Page 116 of Word to the Wise

“Help?” The hint of amusement in the corner of his mouth is venomous. “You’re so fucking naïve.”

“Put the gun down, Carter,” Mason says again, stealing Carter’s attention.

I want to tell him to stop because at least right now the gun is pointed at me, but I know it won’t do any good.

“Put it downor what?” Carter turns his face to Mason. “You’re not a Twisted King like her brother. Am I supposed to be scared of you?”

“You’re right, I’m not a Twisted King.” Mason’s tone is level but firm. His shoulders are stiff, and his entire body is on alert. “I’m the nice guy. And on any other day, that might work in your favor. But you put your hands onmy girl. So now, I’m your worst fucking nightmare. And I’m telling you to put the gun down before this gets any worse.”

Carter drops his chin, breathing out a dark chuckle that shakes his shoulders. And when he finally looks up again, any kindness he had left has drained from his eyes.

The first crack of lightning erupts on the horizon.

A storm cloud is about to rip open.

I reach for the gun before he has a chance, but he’s too quick. Carter shoves me backward in one swift motion, and I fall hard onto my ass. A pebble on the roof cuts into my palm when I catch myself, and my wrists and tailbone are throbbing.

Mason starts in my direction, but three steps is as far as he gets before Carter turns the gun on him.

“Mason, don’t.” I hurry to my feet, swaying a bit from how hard Carter pushed me. I grip onto the nearby ledge and steady myself. “He’ll shoot.”

“She’s right, you know?” Carter taunts Mason. “Not that I really need an excuse when you’ve already given me so many.”

Mason turns to Carter, and the three of us stand in a triangle on the roof. Facing off in a game of who will move first.

“What do you want, Carter?” Mason’s hands are fists at his sides.

“What I came for: my girl.”

Mason shakes his head. “She’s not your girl. And she’s not going anywhere with you.”

“You’d like to think that, wouldn’t you?” Carter laughs. “You know, I was going to shoot you and make this quick and easy because I don’t have any more time for this shit. But now that we’re up here, I’m feeling a little poetic.”

Carter closes his eyes, not lowering the gun but tipping his head back and taking a deep inhale through his nose before looking at Mason again.

“We all know Sienna couldn’t fly, but can you?”

Blood drains from my face as my gaze moves to Mason. His entire posture has gone rigid at the mention of Sienna’s name.

“What do you know about my sister?”

Carter’s eyes narrow, and the sickest smile stretches his face. “Guess your dad was right; he is a man of hisword. I wasn’t sure after your little trip to Vegas, with you two being family and all. But then again, business always wins, so I guess hecankeep secrets.”

“What are you talking about?”

Carter’s arrogance is brimming to the surface. He’s waving the gun, cool and collected, truly believing nothing can stop him. And as I watch him, amused by the situation, pieces start clicking into place.

Comments Mason’s dad made.

Things Steel said when we went to see the Twisted Kings compound in Vegas.

Connections I didn’t see at the time because I wasn’t looking at the bigger picture.

“You knew her.” My words are muttered, but they draw the attention of both Carter and Mason. “You spent time in Las Vegas.”

“Just a little, baby,” Carter confirms, smiling. “A man’s got to let loose every now and then. You understand.”

I don’t, but there’s no point trying to explain that to him.