Page 68 of Wraith (Deviant Assassin #1)

The call ends, the silence as sudden as the aftermath of a lightning strike. My knuckles ache, and I realize I’m gripping Wild’s arm, holding on as if the world itself might fall apart.

It totally has.

Thunder splits the sky like a cracked mirror, casting jagged shadows through the broken windows of the safe house. So many fragments of my life splintering and dying.

“Kiera, I?—”

I hold up a hand, cutting him off. I wrench myself out of Wild’s arms, needing to move—to think—to make sense of what just happened. Wild steps between us, his shoulders rigid with tension as he faces Blade.

“You’ve got some nerve showing up here after what you pulled,” Wild snarls, jabbing a finger at Blade’s chest. A dangerous edge in his tone. “I was right all along. You’re a man who can’t decide where his loyalties lie. Actually, no, that’s only loyal to himself.”

Blade’s jaw clenches, a muscle ticking beneath his stubble. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Wilder. Stay out of this.” Blade’s gaze switches to me. “Kiera?—”

“Like hell I will,” Wild growls, taking another step forward, blocking Blade’s view of me. “You don’t get to waltz back in here and act like nothing’s changed, like we all just need to fall in line. Especially with?—”

“Both of you, stop,” I snap, but my voice wavers traitorously. The casual intimacy in Phoenix’s tone lingers in my mind. I was certain nothing could ever hurt me more than Blade abandoning me, but I was so goddamn wrong. Having him return and manipulate me is so much worse.

Blade moves to his left, trying to make eye contact with me. Wild snarls, shoving Blade aside, none too gently.

“Don’t you fucking touch her.”

“Fine,” Blade growls. His eyes, which were so warm last night, are now hard, glittering chips of ice.

As if the connection between the three of us was a figment of my imagination.

“You two lovers can play your little game. Do whatever you want, but don’t expect me to clean up whatever mess you land in. ”

“From where I’m standing, all of this starts and ends with you, Reznik.

” Wild spits, releasing me and stalking toward Blade, who has risen to his feet.

Both of are coils of fury. Wild cracks his knuckles, the sound sharp in the sudden silence.

“You’ve had this coming for years for treating my Heathen so badly. ”

“Your…” Blade laughs harshly, “She’s always been mine. Always will be, long after she’s done playing with you.”

I try to wedge myself between them, but they’re immovable. Two walls of testosterone and pent-up rage.

“Stop it, both of you!” Their grunts drown my voice out as they scramble for position. I’m swept to the side, and fight to catch my balance as the sickening thud of fists meeting flesh begins.

Blade lands a punch on Wild’s jaw, snapping his head to the side. Wild retaliates with a blow to Blade’s gut, doubling him over. They’re both panting, eyes wide, completely lost in their primal need to dominate the other.

“You’re no badass assassin. You’re Pheonix’s fucking puppet, Blade,” Wild taunts, circling him like a predator. “She snaps her fingers, and you come running. Pathetic.”

Blade straightens, wiping blood from his mouth. “You don’t know shit about it, Wilder. Stay out of things that don’t concern you.”

I try to grab Wild’s arm, but he shrugs me off, completely focused on Blade.

“And what about Kiera? She concerns me. You concern me when you fuck with her head like this.”

Blade’s eyes flick to me, then back to Wild.

“This is between me and my wife. It’s none of your business.”

I’m screaming now, screaming at them to stop, but they’re deaf to my pleas. Sable doesn’t help me. She just sits on the couch, watching with gleeful eyes, a sick smile on her face. She’s enjoying this. The fucking bitch is enjoying this.

I shove at them, trying to push them apart, but they’re solid, unyielding.

I’m invisible, inconsequential. The realization hits me like a punch landed in my gut.

They’re fighting over me, but they don’t see me.

They see a prize to be won, a territory to be marked.

I’m nothing more than a fucking trophy to them.

Fury boils in my veins. I step back, looking at the two men I thought cared about me, wanted a future together. It’s obvious there is no ‘us’ . All they care about is one upping each other. I’m done with relationships, so fucking done.

I turn on my heel, slipping from the room toward the door. Neither of them notices. None of them care. I’m not their fucking prize.

Sable’s motorcycle is parked down the drive, near the tree line, a sleek black beast. Lucky for me, the keys are in the ignition. I swing my leg over, inserting the key and revving the engine. It roars to life, a powerful vibration between my thighs. I kick up the stand, shifting into gear.

As I speed away, the wind whipping my hair, I allow myself one glance back at the house. The lights flicker in the windows, casting long, dancing shadows. They’re still fighting, still lost in their testosterone-fueled haze.

The road stretches out before me, a dark ribbon leading to nowhere. I need distance. Need to get away from them, away from the lies, away from the fucking pain.

The engine growls as I accelerate; the wind tearing at my clothes, my hair. I lean into the curves; the bike hugging the road like a lover. One worthy to be between my thighs. The speed is exhilarating, freeing. I’m untethered, unbound. I’m fucking alive.

But as the miles stretch behind me, the adrenaline fades, leaving a hollow ache in its wake. I’m alone. Completely, utterly alone. The realization hits me like a physical blow, stealing my breath. I pull over, the bike rumbling beneath me as I stare out into the night.

The darkness presses in, heavy and oppressive. I’m alone. I have no one to turn to, no one to trust. The weight of it crushes me, a physical pressure on my chest. I gasp for breath, choking on the sobs that wrack my body. It takes a few minutes before I finally clear my head.

I may be on my own, but I know where to find answers.

And the address is in Blade’s phone I swiped while he was fighting with Wild.

I pull the bike back on the road, speeding toward my destination.

But I won’t give in. I won’t surrender. I’ll fight, and I’ll claw, and I’ll scream.

And I’ll find a way through this hell and be stronger for it.

I’m no one’s fool.