“What the fuck are you talking about? You’re not that important to them.”
“I’m a member of The Sainthood, Dar. Sinner just approved my initiation. That’s where the guys were supposed to be taking me. Galen wouldn’t have pulled this stunt had he known.”
He bursts out laughing. “You expect me to believe that bull?”
“It’s the truth. I bear the mark. Pull up my hoodie at the back, and I’ll show you.”
“I’ve seen your back, sweetheart, and there’s no mark there.”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes. “Think about it, Dar. I kept my skirt on every time you fucked me from behind. Didn’t you ever wonder why?”
“That was on purpose?” His voice reveals his surprise.
I nod. “I’ve gone to great lengths to disguise the mark, as did my father. He’s the one who arranged my avenging angel tattoo.”
I turn around, offering him my back. “Take a look. Lower right-hand side of my back, just above my ass.”
He gets up and presses his palm into my back, shoving me into the icky couch, and I hold my breath to avoid inhaling the noxious fumes. He pushes my hoodie up to my waist and tugs my yoga pants down a little, exposing my bare back. He leans in close, his warm breath creeping across my skin like fog. His fingers skate over the exact place where Sinner branded me at thirteen. “Holy fuck.”
I turn my head to the side. “Now, do you believe me?”
He fists a hand in my hoodie, yanking me back up. “If you expect this to work in your favor, you’re sorely mistaken.” He curls his finger around the trigger as he pushes the barrel of the gun into my chest. “It only adds to the reasons to kill you.”
“Sinner branded that on my skin when he kidnapped me at thirteen. He’s had plans for me all this time. What do you think he’ll do to you if you eliminate me? I’m not just the first female member of The Sainthood. I’m soon to be his stepdaughter. If you kill me, it won’t just mean an Arrows versus Saints war. Sinner will go after you personally. He won’t stop until you’re dead.” I stare at his blood-streaked face. “I don’t know about you, but a scenario where we both end up dead sounds like a fucking shit plan to me. Especially when there are much better plans we could enact.”
“Like what?”
I force my eyes wide and deliberately inject excitement into my tone because I need to sell this if I’m to get out of here alive. If The Arrows already have a mole, my suggestion carries less weight, so I need to convince my ex this is a solid offer and something he can take to his president to get back into Archer’s good graces. “Like I become a spy for The Arrows. Sinner is sending me to their training facility, and he’ll assign me initiation tasks. I’m being groomed to enter the senior chapter with the guys after we graduate next year. I will be privy to all their inner workings and all their secrets. Isn’t that intel worth more to The Arrows than my death? And I have more files like the one I gave you. You can get more of your guys out of jail with proof evidence was planted and witness testimony coerced.” I’d given him a file Dad had on one of The Arrows, a guy named Alfred, to keep him happy and off my back. The file contained proof he’d been set up, and Alfred was now a free man.
He keeps the gun pressed to my chest, but I spot the indecision in his gaze. He’s wavering.
“Why would you do that? If you are a member, why risk betraying them? If Galen could do this to you now, imagine what the organization would do if they discovered you were spying for us?”
“That’s for me to worry about. As for the reason.” I pause for a second, swallowing over the lump in my throat. My chest heaves as the usual pain presses down on my rib cage. “They kidnapped and tortured me when I was only a kid and they murdered my father,” I say through gritted teeth.
Dar’s face registers shock, so this is news to him.
“I want them to pay. All of them but especially that bastard Sinner.”
He lowers the gun, tucking it back in his jeans, and I breathe a quiet sigh of relief, knowing I’ve won. Thank fuck. It was a little touch and go there for a while.
“I didn’t swap sides, Dar,” I add. “I’ve always been on Team Lo, and that hasn’t changed. We have a common enemy. We both want to see The Sainthood taken down. I can help. We can help each other.” I hold out my bound wrists. “And this way you get to save face with Archer and get your future back on track. Win-win for both of us.”
“Don’t make me regret this,” he says, bending down and removing the knife strapped to his calf, before cutting the ties off me.
“That works both ways,” I say, gently probing the tender skin at my wrists.
He sits down beside me on the couch, flipping the knife between his fingers. “How do we spin this?”
I lean in, as if I’m going to kiss him, and his eyes zero in on my mouth. I whip the knife from his hand and slam it into his thigh before he’s had time to register the motion. I press down on it, twisting it for good measure, deriving immense pleasure from inflicting pain.
Bastard fucking deserves it.
A bloodcurdling roar rips through the air as blood pumps from the wound and his face pales. I work fast, stretching behind him to grab his gun before he shoots me. I put the safety on and zip it in the pocket of my hoodie. “Don’t worry, I didn’t hit any arteries,” I confirm, reaching into the pocket of his jeans and pulling out his keys and his wallet.
“You fucking bitch,” he yells, his fingers curling around the handle of the knife.
“I wouldn’t remove that—not unless you want to bleed out all over the floor.” I stand. “You should get to a hospital.” I grin as I crouch down over him. I grab firm hold of his chin, tilting his face up as I peer into his eyes. “That’s a warning. Betray me again, and next time, I’ll embed it in your heart.”
His face is a mix of hatred and respect as he glares at me. “Now, now, don’t be like that.” I mess up his hair, straightening up and slanting him a mock smile. “This explains how I escaped when Galen comes knocking.”
It makes him look like a total pussy too, but I don’t articulate that thought.
I saunter toward the door, humming under my breath.
“We have a deal, Lo,” he yells. “And if you fuck me over again, I will slit your throat without stopping to ask questions next time.”
I spin around, narrowing my eyes at him. “I’m glad we’re both on the same page.” I dangle his keys from my fingers. “I’ll be in touch.” My lips twitch. “Try not to die in the meantime.”
He screams obscenities at my retreating back as I exit the apartment, steal his car, and hightail it out of there.
CHAPTER 2
Saint
WE ARE AT Lo’s house, grabbing clothes and shit to take with us to the safe house in Grenlow, when my cell pings with a message from Galen.
Change of plans. Meet me at the barn.
“What the fuck?” I stop what I’m doing and call his number, but the asshole doesn’t pick up.
“Sup?” Caz asks, wandering into Lo’s bedroom. He stalls when he sees my expression.