Secrets of the Crown Assassins

53

INDIGO

I clenched my fists, cursing myself silently again and again. I had seen betrayal in many forms. And the scene before my eyes was the very definition of it.

Lily's gun was pointed straight at Wolf's head as she said, "I'm sorry."

'I'm sorry' my ass.

I watched her stance, the way she held her gun. I wasn't sure how experienced she was in combat, but I knew I was faster, especially when her entire focus was on Wolf.

I slowly shifted my arms behind me, away from her view. She didn't even notice. She was entirely focused on Wolf who was trying to slowly step away from Cree, his hands up, making sure Cree wouldn't accidentally get hit if the gun was fired.

I merely flicked my wrist and my daggers slid out from my sleeve, the familiar hilt bracing my palm. They were slick with blood, but still easy to grip. I formed my plan in my mind—first flinging my right dagger towards her hand, forcing her to drop the gun as I lunge and hold the other dagger against her neck, pinning her to the wall. If she tried to still fight back, well, I supposed she wouldn't live for much longer, though it would pain everyone here to see that happen, even me.

I slowly shifted my feet into a fighting stance, readying myself.

"Lily-" Wolf began. He didn't get the chance to finish the sentence.

I flung my arm out, and extended my hand, watching them splay towards her, knowing the dagger would fly true. My fingers barely left the hilt, the dagger about to start its flight.

And then a hand was grabbing my arm, yanking it back. My palm hit the dagger once more and it clattered to the ground.

What the hell?

Still, I lunged forward, trying to tackle her as she was stunned, but Wolf pulled me back again, holding both my arms firm, my back pressed against his chest. I struggled against his unrelenting grip, but froze as Lily whirled her gun around.

"Don't move!" she shouted. The gun was shaking in her hands, but there was no doubt about whether or not it would hit its target. And now, I was its target.

Shit.

Wolf was also frozen in place, his arms still wrapped around me. We were both trapped at the end of the barrel. And to think I could've gotten us out of this safely...

I craned my neck, glaring at Wolf, but he wasn't looking at me. He was looking at Lily with an expression I had seen before, one I grew accustomed to in my time around Intellects and Kingstons. He wasn't just watching, he was assessing. He was gauging her expression, her movements, her body language. And I knew from the look in his eyes that he thought she could still be talked to. Still be reeled in.

And that was exactly what he was going to try to do.

I wanted to tell him to stop, that it was a waste of time. That I had been in this exact same situation before and it never played out well. That people wouldn't change their actions, their intentions, just for you, no matter how close you were. But I knew I wouldn't be able to change his mind. So, I kept my mouth shut.

Fine. I'll play along. It's not like I have much of another option anyways.

"Lily," he said again. His breath brushed my ear as he spoke over my shoulder. "Just put the gun down and we can talk this through."

She shook her head, now shifting the gun between the two of us. "No. I put the gun down and all you're gonna do is kill me."

"Look around, Lily. No one here wants to kill you. We're not your enemies."