soon as his cracked ribs had healed. He could turn the building into a fortress, but the truth was, the only thing keeping us safe was the deal I’d cut with Billy.
At the time, I’d been convinced I could find a way out, hatch a plan that would set all three of us—Colin, his sister, and me—free. I was working every angle I could, but so far we were still stuck. The possibility we’d stay stuck was looking more likely.
“Coffee?” he asked, helping me out of my coat. “You make it, and I’ll get a fire going.”
“Sure.” In the past few months, I’d gotten familiar with Colin’s place—enough that I knew my way around the kitchen, and it felt right. Easy. I waited while he stowed his gun in the locked cabinet, then pulled him over for another kiss.
I loved these moments. Small and quiet, the two of us alone, hidden from the rest of the world. We didn’t get them nearly enough these days, with my mom working less and my job at Morgan’s. When Colin wrapped his arms around me, resting his chin on top of my head with a satisfied sigh, I could almost believe we were a normal couple. Almost.
He gave me a gentle push toward the coffeemaker and crossed the living room to the wood stove in the corner.
I watched him crouch in front of the open door and begin building the fire, and then busied myself with filters and beans.
“What else did you and my dad talk about?”
“He wanted to know about your college plans.” He made some minute adjustments to the layers of newspaper and kindling and cordwood. “Have you heard from NYU?”
“Not yet. Besides, I might not get in. Jill McAllister’s already got a spot, and they don’t usually take more than one girl from St. Brigid’s.”
He glanced over his shoulder at me. “Do you have safety schools?”
“Of course.” Acceptance letters and e-mails from my safeties had been trickling in—as well as some of my “reach” schools, but I’d stayed quiet, waiting for the right time to tell him. Hoping I could find a way out for both of us. But now was as good a time as any to lay the groundwork. I concentrated on pouring water into the coffeemaker, not meeting his eyes. “Maybe I’ll go to school in the city.”
I heard the rasp of a match and the whoosh of the newspaper catching fire. “You’re supposed to leave. That’s always been the plan.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?” Worry began to gnaw at my rib cage, but I kept my voice light and punched the start button.
“The longer you stay, the more danger you’re in. When someone knows as much about the Forellis as you do, they figure you’re either an asset or a liability. You’re nothing more than a weapon to them, Mo. And if they can’t use you, they’ll get rid of you. The only safe thing to do is get out of town.”
A weapon. That’s what I’d be if Anton or the Quartoren found out about the magic, too. I was right to keep quiet. About everything.
“But you won’t come with me.”
“I can’t.”
“Then neither can I.” Sadness twisted sharply inside me, guilt welling up. I’d promised Verity that I’d go to New York. It had been our dream for so long, a goal I’d worked toward for years. But I had already lost one person I loved. I wasn’t interested in losing another. I tamped down on the unhappiness and perched on the arm of the couch. “We both stay.”
He slammed the stove door shut with a clang. “No.”
“You love me,” I said. “That should count for something.”
“Don’t make it leverage, Mo. Don’t use it to force my hand.” Something cold crossed his expression.
I’d heard girls at school say that to their boyfriends all the time. If you loved me, you’d give me your class ring ... let me borrow your car ... blow off your friends. It had always seemed whiny. Petulant, even, like a little kid throwing a tantrum. But the look on Colin’s face made it seem more insidious—like using someone’s love against them.
“I know you won’t
At the time, I’d been convinced I could find a way out, hatch a plan that would set all three of us—Colin, his sister, and me—free. I was working every angle I could, but so far we were still stuck. The possibility we’d stay stuck was looking more likely.
“Coffee?” he asked, helping me out of my coat. “You make it, and I’ll get a fire going.”
“Sure.” In the past few months, I’d gotten familiar with Colin’s place—enough that I knew my way around the kitchen, and it felt right. Easy. I waited while he stowed his gun in the locked cabinet, then pulled him over for another kiss.
I loved these moments. Small and quiet, the two of us alone, hidden from the rest of the world. We didn’t get them nearly enough these days, with my mom working less and my job at Morgan’s. When Colin wrapped his arms around me, resting his chin on top of my head with a satisfied sigh, I could almost believe we were a normal couple. Almost.
He gave me a gentle push toward the coffeemaker and crossed the living room to the wood stove in the corner.
I watched him crouch in front of the open door and begin building the fire, and then busied myself with filters and beans.
“What else did you and my dad talk about?”
“He wanted to know about your college plans.” He made some minute adjustments to the layers of newspaper and kindling and cordwood. “Have you heard from NYU?”
“Not yet. Besides, I might not get in. Jill McAllister’s already got a spot, and they don’t usually take more than one girl from St. Brigid’s.”
He glanced over his shoulder at me. “Do you have safety schools?”
“Of course.” Acceptance letters and e-mails from my safeties had been trickling in—as well as some of my “reach” schools, but I’d stayed quiet, waiting for the right time to tell him. Hoping I could find a way out for both of us. But now was as good a time as any to lay the groundwork. I concentrated on pouring water into the coffeemaker, not meeting his eyes. “Maybe I’ll go to school in the city.”
I heard the rasp of a match and the whoosh of the newspaper catching fire. “You’re supposed to leave. That’s always been the plan.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?” Worry began to gnaw at my rib cage, but I kept my voice light and punched the start button.
“The longer you stay, the more danger you’re in. When someone knows as much about the Forellis as you do, they figure you’re either an asset or a liability. You’re nothing more than a weapon to them, Mo. And if they can’t use you, they’ll get rid of you. The only safe thing to do is get out of town.”
A weapon. That’s what I’d be if Anton or the Quartoren found out about the magic, too. I was right to keep quiet. About everything.
“But you won’t come with me.”
“I can’t.”
“Then neither can I.” Sadness twisted sharply inside me, guilt welling up. I’d promised Verity that I’d go to New York. It had been our dream for so long, a goal I’d worked toward for years. But I had already lost one person I loved. I wasn’t interested in losing another. I tamped down on the unhappiness and perched on the arm of the couch. “We both stay.”
He slammed the stove door shut with a clang. “No.”
“You love me,” I said. “That should count for something.”
“Don’t make it leverage, Mo. Don’t use it to force my hand.” Something cold crossed his expression.
I’d heard girls at school say that to their boyfriends all the time. If you loved me, you’d give me your class ring ... let me borrow your car ... blow off your friends. It had always seemed whiny. Petulant, even, like a little kid throwing a tantrum. But the look on Colin’s face made it seem more insidious—like using someone’s love against them.
“I know you won’t
Similar Books
