It’s over, all over.
The relief that washes through me is everything.
But then, I realize what it means. Enzo hurt Liesel. He got her secret.
And it crushes me.
First, I walk over to Zeke and examine the flesh wound I caused on his shoulder.
He laughs, shaking me off. “I’m fine. You barely hit me. If that’s your aim, we need to practice some more. If you are torturing someone, the goal is to shoot them where it hurts.”
His words are meant to make me laugh, to make me feel better, but they don’t.
“Hey, stingray.” He lifts my chin with his finger. “I forgive you, but honestly there is nothing to forgive. You were protecting Enzo, and I love you even more for that.”
He pulls me into a hug before I can argue.
We are okay.
This won’t come between our friendship.
Even though it should.
Even though it hurt me to hurt him.
Even though the cut is only skin deep, it’s enough to know what I would have done.
“Go,” he whispers, knowing I need to see Enzo. I need to find out the truth. I need to know what he did to win.
Archard has already left. So I run out searching.
Nothing.
There is nowhere to go down here except our rooms. And I don’t think Enzo went there. At least not until he has officially been declared the winner.
So I go up. Up to the top deck and I find them—Archard and Enzo.
I walk slowly over. Enzo won’t meet my gaze. In fact, I’m not sure he recognizes I am here at all. And I can’t feel him like I usually can.
I can’t feel his cold.
I can’t feel his love.
I can’t feel his pain.
“Good job, everyone. Round two is officially over,” Archard says.
I hiss w
hen Archard says ‘good job’ like we are competing in a track event.
Fuck him.
“Enzo is the winner. That means you are tied—one to one. I will schedule the next round soon, determined by Kai’s father. Until then, I guess it’s back to sailing the ocean,”Archard says trying to lighten the mood. But the mood will not be lightened.
Archard realizes he is no longer welcome and leaves us alone on the small top deck. The deck has the best views, but the smallest surface area. It is empty except for the two of us.
Enzo still doesn’t look at me. He hides—like a coward.