Page 147 of Pucked Around and Found Out

“Yeah,” he admits bitterly. “He's there.”

“For how long?”

“Since about an hour after they brought you in,” Carnage says, and I can see him choosing his words carefully. “He was here. Sat with you while you were unconscious. But then Alex called, said Fiona was awake and ready to talk. Then Devlin and Cas⁠—"

He stops, jaw clenched.

“What?” I press.

“He left,” Carnage says bluntly. “Told me to text him when you woke up fully. Then went with Cas to meet Alex.”

The words hit like a physical blow.

“See?” Harper says, vindicated. “This is what I'm talking about⁠—”

“It's not that simple,” Carnage interrupts, and the fact that he's defending Xaden, even reluctantly, surprises me.

“Isn't it?” Harper challenges.

“No,” Carnage says firmly, though he looks like the words taste bad. “Look, I don't like the fucker. I think he's a sadistic bastard with fucked up priorities. I think he's hurt Tor more times than I can count. But—” He stops, looking at me. “But when he pulled you out of that fire, when you weren't breathing, I saw something I've never seen before. He broke, Tor. Completely. Gave you CPR, screaming at you to breathe. And when the ambulance took you, he just... stood there. Frozen. Like his entire world had ended.”

Carnage leans forward.

“Then he got here and you were unconscious. Barely responsive. And I watched him sit beside you, holding your hand, whispering shit I couldn't hear. Looking like he was dying right along with you.”

“And then he left,” Harper points out coldly.

“Because Alex called about Fiona,” Carnage says, and I can tell how much it costs him to defend Xaden. “And the woman who helped kill his sister and tried to kill Tor was awake and talking. And Devlin—look, the guy's a psycho. We all know it. But he's a psycho who loves you, Tor. And right now, he's making sure the person who tried to kill you and your baby suffers for it.”

“That's not love,” Harper argues. “That's obsession.”

“Maybe,” Carnage agrees. “But it's also protection. He's eliminating the threat. Making sure Fiona can never come after you again.”

“By torturing her instead of being here,” Harper says.

“Yeah,” Carnage admits. “By torturing her instead of being here. Because that's what he knows how to do. Violence. Revenge. Protection through elimination.”

He looks at me directly.

“I'm not saying it's right. I'm not even saying I'd make the same choice because I wouldn’t, I would be here by your side the whole time. I'm just saying, it's not as simple as him not giving a shit. He's just... fucked up. And he's dealing with almost losing you the only way he knows how.”

“By leaving me alone in a hospital,” I say quietly.

Carnage winces. “Yeah. That part's bullshit. I told him to get his ass back here hours ago. He didn't listen.”

“Of course he didn't,” Harper mutters.

“What's he doing to her?” I ask. “To Fiona?”

Carnage's expression goes dark. “Do you really want to know?”

“Yes.”

He's quiet for a moment, “Alex is the lead. He's... methodical. Surgical. Knows exactly where to cut, how deep, how long. Devlin's assisting. Doing what he does, collecting trophies, making art out of pain.”

“The lips,” I say, remembering what Harper mentioned earlier.

“Among other things,” Carnage confirms. “Fiona's giving us everything. Names, locations, operations, bank accounts. Everything she knows about the CIA's black ops, about her plans, about who else is involved. She’s given up everything she had on your family, Alex, the Filthy Few and even Xaden.”