Page 131 of Break Out the Girl

She nods, biting her lip. “And what about the Warden?”

Cosmo shifts his expression into something surprisingly gentle. “Don’t worry, kid. Voss and his inner circle are already being shipped to a maximum-security black-site where they'll never see the sun again.”

Sky lets out a whimper, knees buckling.

I move, but Basil gets there first. “Come on, Sky, let’s go outside. Leave the grown-ups to their stupid politics.”

She gulps, then takes his hand. “OK.”

As the two kids step out, I hear Basil asking Sky about the new catapult Tally built for her. Fuck, he’s a good kid. We’ve got to make sure he has what he needs to make a good life.

Cosmo turns back at me, his expression flickering through several emotions. “What are your next steps, Rory? I’ve learned the hard way that powerful women don’t exactly appreciate being managed—so I’m not going to tell you what to do.”

I stare at him, until the new reality hits me.

It’s not just Cos. It’s everything.

We're free.

Really free.

Tally grunts from the doorframe, his amber wolf-eyes shifting toward the frosted window. “I'm going to run the perimeter.” The silent man called Ludo nods. The two of them slip out the door, then melt into the fog.

London immediately claps his hands together, his internal-bounce fully returning. “Right then! Celebration dinner! I’m thinking a Welly!” He starts rummaging through the cupboards, banging pots and singing under his breath.

I slide onto the bench next to François. He slides an arm around my body as I look up at him. “Can you believe this?”

“Oui, chérie. Our lives can finally begin. Remember Paris?”

Yeah, he’s not going to let that go. ‘And do you remember my dream household?”

“Before you love-birds start discussing furnishings, how about you learn how to ward wherever you live, de Vaux. You’re obviously planning a life with my sister, so you’d better step up and have adequate protection.”

“Protection?” London says, popping up from where he’s digging in the fridge. “Ooh, what if we have babies? A cute little snakelet? Baby wolf? It’s making me misty just thinking about it.”

François rolls his eyes, and even though I do not want children anytime soon, the image of our family being added to, is kind of appealing. The fact that we can actually think of a future is A-fucking-mazing. We'll all be officially pardoned, or on community service, or whatever the shit. It doesn't matter. All that matters is finally...fucking finally we've cut a break.

“AHHHH!”

NO.

The scream from outside has us all instantly rushing to the door.

NO.

Basil. Sky.

“FUCK YOU…” Basil's high voice is severed by a sickening, wet crunch.

There are people out there. The afternoon mist is hiding who, but my guts freeze. This is bad.

“STAND DOWN!” a stranger's gravelly voice bellows, then a figure steps closer. A huge man who has Sky by her hair, while agonizing sobs rip her throat.

Fuck.

The man has a wicked-looking hunting knife directly against the soft skin of her neck. A thin line of blood wells where the blade rests.

François, London and Cosmo are crackling with violence. “No one do anything stupid,” I murmur. “Sky is the priority.”