Chapter 38 · Cage Me

The boat was fueled. The twin engines were humming against the dock.

The key card sat in my left palm. Dante’s signet ring pressed heavy in my right.

I’d stood at the end of the pier for ten straight minutes, and not a single soul came down to stop me.

That was the part that made my skin itch. Nobody stopped me.

"Boat’s got four hundred miles of range," Katia said behind me. Her rifle hung loose across her chest, fresh gauze taped over the old scar at her throat. "Canada before lunch. He told me to tell you that. Then he told me to shut the hell up."

"He’s not coming down?"

"Top of the terrace stairs. Bleeding through his bandages and lying to himself about watching you." She shrugged. "Your uncle’s at the bottom of the lake, Lucia. The mercenaries are zip-tied across the lawn. The capos are inside waiting to see who owns their lives now. No one’s hunting you. Walk or don't."

I stared at the black water.

Six weeks ago, I would’ve jumped in with a blade between my teeth and never looked back. Now the dawn fog was cutting off pink across the bay.