“Tex became distracted. Now you see what happens when someone veers off the path I set them on.” My father smiles at me.
I know what it really is, it’s a showing of teeth.
“He was my friend.”
My father waves his hand, scoffing at my words.
“Sentiment doesn’t win wars, Jace. He was a tool the Guild wielded. That was his sole purpose. Your grief is a weakness. Don’t confuse personal pain with strategic miscalculation. Loss is expected in our line of work. I raised you to have tougher skin.”
I keep perfectly still, matching his stance. Anger burns hot in my veins. Tingling begins at the base of my neck, and I have to fight every nerve in my body to keep from acting on it.
This fucking dick.
“So you had him killed?” It takes everything I have to keep all the rage out of my voice.
He leans back against his desk, folding his hands in front of him. “There’s a term in accounting, I won’t get into specifics, but it’s what they call depreciation. Spreading the cost of an asset over its useful life. Until disposal.”
The corners of his mouth curve up. I want to knock it straight off his face.
“And his usefulness had run out. It was time to dispose.”
I have to fight the urge to curl my hands into fists.
“I took that boy from the streets where he wasnothing. And made him into something. Gave him a purpose. Yet, Lucian’s spawn spreads her whore legs and he loses all decorum. Doesn’t answer calls. Doesn’t attend meetings.” Hetsksand shakes his head. “A travesty.”
His eyes scan over me. I don’t say anything.
“View this as an example, son, of what happens when people get distracted.”
“I won’t get distracted,” I answer.
“I raised you to be bloodthirsty. Ruthless. Youwill dowhat’s necessary. Or I’ll find someone else who can.”
4 PROMISE
The rain pounds down from the sky, like the heavens are mourning. It softens the world, blurring all the edges. It settles on the black casket, marble headstones, and the fox and dagger inlaid into the polished wood.
The cold stings my cheeks, but it doesn’t reach me. My gloves might as well be paper for all the warmth they give. My body is here, standing on the soaked ground. But my mind keeps replaying everything. The gunfire. The blood. His words.
My hand tightens around my umbrella.
Lucian stands at the front of the gathered circle, his gloved hands clasped tightly in front of him. Every word rings out in my ears.
“Tex Ward was more than a fighter. He was more than his skill, more than the strength we all relied on.” His breath clouds the air. “He was loyal. He was the shield to those who could not stand alone. And when the moment came, he gave everything to protect the people he loved.”
A chill moves through me.Protect the people he loved. He loved me.
Beside me, Jace’s gloved hand brushes against mine briefly before falling back to his side. Maeve squeezes my arm on the other side. Luca and Noah’s supporting presence behind me.
Lucian’s voice dips, “Tex died in service to The Guild’s code, but more than that, he died so that others could live. We will honor him not only today, but every day from this moment forward.”
The silence is heavy as Lucian takes a step back. Giving space for anyone who wishes to say their final goodbye. One by one, members file forward, gloved hands brushing the crest, murmured words floating away on the wind. Some stand in silence, others bow their heads before stepping back.
My boots step in puddles on the ground. The cold bites through my leggings as I kneel beside the casket. The gold threads in the crest catch the winter light, a stark contrast against the black. My fingers tremble as I press them against the fox’s head.
“I swear to you, Tex,” The words are thick in my throat, “He will pay for this. I won’t stop until he’s gone.” I press my hand firmly against the casket. “I promise Daniel will get what he deserves.”
The rain lands in my hair, my lashes, mixing with the tears that streak down my cheeks. The raindrops dot the casket like stars in the night sky.
