Page 7

Razor, Crow, Dutch, and Grey have been my besties since second grade when Danny Firo tried bullying me into kissing him on the playground and ended up with two black eyes and a bloodied lip instead. Those were from me, but the guys never wavered in having my back just in case I needed it. We’ve been inseparable ever since. Even if they do piss me off regularly.

And after a fucked up few months, the joking and laughter with Razor go a long way to easing my stress.

Razor’s expression shifts the second my smile falters. He’s better at reading my moods than I want to admit. I’m even better at reading his.

“Hey, have you heard any updates on Violet?” he asks.

“Not in a few days,” I say. “But I’m heading to a meeting with Lexi now.”

“Let me know if—” He stops himself, jaw tightening. “Just let me know how she is.”

“I will.”

He nods once.

I don’t push. But I file it away. Just like I’ve filed away all the other times he’s asked about the human girl.

At first, I chalked it up to him being the one to catch her before her head hit the floor when she passed out in the restaurant that day. Or the look of sheer terror on Lexi’s face when she saw her friend beaten like that. I know Razor would go to war for Lexi, and that loyalty extends to anyone she cares about. But I’m starting to wonder if it isn’t something more.

Before I can let myself get too distracted over untangling the chaos that is Razor Martinez’s brain, I head to Lexi’s office.

The corridor here is different. Less marble intimidation. More lived-in. It’s more than just the fact that the art on the walls and half the furniture has already been replaced. There’s a peaceful energy here that the old bastard could never achieve. Lexi’s influence softens the edges without dulling the blade.

Andy Balistrieri, Lexi’s second, stands outside the office, tablet in hand, looking like the calm eye in the center of a storm that hasn’t hit yet. Her blonde hair is tied up in a practical knot, highlighting cheeks that look slightly flushed, making me wonder if she’s just come from some stolen moment with Dutch. Not that I’m about to ask for details.

“Hey,” she says when she sees me. “I was just about to come look for you.”

“Razor wouldn’t shut up about his breakfast sandwich.” I shove my chin toward the ceiling. “How’s the patient today?”

“Resting. She had a rough night.”

My jaw tightens. Violet’s been having night terrors since she got here. I can’t blame her either. What Ramsey did to her would traumatize anyone, but a human on top of that, entering a world that’s full of monsters you never knew existed? It’s going to fuck her up for a while yet, I’m sure.

“Speaking of which, has she said anything about what happened when Ramsey was holding her? Or where they were?”

“Not yet. Why?”

“Donahue might have a lead on a possible location. It would help if Violet could corroborate it.”

Andy sighs. “Violet hasn’t been able to say much without getting upset. Lexi doesn’t want to push her before she’s ready.”

I nod, torn. I understand Lexi wanting to protect her friend, but we’re running out of time.

“Any new intel on your end?” I ask.

“Some,” Andy says carefully. “Lexi wants to go over it together.”

“Let’s do it.” I take a step toward Lexi’s closed office door, but Andy stops me.

“Actually, she’s just finishing up another meeting.”

“Oh.” I step back, frowning as I try to recall if the schedule might have changed overnight. As head strategist, I’m usually invited to the morning meetings—much to my boredom most days. Being kept out is new. “Who’s she with?”

“Grey… and a potential ally.”

“Ally?” I frown.

Andy shrugs. “Some alpha reached out with information and an offer. That’s all I know so far.”