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As Hassan sank into a pit of drug-induced relief, Skylar and I looked at each other. We were both lost in our thoughts yet fully aware of the gravity of our situation. Zane’s gaze fell on me, then moved to Skylar. The look in his eyes was uncompromising, and it spoke volumes. "Both of you, out. Give me some space to work."
"But—" Skylar started, immediately cut off by a sharp look from Zane.
"Now," he ordered. It wasn't a request.
We exited the makeshift infirmary, each step feeling like a dagger in my chest as I left Hassan behind. I could feel Skylar's anguish radiating off him in waves. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides as we stood there, helpless.
"Darius was one of us," Skylar murmured, his voice choked.
"Yeah," I breathed out. I didn't know Darius well, but he was a good earner and a loyal man. "You don't think Justice saw his head, do you?"
"God, I hope not," Skylar replied. “With any luck, she’s still asleep and this will all be resolved by morning.”
With our luck? No way.
The silence that ensued was deafening. It surrounded us, crept into our souls, and wrapped its cold hands around our hearts. I could see the unshed tears in Skylar's eyes, the grim set of his jaw as he struggled with his emotions. I leaned on the wall, shutting my eyes and taking deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart. In the background, I could still hear Zane working…flesh tearing, blood flowing.
I couldn’t stop fucking things up for everyone around me.
Maybe I didn’t deserve to keep Sebastian.
A soft sound broke our silence. The elevator dinged open, and Justice stepped out. Her raven hair was disheveled, her eyes swollen and red rimmed. She looked pale as though she had seen a ghost. Our gazes met, her dark eyes filled with a sort of pain that made my insides twist with worry.
"Bash," she croaked, her voice choked with emotion. “Is he…”
“Keep her out of here while I work, please,” Zane said, glancing over his shoulder.
I stepped into her way, Skylar in front of the doorway. She looked over my shoulder anyway, though, and her eyes widened as she covered her mouth.
“Oh my god,” she breathed. I opened my arms just in time to catch her as she crumbled into me. Her body shook against mine as soft sobs escaped her lips.
"He'll be okay, darlin’," I said.
I stopped, not knowing how to continue. The comforting words felt hollow in my mouth.
But I had to believe it. We all had to believe it.
Justice nodded against me, her body trembling. "I know," she whispered back, but her voice lacked conviction. Her hands were on my chest, her fingers digging into the fabric of my shirt as if she was trying to hold onto something real.
"The De Lucas will pay for this," Skylar growled, his voice hard and cold and filled with a barely restrained fury.
“You’re talking like he’s already dead,” Justice said. “We can’t talk like–”
“Not him,” I murmured. “Darius. He was keeping watch over a shipment tonight and they…”
Justice met my eyes, challenging me. “They what, Bash? I can take it.”
Skylar’s expression hardened. “His head’s out on the front stoop.”
Justice seemed to gather herself at that, the opposite of how I thought she would react. I needed to remember that she was in this life with us now–the queen of the Knives. She was tough, and she deserved the truth.
"We need to be careful," she said softly. "This is just the beginning. They're playing dirty now."
Skylar's face went grim. "Then we play dirtier."
I nodded. "Yeah," I said. "Anything to protect our family."
Her grip on me tightened. "Anything, Bash," she said. "And I mean that. Anything."
