The sun still rose.
The moon still set.
And my heart still beat regardless.
My ears pricked as the harsh scrape of a key echoed from the opposite side of the room. I sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes, grabbing my dirk from the covers.
The door swung open.
I shifted to my knees, wielding the knife. After my shower last night, I’d dressed in black leggings and an oversized cream cardigan. But no matter how many layers or quilts I snuggled beneath, I couldn’t eradicate the chill of loneliness.
My ears still echoed with gunshots.
My mind replayed the moment when Kes collapsed with blood blooming on his shirt, and Jethro dove to protect his sister.
The sister who didn’t deserve to be saved.
My jaw clenched.
Jasmine.
She was in equal running for my dislike with Daniel. In fact, she was worse. Always coming across as gentle and removed from her mad family—when, in actual fact, she’d been the instigator and in cahoots with Bonnie.
Flaw appeared.
Peering around the door, he wore his typical outfit of jeans, black t-shirt, and Black Diamonds jacket. His gaze drifted to the knife in my hands, raising an eyebrow. “If you don’t want that confiscated, I’d hide it if I were you.”
My hands shook. “Why are you here?” I didn’t see any trays of food. A social call was out of the question. Shuffling higher, I narrowed my eyes. “Why do you care if they take my knife or not?”
He ran a hand through his hair, opening the door wider. “Don’t like this situation any more than you do.”
His voice sounded loud and obtrusive, spilling secrets. It was the first time I’d spoken to someone since I’d been locked up; I’d forgotten how to do it.
My heart ached. “You miss them, too?”
Jethro…
Kes…
The only ones not tainted by Hawk insanity.
He nodded. “Kes has been a close friend for years. Didn’t have much to do with Jethro until recently, but he proved he was a good bloke. Almost as good as his brother.”
His comment hurt irrationally. To me, Jethro was better than anyone. Then again, my heart was biased. Kestrel was a genuine, caring friend who’d sacrificed far too much for people who didn’t deserve him.
Myself included.
I hugged my knife, stroking it with the thought of spilling Cut’s blood. “He was the best. His death won’t go unpunished.”
Flaw came closer, his boots silent on the emerald W carpet. “Words like that can get you into trouble.”
I ran my thumb along the sharp blade. “I don’t care. All I want is for them to die.”
He cleared his throat. “Can’t say I don’t understand or feel your pain, but it’s best to stop saying such things.” Inching closer to the bed, he held out his hand. “I was told to bring you.”
My head snapped up. “What?”
The last time someone had come to take me somewhere, the maid made me dress in breaches and cheesecloth, then delivered me to the worst poker night in history.
I tightened my grip on the dirk. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
He scowled. “Don’t make this harder than it already is.”
I moved away from him, inching to the other side of the bed. “Tell me why.”
“Why?”
My heart cantered faster—almost as fast as Moth, the day Kes took me for a ride. I should’ve been nice to him. Kinder. Less suspicious.
I bared my teeth. “If this is to re-do the Third Debt, I’m not going. I’ll kill you first.” My threat wasn’t empty. I boiled with the urge to do it—to prove I was done being weak.
Flaw jammed his hands in his back pockets. The action made him appear personable and less threatening.
I didn’t buy it.
He’d been there that first night when Jethro stole me from Milan. He’d witnessed what they’d done to me in the months I’d been there.
“I haven’t been told anything. I guess you’ll just have to come and find out for yourself.”
“Tell Cut he can come for me himself.”
My eyes darted around the room. I had weapons here: needles, scissors, scalpels for sculpturing lace. If I could entice Cut into my nest, I could ambush him with tools I knew how to wield.
He wouldn’t stand a chance.
“Look—” He shrugged. “I was told not to tell you, but fuck it. They’re in the library. And they have guests. I doubt they’ll do anything of a…family matter…in front of an audience.”
No, but they keep such blatant evidence.
Their audacity at keeping mementos of my ancestors’ pain infuriated me. Once I’d killed them, I’d gather up every video and document and burn them. I’d demolish every evidence and set my ancestors’ souls free.
Why not turn it into the police?
I shuddered. The thought of men in suits—men who the Hawks might’ve paid to turn a blind eye for so long—watching video-tapes of my mother’s agony almost made me black out with a vicious vertigo wave.
Gripping the sheets, I let the dizziness subside before blinking my vision clear.
Flaw hadn’t moved; a relaxed employee who knew I’d have to obey eventually.
“Why should I trust you? What’s to stop you from lying?” He might’ve been Kes’s friend, but he was still a Black Diamond. And they weren’t to be trusted.
“Because I might be the last remaining friend you have in this godforsaken place.” His face tightened for a moment, filling with thoughts he refused to share. “You need more? Fine. I happen to know the guests are lawyers.” Holding out his hand, he said, “Happy? Now, let’s go.”
“Lawyers?” I shook my head. “Why?”
What on earth are lawyers doing here?
Flaw gave half a smile. “Instead of all the questions, how about you just get it over with?”
I didn’t want to move but I couldn’t deny he had logic on his side.
With one last glower, I swung my legs off the bed and padded toward him. The room wobbled from getting up so fast, but other than that, my bloodlust for Cut’s life kept me focused on an anchor.
Jethro is no longer my anchor.
I was once again a shipwrecked boat, drifting on an ocean of misfortune.
Flaw’s gaze fell to my knife. “You planning on taking that?”
“Do you have a problem with that?”
I waited for him to snatch it from me. To confiscate it. Instead, he pursed his lips. “I’m not the one on your shit list.”
“Not at the moment, you aren’t.”
He sucked in a breath.
Rebellion and power siphoned through my blood. I didn’t trust Flaw, but he wasn’t my enemy. Holding eye contact, I hitched up the hem of my slouchy cardigan, tucked the dirk in my waistband, and concealed it.
He didn’t say a word.
I was playing with fire. He was on their side. He could tell them I had it and leave me defenceless, but at the same time, I had to push and search for allies. Flaw had been kind to me whenever we’d crossed paths. He’d escorted me to my room late at night if Daniel caught me sneaking to the kitchens. He’d been there whenever I’d popped in to see Kestrel, laughing and seeming normal and carefree.
Anyone who was friends with Kes couldn’t be too bad—Kes wouldn’t tolerate it.
And I learned that the hard way.
He’s dead.
Just like his brother.
My heart panged. No matter how strong I forced myself to be, I couldn’t stop the lacerations of grief. It was like a rogue wave, lapping at my soul, tugging me under with its rip.
Flaw crossed his arms, challenge sparking in his eyes. “You know the knife won’t be enough.”
“I know.”
He cocked his head. “Then why bother?”
Running my hands through my hair, I twisted the black length to drape over my shoulder. “Because they won’t expect it. And the element of surprise can make a tiny knife become a sword.”
He chuckled. “Deep. Sounds like Confucius or some other metaphorical bullshit.”
I shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I know what I mean. I know what I’ll do.” My tone slid to ice. “And I suggest you stay out of my way and keep your mouth shut.”
He laughed quietly. “Hey. As long as you stay away from me, I don’t have a problem. Always knew things would change. Ever since Kes told me what Jethro planned to do on his thirtieth, I knew my lifestyle was up.”
I froze.
He’ll never age another day.
Jethro’s corpse would forever remain twenty-nine—immortal and unchanging.
“What? What was he planning?”
“He didn’t tell you?” He crossed his arms. “I thought you were deep as fucking thieves. That was the reason all of this grew out of control.”
Breathing hard, I swallowed sadness. “No, he didn’t tell me.”
Flaw softened. “Sorry.”
I swiped at my face, dispelling any sign of tears. “So, what was he planning?”
He’s dead. But he’s still here…holding me…guiding me.
Learning more about Jethro, even though he was gone, was awfully bittersweet.
Flaw looked behind him at the open door. His face shadowed, and for a moment, I thought he’d refuse to say, but then he lowered his voice. “Once everything was his, he planned on ripping up the contracts. Ending it.”