"Enough. Shut up, Mateo!" I cried out urgently. Why was he saying all this? Was he trying to provoke Ezra?
"It's OK, Riley," Mateo looked deeply at me, his expression resolute. "I've wanted to say this for a long time. I'm not afraid. There are things more important than me."
I frowned back at him.
Now I was honestly confused. Was he saying this just to cover for me? Or was he actually venting something real? I didn't even know Mateo had been holding onto these cynical thoughts.
"Very well."
Ezra looked down at Mateo, a storm brewing in his green eyes.
"Then it's OK for me to execute you right here."
He raised his gun at Mateo again, ready to shoot.
"NO!" I grabbed Ezra's arm with both hands, screaming. "Don't do it. Please, I'm begging you."
He spun around and seized my throat, h
