“So stay away.”
Sparks took another step backwards and he hit the wall behind him. Behind Caleb, Roman and Tan ran out of sight. They’re going to try kill Candle. I can’t let them. But Caleb stood in his way, and despite himself, Spark didn’t want to hurt Caleb. For the last three months, Caleb had been the closest thing to a friend he had.
But Caleb had lied to Sparks, and he worked for Roman. Sparks wasn’t about to forgive those points.
“You’re better than this,” Caleb said. “You don’t have to join Candle. You’re not like him.”
“Don’t tell me who I am. You don’t know—”
“I know you’re not like Candle.”
“I’m a fighter, just like he is. And this is my battle, not yours. Just leave.”
“No.”
Sparks growled in frustration. What was Caleb’s plan? Was he just trying to distract Sparks so that Roman could get away? Whatever it is, there was only one thing that Sparks should do – kill Caleb and then stop Roman. That would be what Candle wanted. But Sparks couldn’t do that.
Caleb took another step closer. “I’ll give you another chance.”
“Another chance for you to use me? To make me do your dirty work because you’re too weak.”
“I’m sorry for how Roman treated you. How I treated you.”
Sparks paused. No one had ever apologized to him before.It’s a trick. He’s trying to distract you. Don’t listen to him. “If you’re so sorry, why are you still working for Roman? You know he’s an asshole.”
“I’m not doing this for Roman.”
“What?”
“Ruby’s in danger. Gavin has her. I’m here because of her.”
Sparks’ eyes narrowed. Roman had said the same thing… Was it true? It wouldn’t change a thing, Sparks reminded himself, she’s not my responsibility.
“Ruby was always on your side,” Caleb took another step forward. Now he and Sparks were only two yards apart. “She was the one who defended you when Roman wanted to get rid of you. Are you going to let her die?”
“Why the fuck would you care what I do?” Sparks demanded. Without thinking, he lashed out and struck Caleb across the chest, throwing him into the air.
Candle landed half a dozen yards away with a heavy thud. Grunting, he climbed back to his feet. For the first time in the conversation, a flicker of anger passed across his face. “Don’t ever do that again.”
“Or what?” Sparks laughed bitterly. “You can’t do anything to me.”
“No. I can’t,” Caleb spat. “But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re a selfish brat who only cares about himself, and whoever he can beat up. That makes you as much of an asshole as Roman.”
“That’s not true!” Sparks shouted. But his words sounded hollow, false.
“And you said I was the bad liar.” Again, Caleb advanced on Sparks, his huge hands curled into fists. “Be honest, you didn’t join Candle because you believed in his cause, you just came here so you could fight. Because violence is all you care about.”
Anger flared in Sparks’ chest. “So what? I’m a pit fighter. It’s what I do. And you can’t judge me, because you’re just a money-hungry, greedy mercenary!”
Caleb stopped just in front of Sparks, towering over him. “If all I cared about was money, why would I be trying to save Ruby? Why would I be here, trying to save your pathetic life?”
“I said stay away!” Sparks pressed both hands against Caleb’s chest and pushed him back.
In response, Caleb punched Sparks in the face. Sparks stumbled back, his whole head exploding with pain. He raised his arms defensively to block a second blow, but it didn’t come.
“You’re just an angry, selfish kid,” Caleb said.
“I’m not a kid!”
“Then stop acting like one.”
Sparks glowered at Caleb, furious.
“You know what?” Caleb continued. “I was the one who asked to be your owner after Roman brought you. I fed you. I gave you your clothes. I let you live in my house. And this is how you—”
“Don’t pretend you’re some hero, you never—”
“I saved your life during the fight at the Gentleman’s Den.”
“That was so you could get money from me winning!”
“I told you. I’m not just a greedy—”
“STOP LYING TO ME!” Sparks charged forward, grabbed Caleb by the arm, and swung him towards the wall. Caleb body went limp as he struck the wall with enough force to burst right through it. Chunks of brick flew everywhere. The building shook, and for one horrifying second Sparks thought it would collapse in on Caleb.
The dust finally settled, revealing Caleb half buried in rubble, blood pouring down his forehead. Sparks’ breath caught in his lungs. I killed him. Oh shit… No. Please, no…
With a burst of coughing, Caleb sat up, still very much alive. Maybe Caleb was simply too big to die. “You were meant to have my back,” he growled. “What the fuck do you call this?”
Sparks looked at his feet. “I told you, that’s finished.”
“So, you going to kill me now?”
“No.”
Neither of them moved for a long moment. Sparks refused to look at Caleb. He felt torn. Caleb’s words stung because he knew they were true. All Sparks wanted to do was fight, and kill. That was the only thing he knew how to do. Maybe that did make him a monster. Maybe Roman was right all along. Still, I can’t change. I chose my path. Now I have to live with it. “I don’t want to kill you,” Sparks said slowly. “But I can’t work for you again. I won’t.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to kill Juliette.”
“Why?”
Sparks paused. Why did he feel it was so important to kill her? Was it because he had promised Candle he would? No. That wasn’t it. “She did this to me,” and he turned his head to give Caleb a full view of the tattoo on his neck. “I think that’s a good enough reason.”
Caleb snorted. “Revenge, huh? You’re really are as bad as Roman.”
Sparks turned away, he didn’t want to look at Caleb as he said, “I am grateful to you, but that doesn’t mean I owe you anything. I’m working for Candle now. So… goodbye.”
He left.
“That’s got to be it.” Roman pulled to a halt when they turned a corner and entered an open yard. In the centre stood a single building.
Tan stopped beside him. “Looks kinda ominous, doesn’t it?”
Roman looked around cautiously for any signs of danger. The yard was deserted. But he could hear shouting coming from somewhere close, and getting closer quickly. He took off at a sprint across the yard, Tan a step behind him.
The building wasn’t large, it probably only had space for two or three rooms inside. Roman charged into the door, shoulder first, and it burst open. Inside it was dark, the only light coming from the door. No sign of Spencer.
Roman cautiously crept forward, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dark. He was in a large room, the air stale and thick with dust. The walls were lined with blank screens and large panels covered in buttons.
“What the heck is all that shit?” Tan asked, walking over a wall and running his hand over a screen.
“Computers,” Roman answered.
“Oh. So that’s what they look like. Pretty disappointing, to be honest.”
Roman moved to the nearest panel of buttons and pressed a dozen at random. Nothing happened. “This is meant to be the control room,” he muttered, “but it looks… broken.”
“Candle shut it down?” Tan guessed.