I knew we couldn’t stay at my place much longer. After stuffing what I could of food and water in my backpack, I looked to Damon one last time.

“You with me or not?”

It was a loaded question. So much hinged on his answer. I wanted him with me but I wouldn’t beg.

I shouldn’t want him.

I mean, he went down on me without even asking if I wanted him to.

I’m pretty sure that qualified as assault.

Heat stung my cheeks at the memory of how my hips had risen to meet his lips of their own accord.

I guess my body had a different opinion on that score.

I’d succumbed with very little fight. I chewed my bottom lip, wishing in hindsight that I’d protested a bit more, put up more of a fight.

But I wasn’t going to say he forced me when the only thing that’d been coming out of my mouth had been embarrassing moans.

Deep down, I knew that if I’d asked Damon to truly stop, he would have.

I’d let it happen.

Something had urged me to pull him closer. Nothing had felt sweeter than the feel of his head between my thighs.

Not even fresh New York style cheesecake had been as delicious.

And that was saying a lot.

I fucking loved cheesecake.

My self-respect was cringing right now.

But it was done. It happened. There wasn’t time to dwell.

At least not right now.

Staying alive and convincing Damon that his best bet was with my plan was more important than my weakly outraged dignity.

But the rub was…I wanted him to decide on his own that I was right.

Was it pride? No, nothing so easily defined.

I wish it were only my pride at stake.

There was something about Damon that made me yearn for things I’d never entertained for even a heartbeat.

He was everything I shouldn’t want in my life and yet, here I was hesitating, desperately hoping against hope that he would choose me.

How pathetic.

I slung my pack on my shoulder with impatience. “Time is wasting. Make your decision.”

Damon ignored my demand, choosing instead to pause at a photo of me and Tommy. I tried not to wince at the sudden pain.

He turned to regard me, those dark eyes boring into my fucking soul. “Bringing down Davonte won’t change anything. Your brother will still be dead.”

My sinuses tingled with the threat of tears. “I know that.”

“Then, why is it so important to you?”

“Because I can’t stand the thought of knowing Tommy was just one of many. Someone has to stop Davonte and I’m willing to be that person.” I drew a short breath, ready to put the plan in motion. “Are you with me?” I asked again, my voice hard.

This time Damon nodded, resigned to dying, maybe, but definitely with me.

“You’re right, Davonte ain’t going to let me ride this one out. I’m as good as dead as soon as I deliver you to his bed. And fuck that,” he spat. “Time for new management, anyway.”

I paused, his statement sending a warning tingle down my back. “I want to destroy everything Davonte has built. That includes The Underground.”

As I feared, Damon wasn’t on board with that part of the plan. “You can’t take down The Underground. Too many kids depend on it to get out of this shithole.”

“It’s an illusion and I aim to shatter it,” I said, immovable. “Tommy should’ve gone to college, not signed up to be someone’s punching bag.”

He shook his head. “I ain’t gonna argue with you about something you know nothing about. I said I’d help you with Davonte. He’s the problem, not The Underground.”

“We can agree to disagree,” I returned, turning away. “Let’s go. I know a place to start.”

I knew that was going to be a point of contention between us but what did I care? We could work together during the time being at the very least.

And I could work on snuffing out the tiny tingles that stole my breath at odd moments when Damon was around.

I wasn’t like most girls my age, that much I already knew.

When the girls had started looking to hook up to escape their shitty home lives, I buried myself in books.

I loved learning. Education seemed the answer to every obstacle in our lives.

If only Tommy had signed on with the same dream.

If The Underground hadn’t preyed upon his dreams of fame, he would’ve left this rathole with me to try college.

Maybe.

The truth was, I’d never know.

Tommy was gone.

Davonte was an evil, untouchable bastard and the good guys didn’t win anymore — because there were no more good guys.

I blinked away the sting in my eyes and walked out.

Either Damon would follow or he wouldn’t.

It didn’t matter to me.