“Mmm. I’ve killed people for less,” he said calmly. “In a perfect world, Logan wouldn’t have been an insufferable twat, and Violet never would’ve found you or your pack.”
I gave him a humorless laugh.
“In a perfect world,” I shot back, “she wouldn’t have been handed to Logan in the first place.”
Reed lifted one shoulder.
“And that,” he said, tilting his head as he examined his expression in the mirror, “is why we’re tragic late-stage orphans.”
He practiced a brief, appropriate-looking frown. Like he was checking if it suited him.
“I intended to deter any alpha who got close to my sister,” he continued. “Unfortunately, Serena marked her, you knocked her up, and now I can’t get rid of either of you without upsetting Violet.”
I stared at him.
“You say that like you’ve done this before.”
He didn’t deny it.
“But,” he went on, smoothing his hair over his shoulder, “I can have a fewwordswith Logan tonight.”
His tone felt far too light for the situation, which immediately meant I didn’t trust it.
I didn’t give a single fuck if Logan Stellar ended up dead, but I had no intention of being tied to it. I had enough illegal shit happening under my roof. I didn’t need cops sniffing around because Reed decided to play executioner.
“How was Violet earlier?” I asked slowly, needing to think about anything else.
I tried not to sound like my lungs were collapsing.
If I hadn’t screamed at her, she never would’ve run.
If she hadn’t run, she wouldn’t be there.
My mind flashed to Xandra. To blood. To what might have been if I’d just gotten to her in time. If I’d protected her better. If I hadn’t just assumed she was safe with my brother, Tony.
Losing another omega wasn’t an option, not for me.
“Pregnant,” Reed said casually.
“Well, yeah.” My jaw tightened. “But did she look okay?”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he walked to my dresser, opened a drawer without asking, and flipped through my shirts before pulling out a crimson button-down.
“You need to change,” he said, tossing it at me. “Blue isn’t your color.”
I caught it automatically.
“I didn’t ask for your fashion advice. I asked how my omega was.”
His eyes narrowed slightly. He folded his arms and glanced pointedly at the shirt in my hands.
For fuck’s sake.
Begrudgingly, I started unbuttoning my current one.
He gave me a smug half-smile that made my palms itch.
