Page 313 of Lessons in Cruelty

I can’t tell if it’s anger or panic on his face, or a mix of the two.

The gun dips before I straighten my arm again. “Put the knife down.”

Kai scans the gun, my face, my body like he’s trying to convince himself that I’m not real. “That even loaded?”

Before I can answer him, Bastian says, “Put the safety back on, Haven.”

I turn the muzzle to him. “Stop talking.” Then back to Kai. “Both of you.”

My hand starts shaking, so I carefully peel back my fingers before tightening them on the grip again. “Kai? Put down the knife, take my keys, and get the fuck out of here.”

But Kai just stares at me with big, green eyes, like he’s watching a demonic possession take place right in front of him.

“Now!”

“Haven, I think it will do us all a world of good if you take a breath, and put down the—” Bastian begins.

I squeeze the trigger.

CRACK!

Fuck, and I thought the blender was loud.

I almost lose my grip on the gun when the recoil hits, my entire body jerking at the ear-splitting sound.

Both of them jump too, and if Kai had still been keeping that blade flush with Bastian’s throat, there’d be a lot more blood flowing right now.

I stare at the hole in Bastian’s front door, my heart trying to pound its way out of my chest through my rib cage.

Then I swing the gun back to them.

They both duck, and Kai quickly tosses the knife on the floor. It spins in my direction, coming to a halt halfway between us.

Adrenaline chases through my veins, sending waves of shivers through my body.

“Good boy,” I say through clenched teeth, earning myself a hard glare from Kai and a quirked mouth from Bastian.

I toss Kai my car keys. Lick my lips. Wince when that makes my damaged lower lip sting. The outside of my mouth is bad enough, but I can feel just how badly I chewed the inside last night. At least it’s healing.

“It’s a little tricky getting it into reverse,” I say. “If it doesn’t want to take, just let out the clutch and try again.”

Kai’s lips quiver for a second before he tightens them. “I’m not leaving you here with⁠—“

“You pulled a fucking knife, Kai,” I snap. “Think I’m getting in a car with you?”

“You’re holding a fucking gun, Haven,” he retorts dryly.

I make an irritated sound as I gesture toward the door with the gun. “Go.”

The muscle along Kai’s jaw tightens as he slowly steps toward the door, turning to keep his eyes on me. “Come with me.”

“I’ll take my chances.” The gun is already slippery with sweat.

Kai pushes out his chin, anger lighting a fire in his eyes as he shakes his head.

“Use your head,” he mutters, throwing Bastian a death glare. “Don’t you realize soon as I’m gone, he’s going to try something? Or is that what you want?”

“Keep insulting her, boy,” Bastian says. “That’ll change her mind.”