“The location was already compromised, and you were arrogant enough to think they wouldn’t find another way?”
“I made a mistake,” Cold growled. “There. Is that what you want to hear?”
“Everything I’ve taught you and for what? You’re still an angry little boy trying to make the whole world pay for what it’s done to you!”
“And they will!” Cold suddenly shouted. “All of them! I don’t care what it costs me! It was worth it!”
“Easy enough to say when you’re not the one paying the price.” Alistair scoffed. He looked sad, and all of the fight had left him. He approached Cold, gently resting his hand on his throat.
Mickey tensed, expecting Cold to fight and getting ready to help him.
But it didn’t happen.
Cold’s eyes closed, and he held Alistair’s wrist. He was calm, relaxed, and he leaned into Alistair’s touch. They were close enough to kiss, but neither advanced.
“I don’t have anything else left to teach you,” Alistair said quietly. “This is it.”
“You’re leaving?” Cold didn’t seem surprised.
“Yes.” Alistair stepped away. “The house is yours. Take it. The clubs, the hotels, the drugs… you’re going to have the city soon. What more could you want?”
“You’re not going to say goodbye to Rowena?”
“I already did when I tucked her in.”
“You knew you were going to leave me,” Cold accused.
“As soon as I heard you were going after Marco, yes.” Alistair’s smile was bitter. “I know you, Roderick… and I know once your mind is set on something, you’ll stop at nothing to get it. It doesn’t matter who it hurts.”
Cold said nothing.
Alistair looked around the room to the others. “Take care of him, won’t you? God knows he won’t.”
Jules had joined them at some point during the argument, and he gave Alistair a hug. “I got him.”
“Good luck.” Alistair patted Jules’ back. Without another word, he left through the front door.
Mickey didn’t even see that he had packed a bag or anything. No suitcase, no boxes, nothing. He was leaving with only the clothes on his back.
The door shut, and that was it.
Alistair Star was gone.
“We’ll deal with the consequences of Marco and Salvatore’s deaths as needed,” Cold said briskly. “Right now, our priority is locating Thirdsies.”
Mickey was surprised he was escaping Cold’s wrath so easily, but he had a feeling he would pay for this reprieve later.
No one seemed to be commenting on Alistair’s abrupt exit. Mickey could see that Duncan was dying to say something, and he gave him a stern glare to ensure his silence.
Whatever Alistair was, he’d been important to Cold, and he’d just abandoned him.
Probably best not to make any cute remarks.
Roger came downstairs at that moment because of course he did, and the first thing out of his mouth was, “Huh, was that Alistair? Where’s he going?”
Mickey begged him to shut up with a pleading look.
Oblivious, Roger kept going. “Seriously, why did he leave? And what was all that yelling?”
