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“One of them can do it.”
Reese pinches the bridge of his nose. He’s been tired of me for months. If only he’d stop caring so much.
Liam leans back into that patient posture he adopts when he believes he can talk sense into a Crotavere’s hard skull.
“Boys, let me speak with Edwin alone.”
They leave without a second thought. Reese makes sure to scowl at me on his way past, as if disapproval has ever once altered my direction in life.
When the door shuts, I lift a hand.
“Before you say anything, I’ll save you the effort. I don’t want this. If I take that title, everything I do becomes another family achievement. I want to be remembered for something I chose, not something I inherited.”
I’d chosen a spectacular exit. And now I can’t leave. Not while someone hunts Zaiya. Not while her fear lives in my heart.
Liam’s voice softens. “No one is forcing you, Edwin. The Serpentium Order will survive without a Crotavere at the helm. I only ask you to consider what it means to your father. His eldest son following him, continuing what he built.”
“I walk my own path, Liam. That’s all there is to it.”
He bows his head, fingers folding together. “Very well.”
Good. Because I have more pressing concerns.
“By the way, Asher Zapera is dead.”
Liam’s head lifts sharply. “What?”
I cross the room and set Asher’s medallion on his desk.
“His sister says he was shot. She doesn’t know by whom. He gave her the medallion before he died, and she’s calling in the favor. Death to his murderer, naturally.”
I leave out the part where she was kidnapped.
That’s mine to handle.
No one will protect her the way I will. And when the Order gives me a name, that man belongs to me.
Zaiya and I are bound by the medallion now. Her pain runs through me like it was carved into my own skin.
Liam looks down at the medallion, sadness pulling into a frown.
“That young man had a great deal of potential.” He shakes his head. “We’ll track this and see what turns up. Are you in contact with his sister?”
“Yeah. I’ll tell her when we have something.” I pause. “I need intel on her, too. Zaiya Zapera.”
He raises his eyebrows at me. When I offer no more context, he nods.
“I’ll get someone on it.”
He reaches for his phone, already bringing up the contact.
I turn to leave.
“Edwin.”
I glance back, letting him see the irritation on my face.
“Be with your father,” he says. “You’ll regret it if you aren’t. It’s any day now.”
