Page 61 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

Sabre rested her forearms on the table. “Where do you want to start?”

“I had to do it,” Bay said.

“Do what?” Sabre asked.

“You know what.”

Sabre held her gaze. “Say it anyway.”

Bay’s fingers tightened together.

“I killed him,” she said. “I had to.”

Vale leaned in. “Why?”

Bay’s eyes flicked to him for a second, but she kept her attention on Sabre. “He was going to hurt someone.”

Sabre’s voice stayed even. “Did he hurt you?”

Bay shook her head quickly. “No.”

“Did he try to?”

Another shake. “No.”

Vale cut in. “Then who?”

Bay’s eyes dropped to the table. “He tried to hurt someone else.”

“Who?” Sabre asked.

Bay shook her head again. “I’m not saying.”

“You need to,” Vale said. “It’s important to your defense.”

“I’m not saying,” Bay repeated, firmer this time.

“Why not?”

“Because it’s not about me. It’s about protecting. It’s what we do.”

Sabre’s eyes narrowed. “We?”

Bay was silent.

“Who is we, Bay?”

Nothing.

Vale tried another angle. “Okay. Let’s go step by step. What happened that night?”

Bay’s gaze drifted, like she was watching something no one else could see.

“Bay, please answer,” Sabre said.

“She wasn’t supposed to be there,” she said quietly.

“Where?” Vale asked.