Page 9 of Cruel Salvation

“Walk away, Damon, I’m not worth it.”

Pushing past him, she headed inside to face Bás and Duchess. She had to get her head out of the clouds and back in the game or the next funeral her team attended would be hers.

Bás was waiting when she got inside, his careful look assessing her mood and gauging if she was ready.

“I’m going.”

The plates had been cleared and Gideon, Lucía, Sebastian, and Peyton had taken the kids into the games room so they could discuss this as a team. She felt a presence behind her and waited for Bás to tell Damon to leave but he didn’t.

Her boss, and the man she considered family, looked angry, and she knew it was because Jack had gone to her first.

He rested his hands on his hips and she could feel the tension radiate off him. “That’s a bad idea.”

“Lotus can do this and we have her back.”

She looked at Hurricane with a small smile for his support but shook her head. “I need to go alone. If I turn up with a big team, Simon will handle it badly.”

“No way are you going alone, Lotus.” Duchess was seated, her legs crossed casually, but Lotus knew she was evaluating everything.

“I’ll go with her.”

Lotus spun at Damon’s outrageous offer and glared at him. “No offense, but you can’t help me. You will just get in my way.”

“I disagree.”

Lotus felt her eyes almost bug at her friend’s comment. “What the hell, Duchess?”

“Damon is capable and smart and he can watch your back. More importantly, him being with you will stop you from doing anything reckless.”

“Fuck you, Duchess.”

The woman who was selling her out looked sad for a second before she lifted her shoulders up and back. “Tell me honestly. Would you take the same risks with Damon there that you would take alone?”

Lotus ground her teeth, fury burning through her blood and she knew lying would be pointless. “I can’t.”

Snow stepped up beside her and looped her hand through hers. “We love you, Lotus.”

Her hand shook as she faced the people around her, before her eyes landed on Damon. “If you die, I’ll never forgive you.”

“I trust you, Naz.”

That was the problem, though. She didn’t trust herself.

“Then it’s settled. Damon and Lotus will go after Simon and Kelly, aka Bonnie and Clyde, and Snow, Titan, Reaper, and Bishop will follow, staying about five miles behind. That gives you the space you need but ensures they’re close enough if you need them. Santa will also be available as air support and Watchdog will be by your side on comms. I want regular updates and, if I see any sign that this is going south, I’ll pull you and the authorities can deal with it. I don’t care what your objections might be. Are we clear?”

“Crystal.”

Lotus glanced at Watchdog who nodded but kept quiet. She never thought it would happen but she missed his frequent, detailed random facts and the playful banter from him. It was easy to forget sometimes that she wasn’t the only one suffering and, in fact, some suffered more than she’d ever imagined.

She saw Duchess talking to Damon and wondered what the hell he was thinking, insinuating himself into this op. The man was a great barrister, and she’d seen him in action, defending Peyton, but he wasn’t a killer like she was and a part of her didn’t want him seeing that side of her.

She wanted to push him away for his own safety and for the safety of her heart, but even more, so that she could decide what the hell she’d do about the secret she carried inside her that threatened to change and link both their lives forever, and how the hell she’d tell him when she did.