“Fuck him.”
“Dom, man, listen. I know you don’t want to hear this—”
“Then don’t fucking say it,” he snapped, jumping up to pace.
I steadied my breathing and plunged on, acutely aware his fist might meet my face after the words left my mouth, “She loves him. He loves her. Just like we do. Keeping him a secret is only going to kick us in the ass. If she finds out he’s alive and we really did end up killing him later on, it’ll be over. We’ll lose her for good. You know this, man.”
He shook his head and went quiet, a muscle feathering along his jaw in the dim lamplight.
“If we want our girl, we have to keep him alive. And like Levin said earlier, maybe the lords will take his ass out once they realize he’s on our side… if we can get him there. The trash takes itself out. It’s not ideal, but it is a solution.”
“Fuck,” he grunted. “Damn it.”
“I have an idea.”
He let his head fall back for a minute, his eyes closed. Finally, he looked at me.
I cleared my throat. “We let him know she’s alive. Let them see each other…”
Dom’s balled his hands into fists, so I rushed on.
“Once he knows she’s alive, he might be more willing to talk. Then we cut a deal with him. Besides, if B is as pissed at him as she is at us, we might not have anything to worry about concerning her running off with him.”
“I’m not sharing my wife with that piece of fucking trash.” He glared at me.
“If he’s one of us—”
“He will never be one of us. He’s a lord. They’re no good.”
“We aren’t either, man,” I said softly. “We’re just as fucked up, only we have a girl we’re trying to keep. Just think about it, OK? For B.”
He blew out a breath and closed his eyes again before he finally nodded. “I’ll consider it.”
I stared stupidly at him, shocked he’d come around so quickly. I figured I’d be working on it for weeks.
“For Bianca,” he said thickly.
I nodded. “For Bianca. We have less than seventy-two hours. No rush.”
He ran his fingers through his hair before bidding me good night.
Dom hadn’t said yes, but he also hadn’t punched me in the face for the suggestion.
It was progress.