A Promise of Torment (A Violent Agenda)

I stare at him like I’ve been burned. Then I coolly take my blade and get out of the car. The handle of my knife is slippery and wet, but it doesn’t matter. It’s fucking raining outside anyway.

I walk steadily to Dante’s car and shut everything down, freezing it all out. Dante. Lorcan. Dino. Even Jude. I don’t need any of them. I only need one thing—myself. The rage I felt earlier is nothing but an irritating memory by the time I get to the passenger door of the Mustang. And I’m soaked through to the bone.

Just in time for the McLaren to start up with a growl and fuck off.

My fingers slip over the door handle as I try to open it. In the end, Dante reaches over and opens the door for me. I climb into the warm car, drenching the passenger footwell and seat. The heaters are on, so I move them so that they’re pointed my way. I’m a sodden mess, wig plastered to my face, makeup smeared.

“You know, that’s not what I meant when I said to tie up loose ends,” Dante says as he looks me over.

I blink at him, ignoring the mascara leaking into my eyes and fucking up my contact lenses. “I don’t give a fuck. Let’s just go. Griffin is probably waiting.”

Approaching both of Adrien’s business associates on the same night was Dante’s idea but one that makes sense. Once Adrien finds out that I didn’t kill Kato or that Dante didn’t kill Griffin, and they’ve both gone underground, he’s going to suspect something. We need to find Rebecca before he does.

I know I’m pushing my luck. Dante could turn around and make me walk home for being such a bitch. He’s done it before. But he takes one last look my way and switches the engine on.

“If you’re not up to it, I can speak to Griffin alone,” he says.

“You’re not getting rid of me that easily. Anyway, if he sees you and only you, Griffin will shoot you dead before you even get in the door.” On top of that, I don’t trust Dante. Not hurting Rebecca is one thing, but there’s nothing to stop him cutting a deal with Griffin that has me dead in the ground by nightfall.