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You’re one to talk Langston looks to Phoenix, and my smile wavers I’ve committed the sa at me too

Zeke and Siren leave And then it’s just us and Phoenix

There’s a heaviness in the air between us, threatening to choke me if someone doesn’t talk soon I’ston and ure it out I just don’t knohat she’s going to do about it

I don’t knohat Langston is going to do about it

I don’t knohat I’ to do about it

Phoenix yawns and then stands “I’ston?”

“Not yet,” he says, aze

Not yet—those words hurt us both Phoenix because he isn’t following after her And me because his words insinuate that he will eventually

Her jaw ticks in disapproval, but she doesn’t tell him off I don’t understand all the ins and outs of their ston, she must know that she can’t control hi for Kai—he’s loyal to a fault He’ll be back to taking orders in no time

“She can sleep in the guest bedrooh I’ston

I want to snap back that Langston is hers Even though I fucked him, there is no way he’ll leave her Not when it’s the only way to keep both of his children together Even if I aical mothers, it doesn’t matter Even if I meet Atlas, it doesn’t mean he’s mine I haven’t been in his life in years I haven’t proven worthy of being a mother I will never prove worthy She’ll alin

I don’t say any of that, though I just watch silently as she walks inside the beach house

I don’t think about how she has two houses, while I have none I can no longer affordfro as stolen I have one oal—to protect my son

I suspect Langston’s reason for going after the treasure is the same as mine For once, we are on the same side

“We should talk,” Langston says once the night air settles and the surge of our electricity resuood it feels to kiss hi inside me