“Part of me wishes that we had listened to their warnings.That we’d left before it was too late.But I can’t change what happened next, as much as it kills me.”Kai bites his bottom lip, and I inch forward on the bed.
I stay silent, giving him the space to talk.To tell his story.
“They came in the middle of the night.Ripped down our door.I still hear her screams.”He stops, his forehead scrunched together.
“She protected me, pushed me into the closet and shut me inside.She always did everything in her power to hide me from the bad in the world.I didn’t want her to leave me alone.”His voice drops, and my heart breaks for him.For her.
“How old were you?”I ask.
Kai’s throat bobs.“Seven.”Just a kid.
“I peered through the crack in the closet.My sister stood in the bedroom, and thentheycame in.”Kai’s chest rises and falls.
“Who?”I lick my dry lips, my grip tightening around the duvet.
“Hazen, Lucas, Gage, and Dominic,” he says, and the ground beneath me swallows me whole.
No.I don’t prompt him to continue.I’m not sure I want to hear the rest.It’s too much.This can’t be real, but I need to know the truth.My brother would have only been ten.
“They shot her.He took away my sister,” Kai says, a few tears falling down his cheek.
I stand up and wrap my arms around his waist.He stays completely still for a beat before his arms melt around my back.I rest my ear against his chest, thethump thumpof his heart the only thing keeping me from losing my shit.
Pulling back slightly, I look up into his brown gaze.I want to take it all away.No one should have to go through something like this.I understand now why he’s so protective of Freya.Of women.He couldn’t save his sister.She died protecting him.
“Who pulled the trigger?”I ask, and my ears begin to ring.Please don’t be my brother.I can’t bear that truth.
“Dominic did.He said he wanted to make an example of us—that it’s what happens when you don’t pay your dues to The Brotherhood,” he says, and part of me is relieved, but the other part is angry.Why does everything have to end in violence?So many innocent lives are lost because of money.
“And your brother and his friends didn’t save her, either.”He steps back and keeps moving until the door slams shut.His warmth vanishes, and I’m left shivering.
It’s no wonder he can’t stand me or The Brotherhood.His need for revenge runs deep.They are responsible for the death of his sister, and all for what?Money.Power.If I ever get out of here, I won’t allow this to go on any longer.I’m going to fight for change.For peace.And I won’t stop until I have it.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Before
Amirah
I sink farther into the warm water of the bath, attempting to let it drown out the heaviness of my thoughts.I haven’t gotten anywhere with Jewel or the other women yet.I tried to go back to the docks today, but Gage has had the house on lockdown since the explosion two days ago.I want to be pissed at him for keeping me caged, but I get it.He’s trying to keep me safe.Even if I could go to the docks, what would I do?Bill’s Freight isn’t there.And when I googled their headquarters, they’re in New York—five hundred miles from here.I just hope Jewel isn’t miles from here too.Maybe when things calm down, I can fly out and visit Manhattan just in case.
The bubbles have long gone, and my skin is pruney, but I don’t have the energy to get out just yet.When my phone vibrates against the tiles of the bathroom floor, I reach over the tub and grab it.
There’s a text from an unknown number.I frown, opening it.
Amirah Ledger.There’s a woman tied up in a ribbon.Start looking at Magick.
I sit up straight, gripping the edge of the tub.Water splashes all over the tiles.
Who is this?I reply.
Three dots appear.My heart races as I wait for them to reply.
I helped Freya find her brother’s killer, and now I want to help you find your friend.
I frown.WTF?Is this really the same person who’s been sending Freya those messages?I have no idea.Should I trust them?No.But Freya followed every lead they sent her, and it helped her get answers about her brother.What if this is the information I need to help get Jewel back?
I have to try.Placing my phone back on the tiles, I step out of the bath and dry off.I know where Magick is—I’ve been there plenty of times but never noticed anything going on.
