangling from it.

“You’re welcome, by the way,” she said, smirking.

Before I had a chance to ask her what it was, she had strode off down the path. I considered ordering her back, but there was no real point.

I texted Kaos to meet me at my villa, knowing he had a way to get out of Laurel’s place undetected. He’d likely know what to do with this tech Laurel had given me.

I sat at my kitchen counter as I waited, staring down at my notebook.

FIFTY-TWO

LAUREL

I grabbed the controller and pressed the release button. My hands tightened on the golden swing as it moved away from the balcony and over the Blood Well.

It was so different during the day; every sound echoing off the concrete walls, the bright lights replaced by greys and whites. No crowds to shout and scream as I was dangled like bait over the snapping alphas below; instead, it was just me.

I swung my feet, and breathed in as the swing swayed. I hadn’t done up the safety harness; it was just my own grip stopping me from plummeting four floors down to the net that stretched over the fight pit. It made my heart pound and my scalp prickle, and I welcomed the fear.

The reminder I was alive.

Jule and I used to come do this together when one of us had a bad day. We’d actually do up the harnesses; but it was just me and him, side by side as we swung above everything.

It always helped me separate from the world.

Up here, there was air all around me, the tangy metal scent of the swing.

The feel of my hands getting sweaty, of needing to adjust my grip.

Fighting the looming danger of the fall.

I peered down at the net far below me, stretched over the Sink.

I closed my eyes and swung my feet harder, gaining momentum as I moved back and forth through the air.

My knuckles were white where they gripped the sides.