She stares at me like I just said the sky turned purple. “He’sinthe Underground?”
“You didn’t know?” I shake my head. “He’s not just in it. He’s a main player now. They call himCrow. Guy’s a mercenary.”
She sucks in a sharp breath. “I had no idea. I haven’t seen him since I was eighteen.”
She ponders for a moment. “What was the favor?”
“What?”
“What favor did you do for him?”
With a sigh, I walk over to the bed. I sit beside her and uncuff her wrist. Taking it gently, I rub at the red line the cuff left behind.
“Johnny asked me to interview and to make sure I got the job for Marcus.”
“What?” she looks shocked.
“At the time, I thought he just wanted someone on the inside. To keep an eye on Marcus, if needed. He never asked me to report or anything, but now, I’m realizing he’s been five steps ahead this whole time.”
“He knew where I was,” she says quietly.
“I think so, yes. I think he did what he could to protect you.”
She laughs, cold and humorless. “More like he was keeping tabs on me.”
“What the hell happened between you two?”
She’s quiet for a long time. Too long.
Finally, she says, “He blames me for his mother’s death.”
I blink. That’s... not the answer I expected.
“And are you responsible?” I ask quietly.
She looks me dead in the eyes.
“Yes.”
The air goes still. I want to ask more. I want to understand, but the look in her eyes says it all. She's not just owning it, she’s haunted by it.
Chapter 16
Axel
An hour outside of Nashville, I turn off the main road and onto the long gravel drive that leads to what used to be home. Sometimes I still can’t believe Ben never sold the place. I don’t know how he stands it with the weight of everything that happened here.
The farther I go, the sweatier my palms get. Eight years later, and my body still remembers it all…
“Axel! Lina! We need you!”
I make sure Lina’s behind me as we race out of her room and take the stairs two at a time. I’m not sure what to expect when I land in the living room.
The world goes quiet.
Ben’s kneeling on the floor.
My eyes track down to the rug. There’s blood. More than I’ve ever seen. It's soaking through the fabric, pooling toward the hardwood. I follow the trail to where it’s coming from.
