Gemma
I freeze. It feels like my heart completely stops beating,
He knows it was me. That I’m Moonlight.
Zina is at my side. It’s like I can see her gearing up to start shouting at Cassian in the hallway.
I put a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, I’m fine. Wait for me downstairs.”
“Are you sure?” Zina asks.
5 min left
I almost laugh at the hostility in her tone. This little fey woman seriously wants to take on the Alpha of the Smokewind Pack.
My best friend is fearless.
“I’m sure,” I say.
Zina gives me one last, long look, then nods and walks away.
I stand in the hallway facing Cassian down. I push my hair back behind my shoulders, lift my chin, and meet his eyes.
He’s used to me being meek and scared. But I’m no longer that
woman.
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“So. You finally figured it out,” I say.
“Figured it out?” he growls.
&
5 min left
He advances, and I retreat until my back is pressed against Zina’s apartment door. Despite my decision to be bold a moment ago, I suddenly wish I hadn’t sent my fierce friend away.
I start to panic. If Cassian knows I’m Moonlight, what will he do?
I’ve never been afraid he’ll hurt me. But he could do other things.
Take away Seaside Manor.
Refuse to divorce me.
Trap me in the house we used to share and take away my computer access, so I could never get online again.
No one would stop him if he did–he’s the acting Alpha of the Smokewind Pack, after all. The most powerful man in the mafia
underworld.
Or he could do something worse…he could divorce me, out, withdraw his protection…
kick me
Then he could let my secret out to every other pack and family
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in the supernatural crime world.
I would be dead in less than a day.
And that’s if I’m lucky.
5 min left
“Figured it out,” he says again in a low, dangerous voice. “You team up with some hacker to work against me, and you want to know if I’ve figured it out?”
I blink at his words. “Team up?”
“Yes. You think I don’t know you’re working with Moonlight? I had Liam pull the security footage from my office. I saw you take a thumb drive and pull something off my computer.”
“Working with…?” I almost laugh.
Of course.
Of course, Cassian still doesn’t think I’m good enough or smart enough to be Moonlight. I have to be working for her.
My mind spins. Suddenly, I know exactly what to say.
“Yes, I did take information off your computer,” I say. “I took information about that miracle drug. You know, the one you booted my mom off the list for and gave to Angela instead?”
Cassian’s brow furrows. He goes from looking angry to looking
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confused.
“Drug? What are you talking about?”
5 min left
I bare my teeth, and now I’m the one advancing on him. “You know my mom needs special medicine. You know she was on the top of the list for that new drug that’s barely coming on the market.”
He steps back, and I step forward, following him. “You know it, and you still kicked her off that list and had Reyna’s mom put at the top.”
“What?”
He genuinely looks confused about what I mean. He says, “Reyna’s mom has insomnia. I had no idea she and Lisette needed the same drug.”
á
“Need.” I snort. “There are a million things out there to help with insomnia, but nothing has helped with my mother! Not until they tried this.”
“If your mother needs something, anything, why wouldn’t you just ask me?!” Cassian snarls.
“Why would I ask you for something like that when you won’t even give me a divorce?” I shout. “Do you expect me to believe you’d give me this?”
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“Yes!”
He says it so quickly, I almost believe him.
5 min left
Then, quietly, I say, “There’s a limited amount of this medicine, Cassian. You have to choose who gets it. My mom, or Reyna’s mom Angela?”
He hesitates, and I push forward more. Now, it’s like I have this powerful Alpha pressed against the wall.
“Yes. I took something off your computer. I took information about that drug, because you took it from my mom, and I’m giving it back to her.”
I look him up and down and say, “Go ahead. Tell me I’m being petty for bringing Reyna into this now.”
He doesn’t speak for a long moment. Then he says, “Reyna came to me and asked to have her mother moved to the top of the list. I did. I didn’t look into it.”
He puts his hands gently on my shoulders. “This is my fault.”
Hearing him say those words makes tears spring to my eyes. My throat aches and I swallow hard to keep from crying.
He’s taking responsibility? He’s not telling me I’m selfish?
I don’t know what to do.
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“You’ll still never choose me over her,” I say.
Just then, Cassian’s phone rings. He lifts it and looks at the screen. I see Reyna’s name on it.
5 min left
Cassian looks at me, then he answers. “Reyna? What-? Slow down. Your mother was in a car accident?”
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