Page 98

"Told the truth," I say, cutting him off. "I told the truth. Every single word, but what's more? We both know I held back and didn't reveal everything you did to me, even though I'm not sure why."

"You destroyed my life!"

"You did that all by yourself!"

I'm close enough that I see his eyes flash and change to that dark, devil black I know too well. Some people say it's a result of extreme emotion. I say it's evil. Pure, unadulterated evil.

That evil has a hold of him still, even after all this time.

His hand shoots out.

I jerk back but not fast enough. His fingers catch my arm, slide to my wrist, gripping hard enough to grind bone. Havoc erupts. Snarling, barking—the sounds so vicious they bounce off the brick building and echo around us.

"I told you to come alone," Thad says.

It feels like he's breaking my wrist, and I gasp, "I needed an excuse to get out of the house alone."

For that bit of logic, he grabs me by the hair and yanks hard. I scream.

Something bangs against the door from the inside, and Thad pauses in his effort to drag me toward Sully's truck.

The noise—Sully? My gaze shoots that way, and I cry out again when Thad sees and pulls my hair harder to punish me for it.

Havoc is practically levitating with the effort it takes for him to stay in guard position where I placed him.

The back door of the Pelican suddenly bangs open, and Havoc scrambles to get out of the way before repositioning himself. Sully leans heavily against the frame. He's upright, though barely. Bleeding from his temple, a dark red streak sliding down his face and jaw. His face is pale, his eyes dazed until they lock on me, and I see them sharpen.

"Let her go."

His voice is low and rough. Dangerous. Pained.

Thad smiles.

"Look who decided to wake up."

I see Sully sway on his feet and instinctively try to go to him, but Thad grips my hair tighter, causing me to shriek even though I try to hold it in.

Sully shoves himself off the doorframe and stumbles forward. I panic. No, no, no. He's hurt. Bleeding. Whatever Thad had done to get him down, it had worked well enough that Sully still staggers.

But I see the fight in him. The fury. His determination to protect me. Come for me. No matter what it costs him. And it does cost him.

His knees nearly buckle when he tries to move toward us.

"Sully, no!"

His gaze snaps back to mine.

Thad laughs. "That's it. Tell him to stay like a good boy."

I bristle at the derision in Thad's tone. Sully is a thousand times the man this imbecile is. I'll never know what I ever saw in him. Forgiving myself for being foolish enough to fall for some pretty compliments and flowers is something that will take time. Lots of time.

Focus.

I take a breath and ignore his words. His taunt. I ignore him completely and feel Thad glaring at me as I say. "Havoc, guard Sully." I release my hold on Thad's wrist long enough to point in Sully's direction.

The dog freezes. As does Sully.

Havoc swings his head toward me, then Sully. And for one terrible second, I think he won't obey the order because every inch of him is focused on the man latched onto me. Then he moves toward Sully and plants himself in front of Sully's legs, facing Thad with every tooth bared and showing.