“I saw Marcus hit a girl last week,” she says, voice low. “One of his own. She cried, and he laughed, like it was funny.”
She takes a breath.
“I didn’t laugh. I helped her pack that night. Texted her a window to sneak out of town while he was too busy to notice. Paid for her bus ticket. Covered her tracks.”
I don’t move, because I know what that means in Marcus’s world. That’s not rebellion. That’s a death sentence.
“Does he know?” I ask, already running a dozen worst-case scenarios in my head.
“No.” She pauses. “But he will, eventually. He always finds out.”
I turn to look at her, and that’s when I know.
I’d do anything for her.
Not because it’s my job. Not because she needs me.
Because I love her.
I’m helplessly, completely in love with this woman.
Fuck.
“You’re a good person, Aro,” I whisper.
She doesn’t scoff this time. Doesn’t deflect.
“No, I’m not.” She says it like a fact.
“Yes, you are.”
She doesn’t continue to argue with me. Just closes her eyes, and leans into my warmth a little further.
Right then, I make a promise to myself. Whatever happens—whatever hell we’re pulled into next—I’ll take the hit before she does.
Even if she never knows how much she matters to me. Even if she never feels the same.
She has me.
Forever.
Chapter 43
Axel
Chaos tastes like smoke and copper.
I shove through the panicked crowd, elbowing past some useless socialite in sky-high heels who’s too busy filming on her phone to get the hell out of the way. Finally, I reach the back hallway.
“Nik!” I shout.
“In here!”
His voice cuts through the noise, sharp and clear. A moment later, I’m at his side. His jacket’s gone, shirt sleeves rolled up and stained dark red. My vision tunnels to the body on the floor. The blood blooming beneath it like spilled ink.
For a second, it’s my mom I’m seeing. Same stillness. Same blood.
“Axel!” Nik barks, snapping me back to reality.
