Chapter 113

Kai POV

“If I stay with you, will it all end?”

Nova’s question hung in the air between us like a blade. She looked at me with eyes that had given up, eyes that had decided love wasn’t worth the cost.

I’d never been more terrified in my life.

“No,” I said firmly. “Staying with me won’t end it. But leaving won’t either. The only thing that ends this is destroying the man who started it.”

“You can’t—”

“Watch me.” I stood up, pulling out my phone. “I’ve been playing defense since I came back. Protecting you, shielding you, trying to minimize damage. But that’s not how you win wars. You win by making the enemy realize that attacking you was the worst mistake of their life.”

“Kai, you’re not thinking clearly—”

“I’m thinking perfectly clearly. And here’s what I see: Darren has been winning because he’s willing to do things we won’t. Lie, manipulate, destroy innocent people.” I scrolled through my contacts. “So we do what he doesn’t exp