My brother made a critical mistake. He forced my hand, thinking I'd fold. Instead, he's just revealed exactly how far I'm willing to go.
The helicopter touches down, and even from this distance, I can see the medical team rushing forward with a stretcher. Mercy stands at the edge of the helipad, held back by one of the security guards, bouncing on her toes.
I should be down there. I should be the first face Legion sees when they bring him off that helicopter. But something keeps me rooted to this spot, watching from above as they load him into the ambulance.
Maybe it's knowing that the moment I walk into that room downstairs, everything changes. Legion won't just be mine anymore—he'll be in Ashby territory. He'll be surrounded by everything he hates, everything he's fought against his whole life.
Or maybe I'm just afraid. Afraid that he'll look at me differently. Like I've betrayed him somehow, by bringing him here.
The ambulance starts moving slowly up the drive toward the house. Mercy runs alongside it for a few yards before the security guard catches up with her, saying something I can't hear. She nods reluctantly and walks beside him instead, still keeping pace with the vehicle.
I step back from the window, suddenly aware of how I look. I'm wearing one of my old sundresses, my hair pulled back in a simple ponytail. No makeup. Nothing like the woman who stood in the clubhouse wearing Legion's clothes and a fresh tattoo declaring herself his property.
I glance down at my wrist, where the words are still healing, the skin around them pink and slightly raised. PROPERTY OF DEMON.
I haven’t covered it up with bracelets because my wrists are ringed with scabbing red marks from where Marcus tied me up and I want Cash to see those marks every time he looks at me.
I want him to burn with shame for what he did. How he helped.
Below, the ambulance pulls up to the east entrance. The medical team jumps out, opening the back doors. The stretcher is wheeled toward the house, surrounded by people in scrubs.
Mercy stands at the door, waiting, holding the puppy in her arms as if for support.
Cash thinks he's won, but he's about to learn that his isn't over.
It's barely begun.
