FIFTY-SIX

His head jerked back at my words then a frown creased his brows for a second before he swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I don’t make it a habit of protecting those I hate.”“How would I know that when I don’t know you?” He let out a short, mirthless bark of laughter that made my mouth dry. The laughter died as quickly as it had started. He faced me with narrowed eyes and crossed arms.

A loud phone blaring startled us. Cahir reached into his pocket for his phone, turning away from me to answer it. My body relaxed, I rubbed a hand on my face then let myself fall back into bed, spread eagle.

“Yes, I’m there. What do you want?” Cahir barked into the phone. When I strained my ears, I heard Aristo on the other end of the call. Despite everything, he ratted me out and I was grateful for being found out earlier than I had planned.

My teeth worried my bottom lip and my hands shivered beside me. I closed my eyes and

forced my lungs to expand as I took in a deep breath but reality was settin