Page 207 of Their Arrangement

“I didn’t start it.”

“But you’re going to finish it?”

“Every last fucking piece.”

That was the last word.

I walked out of the conference room without looking back.

Not at Barron.

Not at Royal.

Not even at Cloe.

I knew she was still standing there.

I’d felt her eyes on my back through the whole fucking fight. I didn’t want to see her face. Not like that. Not right now.

I didn’t want to see her face. Not like that. Not right now. Because if I looked? I’d forget why I was so goddamn angry in the first place. And I couldn’t afford that.Not when Selene was still out there.

Not when Barron was already unraveling.

And not when I knew?—

The next time this family burned…

The bullpen was silent. Conversations stopped the second I stepped out. A few heads dropped. One guy closed his laptop like the click might cover his curiosity. They weren’t afraid because I yelled. They were afraid because I didn’t.

Cloe stood just past the glass wall, tucked near Royal’s shoulder.

She looked?—

Small.

Like someone had carved her out of everything she used to be and hadn’t quite put her back together yet.

Her arms were crossed over her chest. The chain still gleamed faintly at her collar. She didn’t say anything. Didn’t ask if I was okay. She looked like she’d been slapped.

Not just by what we’d said?—

By how we’d said it.

Every word had been loud enough to echo. Every sentence carved deep enough to leave her reeling.

Her arms stayed crossed. Not like a barrier. Like she was holding herself together. Like if she let go, everything inside her would slip loose. Her lips parted like she might speak. But no sound came.

And when I passed too close?—

She flinched.

Not visibly.

Just enough for me to feel it.

And I hated myself for walking away. But I did it anyway. She just stared at me like she wasn’t sure who I was anymore. Maybe she wasn’t wrong.

Royal caught up with me halfway down the hall. Didn’t grab me. Just matched my pace and said?—