Page 21 of Lost & Found

With deep resentment and anger, Hannah turned on her. “Of course you’d be here. I swear everywhere he is, you are. Don’t you get enough dick at home with three men?”

Hannah’s words drained the color from Kinsley’s face, and tears filled her eyes. She withdrew inside and gulped. It never stopped confusing me. Mouse was fearless by nature. Reckless, even.

Yet whenever Hannah raised her voice or stepped into her space, it all vanished. She would back down so quickly that it left me questioning everything I thought I knew about her. But not Isabella. Hannah had just activated Mama Bear mode.

The dark-haired beauty moved before I could. One second she was beside me, the next she had Hannah fisted by her shirt, pencil pressed just beneath her jaw.

“Get the hell out of my studio. If you ever speak to her that way again, it will be the last thing you do. Don’t try me.”

I pulled Kinsley to the opposite side of the tattoo chair and pushed between Hannah and Isabella. This wasn’t the first time Isabella had stepped in, and the anger radiating from her gave me pause.

“Princess, let me handle this.” I eased the pencil from her grip before she did something she couldn’t undo and notched my head toward Kinsley. “Take her to your office and wait for Marcus.”

My eye twitched as I stared down at Hannah. Anger, pain, and bitterness stared back. I sighed.

Bloody fucking hell.

“That bitch is so damn toxic,” I hissed, feeling a surge of protective anger course through me at the look of sadness on my girl’s face.

I unclenched my fists and took Kinsley by the arm, leading her swiftly out of the room, ignoring Hannah’s tirade as Pasha took her outside. Once inside the office, I closed the door behind us, shutting out the chaos.

“What did I do wrong? Why does she hate me so much?” Kinsley whispered, her voice tight with emotion.

Her soft gray eyes filled with hurt, and she retreated into herself. Her question was heavy and filled with confusion. I instantly felt a pang of guilt twist in my chest. The crushed look on her face yanked me backward in time.

Spring, in a leotard with scuffed slippers. Huddled in a corner, crying while the Mask towered over her. Tears streamed down her face as she cowered in fear. Taunts and threats from our tormentors echoed in my ears. I was powerless then, but not anymore.

“It’s not you. It’s her own insecurities and bitterness. It drives her to act stupid. You don’t deserve this. You never did.”

Kinsley’s head whipped up. We didn’t talk too much about the past. It was enough that we processed it with Marcel. I think in many ways we were protective of one another. It was hard to pinpoint a part of our past that wouldn’t be triggering in one way or another. It was easier to not talk about it.

My conversation with Marcel from my last session played over and over in my head. The what-if game started. What if I had asked them to be nicer to her? Did I have enough power as the favorite to protect her? To soften it even a little.

I failed her. Tears prickled at the corners of my eyes, blurring my vision as I struggled to hold it together.

“It’s okay. I’ll be alright. There was nothing you could have done,” she whispered, the words barely audible over the sound of my heart beating in my ears.

She wasn’t talking about two minutes ago. I wrapped my arms around her in a comforting embrace, holding her close as if to shield her. Like I’d wanted to do years ago. A gentle knock sounded on the door. I glanced up as it opened, and Pasha stood in the doorway, anger etched across his face. They softened, flickering with sympathy when they took in Kinsley.

“Marcus is on his way. She’s gone, but I’d rather you both stay here until he arrives.”

I nodded in acknowledgment. Without another word, he crossed the room in a few quick strides. Kinsley, sensing he was coming toward her, let out a loud sob. He pulled her from me and into his arms.

Tremors ran through her body, and it made my anger boil. It was too damn bad the Death Squad had a code a person had to violate in order to get the summons for death. Apparently, killing someone because you didn’t like them wasn’t a good enough reason.

“It’s okay, mouse,” Pasha said.

“I’m sorry. I should have gone home with Alek, then none of this would have happened.”

Kinsley’s face was buried against his chest, so the words came out garbled and her breathing was ragged. She gasped as she struggled to contain her emotions. Pasha and I made eye contact, and he mouthed, “Marcel.”

I nodded, understanding that a heads up was in order. Kinsley was going to need him tonight. I quickly sent him a text.

BELLARUSO:

Hannah showed up today. At the studio. Kinsley is shaken. Please tell me you have time for her ASAP. I can text Nik. I think it’s his night, but she may need you on this one.

MARCEL: