nda

the party faded into a dull, rhythmic thrum. The night air was

g away

odic, cloying lik

. "I have a flight to catch, Ch

She held a glass of red wine, swirling it with a casual, predato

te in the moonlight. "But he will be by midnight. I just wan

om him," I said, stepping

e never a threat, Aminda. You were a placeholder. A warm body to keep him alive unt

ple dress, my sensible shoes, dismissin

, my patience snappin

e laughed. "Y

ps crunched on th

ut through the tension. "Wh

ntly. The malice vanished, repla

ck, her heel catching on the edge of the

. But she flailed her arms, loo

Colton lung

e grabbed my wrist, her nails digging in, and ya

!" she s

sess. He reacted on instinct-an inst

wrapping an arm around

other hand,

heave to clear the space, to make sure his preci

k. My heel hit

l bac

nst the jagged edge of the decor

e light explode

cold shock

sa

head throbbed with a sickening, pulsating rhythm. I

e of the water, I could see

on the dry path. He was checking her face,

t the water. He was

rom him, and he was comforting t

o the edges of my vision. T

pered in my head. He

a sp

grabbed me.

ace, gasping, co

y. I got you."

there too, already shucking off his jac

sed, touching the back of my

oked

m around Charlie. He was looking at me now, his eyes w

face in Colton's chest. "She tried to p

n his eyes fractured into confusion. But t

true?"

t me harder tha

othes, his face twisted in fury. "Are you i

ing. He was choosing his narrative. It was easier to

were chattering so hard I could barely sp

pital," Jayden said, li

apel. "Airport. Please. J

ommanded, glaring at Colto

st Colton, I locked eye

a stuttering, half-hear

darkness take me. I didn't