My mind spiraled, thinking about the one question I hadn’t let myself fully face yet. The one question that sat thick and harsh on my chest.
Kraven.
I hadn’t seen him since last night, and my feet started moving before I could talk myself out of it. My steps carried me down the hallway, past the rooms that suddenly felt unfamiliar, until I reached his bedroom door.
I didn’t knock. Instead, I pushed it open. Kraven was already awake. He stood near his window, arms crossed, staring out like he’d been expecting me to appear.
“You’re up early,” he greeted, voice composed.
Too composed.
I slammed the door behind me, harder than necessary.
I didn’t want to lose my nerve, so I quickly spewed, “Did you call the cops on Julius?”
There was no buildup on my behalf.
No hesitation.
The words came out fast, slicing through the space between us. Kraven didn’t flinch. He didn’t look surprised either.
Slowly, he turned to face me. And for a second, just a second, I saw something flicker in his gaze. It wasn’t guilt. It was something deeper.
“Kitty…”
“Don’t! Don’t you dare call me that! Just answer my question.” My hands began shaking, curling them into fists, trying to hide it from him. In a firm tone, I repeated, “Did you call the cops on Julius?”
The silence stretched until he confessed, “Yes.”
The word landed like a physical blow on every part of my body, forcing me to jerk back and away from him. I literally recoiled.
“You—” My voice broke. I swallowed hard, forcing it steady. “You did?”
He didn’t glance away, not making it easier for me. At least then I would know he felt shame about betraying his own brother.
His voice didn’t soften. “I did.”
“You did,”I echoed, quieter now, as if saying it softer made it hurt less.
It didn’t.
“He was in deep, Isla.”
Another shot to my heart. “I don’t give a shit!” The words tore out of me before I could stop them. “You don’t get to decide that! You don’t get todo thatto him!”
“To him?” His tone hardened slightly. “Or to you?”
I stared at him, confused. “What?”
“You think this was just about Julius?” he questioned, stepping closer to me. “You think I did this just to fuck him over?”
“Why else would you?” I fired back. “You hate him.”
“That’s not?—”
“You’vealwayshated him. So yeah, forgive me if I don’t believe this was some selfless, noble act on your part.”
His jaw clenched, but he didn’t try to deny it, which only made it worse.
