He keeps his voice quiet.
Careful.
He already knows the answer.
“I almost lost them.”
The words scrape coming out.
Stefano says nothing.
“I failed to protect them.”
Again.
I don’t need to say it.
My brother hears it anyway.
He steps closer, stopping beside me.
“No,” he says.
I look at him.
His jaw is tight. “Don’t do that.”
“They were attacked.”
“That’s not the same as you failing them.”
“I should’ve had men there.”
“You had no reason to think someone would burn her sanctuary tonight. Or ever.”
“I should have,” I snap softly.
Stefano’s eyes darken. “You’re not God, Maverick.”
“No,” I say, looking back at the bed. “I’m only the man who keeps surviving the women he loves.”
The heavy words settle between us.
Stefano exhales.
Then he places a hand on the back of my neck and squeezes once, the way he did when we were boys and one of us was too close to breaking.
“They’re alive,” he says. “Hold on to that first.”
Alive.
Yes.
But only barely.
And only because Foster ran into a burning building when no one else would.
“I need to see Foster,” I say.
