Page 137 of Wicked Promises

I raise my hands in surrender. “Okay, okay.”

Her head lifts. The sirens are getting louder—not just coincidence anymore. They’re screaming toward us.

Her eyes fill with tears, and she squats next to Caleb. “Did you call the cops on me, Margo? Afraid I might hurt your precious boyfriend?”

“I didn’t call the police.”

She clicks her tongue. “Change of plan. Up. Into the kitchen.”

I rise from my half-crouch, risking a glance at Caleb. His eyes are on me.

Claire shoves me into the kitchen, seeming unconcerned about Caleb behind her. She presses the gun into my spine, and I leap forward, getting away from her.

“What started this?” I look back at her.

She just scoffs. “Youstarted this.”

“How on earth?”

“Come along, Caleb, or I’ll shoot Margo in the spine. Probably won’t kill her, but she’ll sure as hell never walk again.”

He growls behind us. “This isn’t the way to do things.”

“Just get in here,” she snaps. She grabs my shoulder and yanks me back against her.

I grit my teeth, seriously regretting my decision.

“Sit down next to the stove,” she orders him.

He slips past us and lowers himself to the floor. He’d probably do anything to protect me—including listening to whatever she said.Fuck. Maybe he has this handled.

Maybe Claire is going to kill us both.

“This wasn’t all you,” I try. “Right? You had help.”

She sighs. Her breath hits the back of my neck. “Six months ago, I was just a girl with a crush on someone I’d never even met. The way you talked about him when you were kids…”

She leaves me standing in the middle of the galley and crouches next to Caleb. He doesn’t move as she runs the tip of the gun down his temple.

“Stop touching him,” I snap.

Caleb’s jaw tics.

“You’re not in charge here,” she says. She trades the gun for her finger, sliding it down his jaw. “Is she, Caleb? Tell her she’s not in charge.I’m the one with the power.”

“Power. Is that what you think Caleb is going to give you?” I shake my head, balling my hands into fists.

I could just charge at her. But then she’d probably shoot me, or maybe Caleb.

I run my hands up and down my thighs, and freeze when my palm hits the clip on the knife Liam gave me.

Shit.

We’re lucky she didn’t see it. Didn’t pat me down and freak out.

Slowly, I pull it out and slip it into my jacket pocket.

And meanwhile, Caleb’s eyes are tracking my every movement. Claire… her nose is in his hair.