Chapter 7 · Two Enemies in One Back Seat

"Drop the gun, or I break her hand." Sable pressed the jagged bottle neck under the masked woman's jaw.

The woman didn't blink. Her pistol stayed aimed at Lia's chest.

Cael was on one knee beside Lia, one hand clamped over his silver-cut shoulder. Blood soaked through his fingers. His breathing came rough and uneven, each breath scraping through clenched teeth.

"Try it," the woman said. "The gun goes off before the glass reaches me."

"Then we'll all have a terrible night," Sable snapped. "I hate those."

Lia's wrist burned.

The red chain marks around her skin pulsed once. Cael's head jerked toward her. For half a second, his eyes looked almost human. Then the black swallowed them again.

"Lia," he growled. "Tell me what you did."

"I told you. I didn't write this contract."

"You made me kneel."

"Because you were about to tear someone apart. You're welcome."

His gaze dropped to her mouth, then snapped back to her eyes. His pupils were too wide. His jaw flexed like he was biting down on a scream.

"Do it again," he said.

Lia stared at him. "Excuse me?"

"The command. Use it.