Page 136 of Brutal
“I know.”
“Then why say it?”
“If you cross that line,” I say quietly, “you don’t get to pretend you didn’t know what you were doing.”
She tilts her head. “Maybe I don’t want to pretend.”
My hand comes up again.
This time I touch her. Fingers at her throat.
Her breath breaks and she closes her eyes for half a second.
I remember everything.
The way she felt.
The way she didn’t stop me.
The way I didn’t stop.
I tighten my grip just enough to hold her there. “You keep stepping into things you don’t understand.”
Her eyes glisten. “Then make me understand.”
Her words hit me like a sucker punch. Because I want to help her to understand. I want her in my world.
I step back. I have to, before this goes too far. “Those are the rules,” I say.
“And if I don’t follow them?”
“Then I stop you.”
“And you think you can?”
I don’t answer.
I don’t need to.
I’m ready to grab her when?—
A sharp tone cuts through the air.
I turn immediately and walk to the nearest panel, the one in the foyer.
Red alert.
Not here. We’re safe here. I pull out my phone and check the app for the location and feed.
Fuck.
Delaney’s apartment building. I mute the sound of the alarm.
“They’re there,” she says behind me. “Aren’t they? At my place.”
“Yes.”
She sucks in a breath. “They came back.”
