Page 66 of Ramshackle
I close my eyes and angle my head back, taking a calming breath to settle my frazzled nerves from the last fifteen minutes.
And then the elevator jerks to a halt.
My eyes fly open. I’m already running through the possibilities of what’s happening. The lights are still on, so it’s not a power outage. Are we under attack? Did Aiden stop the elevator?
“You should clear any room you enter before lowering your guard,” a husky voice murmurs into my neck.
I’m pretty sure my heart skyrockets to the ceiling and thuds back into my chest in that half-second moment I realize I’m not alone in the elevator.
“Holy fuck, Jackson!” I gasp, clutching at my chest and whirling around.
He steps into my space, and the adrenaline rush I’m still riding out of surprise has me backing up. He doesn’t stop, though, and I wind up hitting the wall.
“What are you doing here?” I ask breathlessly.
Jackson leans his forearm on the wall above me. His hand slides up my front to wrap around the side of my neck. “I was looking for you.”
“No, I mean…hanging out in the elevator.”
He smirks. “I came with Aiden. It looked like you were heading here anyway, so I waited.”
He could havesaid somethingwhen I walked in. I was under the impression we were safe here. But the challenge in his gaze tells me that shouldn’t matter.
Right.
Jack pushes his hood back, revealing his messy black hair. He lowers to one knee and bends his face over my forearm, pressing his full lips to thememento viveretattoo.
My heart skips a beat. He looks like a dark prince swearing his allegiance. Only, he’s a prince who stalks me and kills people with a smile.
“Jack?”
“I’m sorry, little one. I failed you.” His voice gravels. “I let my pride shadow the reality of what we’re up against. I put you in danger.”
“Hey, none of that is your fault. You wanted to send me home. I was the one who pushed you to bring me along.”
“If I had stayed awake—”
“What?! No. You can’t blame yourself for passing out after that fight with Thorne. Stand up.” He does it without hesitation. My eyes follow his as he rises, and I reach out to trace his face. Sometimes, he seems so untouchable. It’s moments like these where I need to feel him to remind myself that my shadow is real.
“You’re human. I’m just relieved that you’re okay.”
His smirk returns. “Then I’ll shed the trappings of humanity to become the monster you deserve.”
My breath catches in my throat.
“Now it’s your turn, little one.” He takes my hand from his face and crowds over me. “Tell your monster you’re sorry.”
“Sorry?” I repeat, confused.
“You ordered me not to do anything sacrificial, and that’s exactly what you did.”
Ah, right. Why did I think he had let me off the hook when he hadn’t mentioned it earlier? But now that I’m reminded of it, Itechnicallynever said I couldn’t do anything like that. “I never promised—”
His thumb strokes across my lips to stop me, and he chuckles. “That request applies both ways. But I’ll let your punishment slide.Thistime. An apology will do.”
“Punishment?!”
He hums. His blue eyes are locked on mine, staring deep into my soul while he waits for me to give him what he wants. Can I apologize for doing what I thought was the only way to save them? I’d do it again if it would guarantee their safety.
