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“Is it over?” she asks. “Did we do it?”

We. What a word.

I look over at Rafael. He’s seizing badly. Anton turns and gestures with his finger across his throat. Maybe I was holding back in my street fights for a reason. True violence is a quick, ugly thing.

“It might be more than you planned,” I say, bringing her good hand to my mouth and kissing her gently. “But you don’t need to worry about that now. You’ve done enough.”

I raise my voice. “Has somebody called an ambulance?”

“Yeah, they know his condition,” one of the waitresses replies.

His condition? That abuser? That assaulter? That user? That monster?

“Not for him,” I hiss. “For Serena.”

“I’m on it,” Anton says.

I sit beside her, wrapping my arm around her and pulling her toward me.

“Are you going to get in trouble?” She asks, her voice heavy.

She’s definitely got a concussion. She needs rest. She needs somebody to take care of her.

“Don’t worry about me,” I say. “Worry about yourself.”

She sinks against me. I hold her close to me.

Anton walks over, lowering his voice. “There’s another ambulance on the way for her. I’ve called the lawyer too. It will be self-defense, boss. Has to be.”

“I’ll worry about that once I know Serena is okay,” I snap, and he backs off.

CHAPTER 29

SERENA

Isit in the hospital bed, Sasha sitting next to me. Rosa is with the girls, in the apartment with Yaro. I almost laugh thinking about the four of them playing Monopoly as Zoe fires questions at Yaro about his tattoos.

The lights are turned down low, my head still aching. They’ve given me meds for the pain, patched up my hand, and told me I need water and rest while they monitor me. In the meantime, I’m going crazy wondering what’s going on.

I text Nikolai again. The last time I saw him, the police were leading him away as the ambulance crew ushered me inside, all the while I was telling them this is overblown… I don’t need an ambulance.

Serena: What is going on?

Finally, my phone lights up with a text from him. I never knew a text could make my heart flood with so much light.

Nikolai: I’m sorry I haven’t texted sooner. Rafael had a brain bleed and he died. The cops just got done questioning me. I’m on my way to you now.

Serena: He’s dead? Are you in trouble?

Nikolai: He pulled a gun on me and attacked you. I acted in self-defense. The cops just wanted to clear up the story. As far as they’re concerned, I’m a concerned boyfriend who stepped in to do the right thing, got my life threatened, and defended myself.

I linger on the phrase as far as they’re concerned. I know there’s more. I know he did that for me. I know a dark and savage part of him enjoys that he was able to kill Rafael.

Serena: We have business to discuss, but I don’t have my other phone.

Nikolai: Maybe Iris and Serena will finally have to become one. Just don’t talk about anything over the phone.

Serena: Will it still be useful?