Page 273 of Fatality

Except for the device.

I wasn't going to let him talk about her like that.

I couldn't, the moment I heard him, my mind locked up.

It felt like something inside me snapped and if he would have killed me…

I shake my head, trying to dislodge the image of what he threatened to do to Riven.

Instead, it drags me right back to the memory of her ex wrapping his hands around her throat and her weakening and turning purple.

My jaw clenches so hard that the bruise from where my head smashed through the wooden wall earlier starts throbbing.

I managed to wash off all the green fluid, patch up my wounds, change into this damn suit, and park my Charger outside her building to wait for her.

Ren gave me a tiny earpiece so he could stay in contact with me.

It's not comfortable to wear, but at least it's practically invisible.

I can't believe I'm actually doing this shit.

I'm doing it for her and her brother.

Because I need the files, I need her to keep her promise—to stay and chase the silence away.

I glance down at my comm, then look back up.

She said seven and it's 7:05 p.m., and she's still not downstairs.

What the fuck is she doing?

I swear, if she's sleeping or just fucking with me, I'll drag her out of bed myself and shove her naked into the car.

She's the one who forced me into this shit.

Made me wear this damn suit, dragged me to some Upper Layers ball where I have no business being, just so I can smile and play nice with a bunch of rich, spoiled bastards.

I'm here to plug in the device and help her find out what happened to her brother—and piss off her parents.

And she's the one who's fucking late.

I could have better things to do.

In two weeks, the seasonal race—held once every three months—is coming up.

I'll be racing, obviously.

But before that, I need to decide who else from Crimson Velocity will compete, who'll stay behind as support, and who among the new recruits is ready to race—or at least ready to help.

My eyes harden as I take a step toward the entrance of her building, ready to throw her over my shoulder and drag her to that damn ball.

I freeze mid-step.

My brain just... Stops.

There she is, stepping out of the building. My mouth goes dry, my heart skips a beat, my chest tightening painfully.

I don’t like that, I don’t like this feeling, what the fuck is this?