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Affection bloomed in my chest at his words. As much as we’d fought, Caleb had never made me feel less-than.

I chuckled. My abilities were the only thing he’d actually liked from the beginning.

My eyes fluttered closed when Caleb leaned forward and cupped my face before pressing his lips to mine. This kiss was soft and gentle.

Loving.

When he pulled away, my eyes popped open to find him staring at me intently.

“Don’t tell me you love me,” I whispered.

Caleb’s face paled, and what looked like disappointment flashed across his face. “You don’t feel the same way?” he asked. His voice was quiet and lacked the authority I was used to. Instead, it was laced with hurt.

I clamped down on his wrist, keeping his hand in place as I turned and placed a kiss on the palm. “No, that’s not it at all. I love you so much it scares me, because losing you, any of you, will feel like a crucial part of me is missing.” His eyes widened in surprise, and Kenji’s hands stilled from whatever he was doing when he heard me say any of you.

“I don’t want you to tell me you love me, because it feels too much like you’re saying goodbye,” I said.

Caleb’s thumb stroked my cheek as Kenji crawled into the back seat and held me tight in his arms. It was as if they sensed the emotional breakdown I was having. My heart wanted to open up and love while my mind attempted to keep us shielded in safety.

“People leave after they tell me they love me,” I whispered, thinking about the only other man I’d loved. Thought I’d loved.

“Scar, you listen to me right now.” Kenji wrenched my face toward his, pressing his mouth to mine in a claim. “We fucking love you, and we’re going to tell you every fucking day until the devil takes us, and then we’re clawing out of hell and haunting your sexy ass until you join us,” he said.

“I love you, Scar, and I don’t give a shit if you don’t want me to tell you. Because you deserve to be told how special you are. Now, go fuck up your uncle,” Caleb said, sealing his speech with a kiss.

A rock settled in my gut, and I hopped out of the SUV. I’d just been told that I was loved, and the man who’d made my life a living hell was about to have his life snuffed out at my hands, and yet something felt…wrong.

I checked my phone once more before approaching the doors of the brownstone. I’d already unlocked the doors and system at Lotería for Gunner, but I wanted to check the feed one more time before I was unavailable.

My heart stopped in my chest at the sight of Ryan locked in a room. She didn’t realize that Gunner and Dex were pinned down. I tapped into the intercom system at the club.

“Nice job, bitch. Now get your ass to the cargo bay. Your man needs some help, and I would hurry if you want to take care of Mario before the authorities do,” I told her. How ironic that I was about to go in and exact my own justice.

“Scar?”

“Yup. Your man called in a favor. Now get going.” I paused. “Oh, and Ryan…don’t be too hard on him when you find out the truth,” I said before shutting down the feed. I saw the way Gunner looked at her, and all that he was giving up to gain her. She was going to be pissed and feel betrayed. But the bigger wound was that she would feel she was unlovable, but that was a fucking lie. The same one I’d told myself before these men.

She’d be fine. She had to be.

I pounded on the door. The heavy thud mimicked the beating of my heart. There was a mix of anticipation and utter calm swirling through my veins. The door was yanked open, and one of Dominick’s personal guards stared down at me, disgust clear on his face.

“What the fuck are you doing here, traitor bitch?”

I pushed past him, making my way toward Dominick’s office. “Oh yes, because I had a fucking say in that shitshow of a situation. Where’s Dominick? I have shit on the Syndicate to tell him.”

I didn’t wait for his answer as I stormed into his office.

Dominick lounged in his recliner, feet propped up and crossed at the ankle. Cigar smoke filled the space, burning my lungs. His cold eyes slid to where I stood at the doors.

“Well, if it isn’t my bastard niece. Come crawling back to ask for forgiveness? Has Callahan already tired of your pussy?”

I ignored the insult, turning to close the doors to the office, but a large hand halted my movement.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” the meathead guard sneered.

“I have shit to tell Dominick that I’m sure he wouldn’t want your pea-brain to hear,” I snapped back, looking over my shoulder to my uncle.

His gaze trailed over me. I kept my body relaxed and slightly hunched over. I wanted to seem as unintimidating as possible. His eyes narrowed on my face, like if he squinted hard enough, he’d be able to see my thoughts. I had to give him something, or he wasn’t going to let me in.