“You know I can’t do that,” Knox said.

Ever arrived seconds later. Despite all I’d been through with that girl, I was happy to see her. Grateful I wouldn’t have to carry her death around with me for the rest of my life.

“We have to go back, James,” Ever said.

“I’m ready whenever you are,” James said. He took a step forward, pulling me behind him, but Knox moved to intercept us.

“You know you have to leave Leath here,” Knox said.

Victor joined us then. “Anamae got caught by a chaperone, but she’ll be here in a minute. What’s going on?” he asked. His eyes bore into James. “You.”

“Hello, Victor,” James said, acting as if they were best buds.

Victor stared at the rough way James gripped my wrist. His eyes flew to mine, questioning me. I jerked out of James’s grasp, rubbing until the blood returned to my hand.

“I’m glad you’re here,” James said. “I know Leath wouldn’t want to go away again without saying goodbye.”

“If you think you’re taking her anywhere, you’re dead wrong,” Victor said.

“You’re persistent, I’ll give you that much,” James said. “But you won’t be able to stop me.”

“It was easy enough to stop you last time,” Victor challenged.

James laughed. “Last time, I didn’t fight back.”

And then a memory surfaced. James and Victor fighting in Anamae’s front yard the night of the accident. James had refused to defend himself against Victor. When I’d asked him why, he’d said he wasn’t allowed to draw blood. There would be too many questions if he got into trouble, because he had no identification. No real identity.

So why was he willing to get into a fight now?

“This time, he’ll have help,” Knox said. “I’m sorry, old man, but he will.”

James studied him, sizing him up, then considered Victor, whose gaze didn’t waver. “You’d come against me? Side with him, no less?” He cocked a thumb in Victor’s direction. “I’m hurt, Knox. I thought we were friends.”

“We were and still are,” Knox said. “Once you get back to your old self.”

James turned to me, flashing his gray eyes that usually commanded my complete attention. “Don’t worry about these two. In fact, don’t even think about anyone else but you and me. I’ll get us out of here.”

“Not going to happen,” Knox said. “You can try, but it won’t be pretty.”

While I understood Victor’s motivation, Knox was James’s best friend. It didn’t make any sense that he would raise a hand against him.

“So be it,” James said, taking a step toward them.

“Enough,” I said. It was too much to take in at one time.