Page 404 of Reign

My throat hurts.

“Give me words.”

Words.

I know words. I know thousands of them. But only five come.

“Miguel said it wasn’t him.”

Chapter 56

Luciano

Miguel said it wasn’t him.

Of every sentence Elena could have given me, that is the one I didn’t want to hear.

Her eyes are still unfocused, but she’s looking at me now. Really looking.

“I know.”

Her brow pulls together. “You heard him?”

“Yes.”

“And you shot him anyway.”

The water continues moving around her. Pink, then clear, then pink again as blood rinses from her hair and disappears beneath the surface.

“Dario said there were two.”

“That isn’t what I asked.”

No.

It isn’t.

“I wasn’t willing to gamble with your life.”

“He was tied up.”

“I know.”

“He couldn’t hurt me.”

“Not in that moment.”

Her expression sharpens. More of Elena returns with every word.

“Miguel said he wasn’t involved.”

“Yes.”

“What if he was telling the truth?”

I don’t answer quickly enough.

Her face changes, brows upturned.