Page 19 of Kael

"Look at her," he said, his voice low and cold as ice. "Look at what you did to her."

Lena's eyes darted toward me, tears streaming down her face. She tried to shake her head, tried to beg, but no sound came out except that terrible choking.

Kael watched her struggle for another moment, then let go.

Lena collapsed to the floor, gasping and sobbing, clutching her throat. She was on her hands and knees, coughing, sucking in ragged breaths like she'd never tasted air before.

Kael crouched down in front of her, grabbing her jaw and forcing her to look at him.

“The only reason you're alive is because you know Zia, and I don’t want to deal with her.”

He stood up, stepping back from her crumpled form. He pointed toward the door with the gun. "Get out."

Lena scrambled to her feet, swaying, clutching her bruised throat. She stumbled toward the door, sobbing.

At the threshold, she stopped. She turned back, tears streaming down her face, her voice shaking. "I didn't mean—I was just trying to—I just like you."

Kael raised the gun.

Lena screamed, throwing her hands up to shield her face.

He just stood there, gun aimed at her head, his face completely blank. "I said get out," he said softly.

Lena ran.

The door slammed behind her. Her footsteps echoed down the hallway, then down the stairs, then the front door opened and closed, and then there was nothing but silence.

I hadn't even realized I was crying. I just sat there on the bed, shaking, my hands pressed to my mouth, tears streaming down my face.

Kael stood there for a moment, looking at the door. Then he tucked the gun back into his waistband and turned to me.

He crossed the room slowly. He knelt in front of the bed, bringing himself to my eye level. His hands came up to cup my face—gently this time, so gently, his thumbs wiping away my tears.

"You're safe now," he said softly. "She's gone. She won't come back."

I stared at him, my mind reeling. “Don’t feel sorry for her.”

He pulled me into him and held me like he was the one who needed comfort. I was terrified of him, but there was a feeling of gratitude right under the surface of that fear. He had choked and fired her for me. Sick, twisted, and wrong as it was—I also felt safer than I had in years.

"Look at me," he said softly, pulling back.

I did what he said.

“You feel better now?”

“Good,” he smiled. "I'm sending Rosa up with clean sheets and a proper meal. And I'm staying in the room with you tonight. I’ll be here to help you from now on—just me."

Chapter 13

Kael

I left Bria sleeping.

She'd finally stopped shaking. The nightmares that had plagued her for weeks had faded to occasional twitches—soft whimpers that didn't wake her. I stood in the doorway of her room for a long moment, watching her chest rise and fall beneath the white sheets. Her face was peaceful. Healing.

I closed the door softly and walked out.

The drive to Caine's house took twenty minutes. The roads were empty, the sky a bruised purple as the sun began to set. I drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the gun in my waistband.