Page 115 of Deathless & Divided

“Dino—”

No, Lily didn’t want to hear that, either. She turned toward the house and bolted as fast as she could away from Damian. The sound of the tool he’d been holding echoed with a bang as he dropped it to the cement floor.

“Lily!”

What had her brother done? That vehicle could only mean one thing. Dino had a hand in the shooting. He’d nearly killed her in the process. And Damian … he was helping to dispose of the evidence. Damian knew, too.

Oh, God.

Memories and things Lily had overlooked flew into her mind one after the other. Whispered conversations and offhanded remarks made by Dino or even Damian at times.

“This shit happens.”

“Right now we have to focus on keeping what is important safe, which I thought someone already understood that.”

“She was safe, man.”

“Someday, she might actually understand.”

“Which side are you on?”

“My side, of course.”

“Obviously someone is out to prove a point with someone else in the Outfit …”

“… sometimes it’s better to bide your time, little one. Not everything is black and white.”

There was so much. Too much. Lily, blind and dumb to her brother and his schemes, had passed over everything without so much as a question.

Then, there was Damian. That probably hurt her the very most. She’d spent a great deal of the last day in Damian’s bed. Her body could still feel the aftereffects of their lovemaking hours after it had ended. Damian touched her like he cared, like he wanted her. He’d made her believe that.

How much of it was nothing but lies?

Had that been a part of whatever plans Dino had, too?

Bile rose in the back of her throat the closer she came to the house. Fresh, hot tears streaked down her cheeks. Nothing had ever felt quite as hurtful before. Betrayal stung on her tongue, making her sicker than ever.

“Lily, just wait,” Damian said.

She’d almost made it to the steps but he caught her first. Damian’s hands, ones she let touch and learn her body, grabbed onto her wrists and spun her around fast to face him. The moment he released her, she swung at him with all her might. Her palm connected with his cheek, the crack reverberating across the nearly silent backyard. Damian tensed and snapped back from her like he was worried she might smack him again.

“You fucking asshole!” Lily shouted, letting the tears fall freely. “You lied to me!”

Damian licked the spot of blood from his bottom lip and rubbed at his jaw. “Fuck, you’ve got a mighty swing.”

Lily held back her scream of frustration. “You’re lucky it was just the one.”

“Don’t hit me again.”

“I beg your pardon? Where in the hell do you get off telling me anything after what I just saw you doing?”

Damian took a step forward, closer to Lily. She backed up one, needing the space. “Just like I said. Don’t hit me again. I’ve never hit you. I would never hit you. Don’t hit me.”

Lily’s sobs caught in her throat, choking her. “Where is my brother?”

“Gone. He got a call from Tommas an hour ago. Riley finally retaliated. The Rossi crew took a mighty hit. Terrance wanted the men to gather and discuss what they were going to do from here on out.”

She didn’t give a damn.