He claps a hand onto my shoulder.
“You’re still breathing,” he says.“So is she.Means the fight ain’t over.”
I grit my teeth so hard the muscle jumps.“I’m gonna kill the son of a bitch who did this.”
Chux meets my gaze evenly.“Good.But you do it smart.Not sloppy.”
Looney steps forward, holding a second bag, this one containing a piece of fabric.
A torn sleeve, dark green, with a symbol printed on the inside cuff.
The same raven mark.But this one has something new.
A smear of red through the beak.
Nitro points to it.“We think it’s a faction symbol.Maybe a group that worked under Bratok before he died.Been quiet for years.”
“They just got loud,” Stunt mutters.
Chux turns to me.“Riot.You need to listen carefully.”
The tone of his voice sends alarm bells through my skull.
“What.”
“You can’t let Kelly out of your sight.Not for a second.Not for a breath.”
“I know,” I snap.
“No,” Chux says, stepping closer.“You don’t.Because once these bastards realized she lived, and we’re onto them, they’re gonna double down.They’re gonna escalate.”
I freeze.
“And if they get their hands on her?”Chux lowers his voice.“They’ll use her to bleed you.”
A chill cuts down my spine.
“I won’t let that happen,” I growl.
“Good,” he says.“Then you need to understand something else.”
“What,” I hiss.
Chux holds my gaze.“You’re compromised.”
My jaw tightens.“The hell I am.”
“You are,” Stunt backs him.“Because you care about her.”
“She’s under my protection,” I snap.
“You care,” Stunt repeats.
“Yeah, I do,” I snarl, finally letting the truth burst out.“And if you think that makes me a liability?—”
“It makes you human,” Chux interrupts.“And dangerous.”
He steps closer until he’s inches from me.
