I bite back the howl as Doctor Ackles pinches the skin of my leg and spots dance in my field of vision. A heartbeat later, he drops the bullet into a bowl with a loud clank. Sweat breaks out across my forehead and back as I lean away.
Doctor Ackles’s fingers are warm and steady against my skin as I feel the needle weave through it. I don’t realize how hard I’m gritting my teeth until I hear London’s quiet gasp and see her standing behind my father with Katia at her side. I look at Katia, who tries to take London’s arm and steer her away, but London’s eyes flash as she inches away.
Always so stubborn.
I don’t know if I want to kiss her or throw her into my room and lock the door.
Once Doctor Ackles is done, my father strides toward me and peers at the wound. With a scoff, he leads the doctor away, with Mathew following close behind. Carlisle retrieves the bowl and first-aid kit and hurries off, too. Katia glances between me and London before spinning on her heel and stalking off. Slowly, London shuts the door behind her.
“Do you need me to get you anything?” she asks.
“What part of keeping yourself out of trouble don’t you understand?” I snap.
“I heard them talking about trouble at the docks, and I knew something had happened. I had to check on you.”
I cover the distance between us and frown. “You should’ve stayed upstairs.”
London lifts her chin. “I already told you I’m not going to cower and hide. How many times are we going to have this argument?”
“As many times as it takes for you to get the fucking point. Every time you’re anywhere near my father, you’re endangering your life. Just because he hasn’t retaliated doesn’t mean he’s not planning something.”
“I’m aware of that. I know he’s difficult—”
I snort. “Difficult isn’t a word I would use to describe Jack Payne. Asshole. Bastard. Those are words I’d use, and right now,there are too many things for me to worry about without adding endangering your life to the mix.”
“I am not a liability,” London replies. “Katia has been training me. You won’t have to worry about that soon enough.”
“You honestly believe that, don’t you?”
London let her hands fall to her sides. “You need someone strong by your side. I can be that.”
“I don’t care about that,” I shoot back.
“I know that having someone like Elise makes more sense—”
I raise an eyebrow. “This is about you being jealous? Of Elise fucking Thayer?”
“You’re telling me that you haven’t thought about it? How much easier it would be to have her by your side properly?”
I pull her to me. “I’m only going to say this one more time. I’m not interested in Elise Thayer. She means fuck all to me.”
Myriad emotions dance across London’s face before she adopts a neutral expression. “She could if you let her.”
I let out a low, incredulous laugh. “You’re starting to sound like my father.”
“I know her family has connections. She could probably figure out a way to end the war. I’ve been looking her up.”
Ice races up my spine and spreads through my veins. “You’ve what?”
“I know how to cover my tracks online.” The words pour out of London’s mouth in a rush. “No one will know how to trace me here, but I had to know what I was up against.”
I press my lips together and say nothing.
“She’s gorgeous and smart, with the right kind of connections. On paper, she makes so much sense, but on the ground, too. And her family is one of the oldest families in the city—”
“I see you fell down the rabbit hole,” I grumble. “Tell me, did your research show you why the Thayers don’t have an exclusive alliance with any of the families?”
London stares at me.
