He told me himself when he confessed his fears. In his mind, he’s tainted with bad DNA. He thinks nothing can alter that, and the only way to keep others safe is to keep them at a distance. It breaks my heart, but at the same time, I think I can understand it better than anyone. In many ways, he and I are the same. The only difference is Judge has somehow cracked me open. Now, in place of the hard shell that once protected me is something softer. Something more vulnerable.

The only problem is vulnerability can't be one-sided.

"I need you to know I don't want anything from you," I say the words in a carefully neutral tone while I reapply fresh bandages.

His muscles ripple beneath my fingers, but he doesn't respond.

"This was my decision. I didn't involve you, and I'm not asking for anything from you. Nothing."

Silence.

"I will do this on my own, and I'm okay with that. As far as I'm concerned, you can forget this ever happened. I will talk to Santi, get my inheritance, and step back from The Society. You can go on with your life, and nobody will ever know." My voice wavers slightly at the plan I've mentally prepared, but I steel myself as I go on. "I want to do this on my own, so don’t feel guilty for the choice I made. I understand you're angry right now, and I get that. But I just need you to know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I want nothing from you. Not a single—"

"Enough." Judge snarls, yanking away from me before I can seal the last bandage.

The ferocity in his tone stuns me into silence, that single word ringing with such finality. But what did I expect? This was always going to be the beginning of the end.

"I'm not going to ask you again, Mercedes. Go to your room."

It feels strange, being back in this room. More accurately, it feels achingly empty. I lie on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, waiting for footsteps I know will never come. But even as pain lances through me and I cry silent tears, I have to believe this is for the best. Judge is angry, and I wish he wasn’t, but it serves as a reminder of why I have to follow through with my plan.