Raleigh exhales and gives my shoulder a squeeze. “I know you will, Lucian.”
He steps back, signaling to the few Rogues still standing. Raleigh gives me one last look, something dark and satisfied flashing in his eyes, then turns away with his remaining men and disappears into the night.
The street settles into an uneasy quiet.
Elliot goes still beside me. Her gaze lifts, scanning the buildings, the corners, the shadows like she’s orienting herself. I watch the realization hit her.
“We’re close,” she says. “My apartment…it’s only a few blocks from here.”
Something tightens in my chest.
“I should go back,” she continues. “Just once. I need to get some things. Change my clothes. And Kayla—I need to say goodbye. To her. To my human life.”
The wordgoodbyelands like a blade.
“I’ll go with you,” I say without thinking.
Footsteps approach before she can answer. Andrew comes up fast, phone still in his hand, tension etched into his face.
“Lucian,” he says, “I just got off the phone with Vittoria.”
I exhale slowly. “Let me guess.”
“I told her about the fire. About Santiago. She’s furious, and she’s already mobilizing. I couldn’t talk her down.”
Of course she is.
“She can’t go after him like this,” I say. “Not without a plan.”
“She won’t wait,” Andrew replies. “You need to get back. Now.”
I look at Elliot, every instinct in me pulling toward her. Toward staying. Toward making sure she’s safe.
But Vittoria unchecked is a bloodbath waiting to happen.
I hate this. The last thing I want to do right now is be away from her. There are so many things I want to tell her, like how she may be wearing my collar but it’s she who owns me, heart, body, and soul. Like how losing her would destroy me.
Like how I…love her.
It’s a truth that has always been there, one I’ve known for a long time.
I just don’t know if she’ll ever be able to forgive me for what I’ve done.
I turn to Andrew. “You’re taking her. You don’t leave her alone—not for a second.”
Andrew glances at Elliot. “I’ve got her.”
I step closer to her, my hands finding Elliot’s face and bringing it toward mine. “Go. Get what you need. Say what you need to say. I’ll deal with Vittoria. And then I’ll deal with Santiago.”
I kiss her, a slow, fierce promise pressed into her mouth. She rises on her toes to meet me and her arms come around my neck, wanting more. But I force myself to step back.
“I’ll see you both back at VMR,” I say as Andrew guides her away.
I stand there long after they’re gone, the echo of her warmth still burning on my mouth.
Vittoria had always said loving Nell had been my weakness. But with Elliot, love doesn’t weaken me. She’s my strength; it empowers me.
And God help Santiago for making himself my target.
