Page 139 of Devour

“Don’t keep shit from her.” He glances down at Whitney. “And that goes both ways, doesn’t it, kitten?”

“You’re really going to do this right now?” She teases him. “In front of Axl?”

“I’m making a point.” He turns back to me. “Secrets will fuck you up faster than anything else in our world. Whatever you’ve done, whatever you’re going to do—don’t keep it from her. As far as I’m concerned, you don’t have to keep anything we’re doing secret from her anymore. She’s proven herself to be more than capable and trustworthy. You’re going to need a strong woman by your side for what comes next.”

That means more than he knows. I think about all that I hid from Saylor because I thought I knew better. What it cost us. I’ll never forgive myself for that.

“I’ve already learned that lesson.”

“Well, you’ve always been a little hardheaded.” Dane’s eyes hold mine for another second, and then he exhales. The energy that’s been keeping him sharp since I walked in is fading. Whitney must feel it too because her hand moves to his chest, and she settles closer. “Try to wait until I’m back to normal before you stack up any more bodies.”

“No promises.” I stand and push the chair back, chuckling. “You should rest. We’ll talk soon.”

“Yes, we will.” His eyes are already getting heavy, but his voice still carries an edge. “We have a lot more work to do. This shit isn’t over.”

We know we didn’t take down the ring. One building is just a drop in the bucket for what we believe is out there. I close Dane’s door behind me. I need to get back to Saylor.

I’m halfway down the corridor when I see Crew.

He’s sitting in one of the chairs near the vending machines with his phone in his hand, but he’s not looking at it. He’s staring at the wall across from him like he’s lost in his thoughts. His elbows are on his knees, and his leg is bouncing. He doesn’t notice me until I’m standing right in front of him.

“Hey, Crew.” I stop in front of him, forcing him to see me. “You good?”

His head comes up, and whatever was on his face a second ago is gone. He leans back in the chair and runs his hand over his jaw. “Yeah, brother. I’m good.”

He’s fucking not. Crew’s been off since we hit that building. Something has been on his mind after whatever that fuck Hawthorne said. I’ve been too focused on Saylor to get it out of him.

“Are you sure?”

“I said I’m good.” He stands and pockets his phone. “How’s Dane?”

“Being Dane.” I watch his face. “He’s awake. He and Whitney are fighting for who’s in control of that room.”

Crew nods, but his mind is somewhere else. I can see it. Whatever is bothering him, it’s big. And I’m going to get it out of him soon.

“I’ll be taking Saylor out of here tomorrow,” I tell him, changing the subject.

“I’m glad.” He claps my shoulder as he passes by, getting away from me. “You’d better get back to her.”

I watch him walk down the hallway, and I almost call after him. But I need to get back to my heathen.

CHAPTER 59

SAYLOR

Reese doesn’t try to talk at first. She sits in the chair beside my bed with her legs tucked under, tapping her fingers on her knee. I don’t know her well, other than in passing at Raven events, but I’ve always liked her.

“You don’t have to stay,” I tell her. “I know your family needs you right now.”

“My family is fine.” She looks at me. “My husband needs to clear his head and get some fucking sleep. I’ll let him take it out on his brother. Given what I know about Axl, I’m guessing you understand.”

I laugh, and it pulls at my stitches, but I don’t care. “Axl just about snapped the neck of my nurse over a bandage change. So yeah, I get it.”

“You don’t even want to know Tate’s body count.” She shakes her head, but there’s a tenderness when she talks about her husband. “These men are something else, but they love hard too.”

I stare at her, and she gives me a sympathetic smile. It confirms what I suspected—she knows something about what happened to me. I refuse to be ashamed about what my asshole brother did, but I don’t want the entirety of the Ravens to know either.

“Does everyone know?” I ask. Axl told me that he’d spoken to Dane about it. He felt bad that he’d told anyone without talking to me. But given the nature of their work, it makes sense that they needed to know. I spoke to Kynlee about it last night when Kase brought her to visit me. She and I cried together. She wants to get drunk and burn things when I’m out of here. I can’t fucking wait.