Page 38 of Secrets of the Six

"I will see you soon, mariposa." Butterfly.

The nickname floods me with nostalgia; our countless childhood adventures flash in my mind. I haven't been called mariposa since the day she disappeared. She used to tell me one day, I'd fly. So why do I feel like I'm sinking instead?

"May the Saints have mercy on our enemies." Remus says and everyone in the room stills.

In unison, the other four echo in return, "For we surely won't."

As quickly as she embraces me, Carmen releases me and slips her hand into Shaw's as the others quietly file out of the apartment. Once the latch clicks into place, I glare at Remus whose blazing eyes have faded from sheer stubborn will to one filled with remorse, apology even. I'm not sure what thoughts are tormenting him, nor do I care. If he is set on apologizing for torturing me, for testing me, then he can swallow those hollow words. I don't want to hear them, nor do I care to forgive him. Let him rot.

"If you're taking me home, let's be done with it." I stomp to the door, more determined than ever not to be alone with him a second longer than need be.

Surprisingly, Remus doesn't have a snarky response locked and loaded but dutifully follows me to the door. As I leave the apartment, I scan up and down the long hallway, realizing I have no idea which way to go. Remus locks the door and without a word turns to our right. I have no choice but to follow him and even though I have half a mind to push him down the three flights of stairs, I keep my hands and thoughts to myself and trail him to the street.

I don't know why I expected to see a carriage waiting for us, but the street is abandoned. Everyone and everything, save for us, is asleep. Remus offers me his coat, but I slap his hand away. He shrugs the coat on, pops the collar to shield his neck from the light drizzle and shoves his hands into his pockets before strutting down the sidewalk. Reluctantly, I walk alongside him, knowing we have at least an hour's walk to Doña Otero's estate. I'm so ready for this treacherously long day to be over with.

Chapter 13

Ines

Thankfully, the rain doesn't progress from a drizzle as we trek through the abandoned city streets back to the Otero Estate, and we manage to avoid the patrolling Black Guard enforcing curfew. By the time we make it through the main gate at Otero's my borrowed dress is clinging to my skin, leaving very little to the imagination of what I look like underneath the light cotton.

As adverse as I am at the thought of taking a bath, I know I desperately need one to rid myself of the foulness of this entire evening. If I'm lucky, I might get one blessed hour to sleep before Lupe comes banging on my bedroom door to play dress up.

Not wanting to disturb anyone inside the still slumbering house, we enter through the back door. It's not locked so we make our way inside to the staircase and creep upstairs with soft footing. It's been nice not having to listen to Remus talk, although I'm sure it would be strictly business with him seeing as my true assignment is weaseling my way into Rogelio Murrieta's life so Remus can get whatever information he needs from his rival, Severo. Not that I'm against bringing that bastard to his knees too, but it would have saved us all a lot of trouble had Remus and Doña Otero been honest with me about my target from the start.

But I'll certainly deal with Otero when I see her. It's bad enough Remus tested me by damn near drowning me in a bathtub, but her permitting him to do so has me ready to put my hands on the old woman. A fight for later.

Right now, I need time to refresh and recoup before dealing with more lessons and last-minute scheming.

As I approach my bedroom door, I realize Remus is still tailing me. His bedroom is several doors behind us, and he should have entered his quarters by now. Instead, he's either ensuring I make it to my room safely or he's itching for a fight. My money would be on the latter option.

I quicken my pace and fling my door open, ignoring him whisper-yelling my name. I attempt to slam the door, but he catches it with ease and forces his way inside, closing it behind him, effectively sealing us in together.

His brows pinch together, and he glares at me, clearly annoyed I've been ignoring him. "Vibora – "

"Don't." I press a finger to his chest, silencing him. "You are not allowed to speak so freely and friendly with me. Last I checked, this is still my room, and I don't want you here."

He raises his hands in surrender and takes a step forward but stops when I rush to my mattress and reach underneath my pillow. I snatch one of my pistols and aim it at him.

"Take another step. I dare you." I grit my teeth as I cock it.

"You have every right to be angry," he says softly, as if his voice will lull me into a stupor and I'll forget why I'm angry with him. "But I won't apologize for my methods. It's my job to keep my people safe- "

"Even if it means you hurt me in the process?" I scoff, placing my pistol on my nightstand before ripping my boots off one-by-one and throwing them across the room with intent to peg Remus in his face. "I thought you said I deserved better. That I still deserve better. Clearly every word you spew is deceitful and unkind."

He dodges both shoes, unmoved by the attack. "I have meant every word I've said since the moment I first laid eyes on you in Otero's carriage." He says with such conviction, I almost believe him. "You do deserve better. Better than I or anyone else can properly give you."

"But?"

"In the end, all of our lives are expendable. Except Cas."

"Tell me, Remus," I cross my arms over my chest, "did you torture every member of your circle, or just me?"

"You are the only one we – "

I hold a hand up. "So, you didn't torture Carmen after you spared her from the Casa de Placer?"

A frown mars his face, and a seriousness washes over him as he takes a thundering step forward. "I think Carmen suffered enough torture, don't you think?"