Page 46 of Hound

Nina thought I loved Lace in a different way. But there was no way when I never felt it. Not before Christopher, where this feeling stood bigger than life.

He slowly shook his head. “Lorenzo, don’t?—”

The confession poured out of my lips with clear helplessness. “I love you.”

He stood awe-struck and silent.

“And if you knew you weren’t going to ever feel this way for me, then we should have stopped this when I said there was no turning back.”

When he didn’t respond—the fucker couldn’t even look me in the eyes—I added, “I won’t be going to the Ball and will be leaving the day after. This will be the last time you see me, Mr. Sephtis.”

And with that, I left, even if I didn’t believe all of my words.

December twenty-fifth rolled around in light rain and overcast, gloomy clouds. Everything was packed and ready to go. Except the loose end that stared back at me on my desk.

Mallory’s notes. The diary. The device.

I’d betrayed Lace to help Christopher. That was one mistake I couldn’t undo—but there was another I could fix.

By finding Mallory, I could complete the failed mission I kept from Lace. By using this chance in the new task force, I could atone for the lies I told my best friend. I’d deal with all and every repercussion for failing and lying. Even if it meant stripping my title alongside Katerina’s. Even if it meant throwing everything I had with my doll away.

So be it.

I stood, but froze at a knock on the door. Nina should be holed up in her room right now, and given our last argument, she wouldn’t come out to find me when we were giving each other the silent treatment. And with the Christmas Ball, everyone should be gone including Mr. Amelle. So who was it?

Sonia stood in the hall, my hands tightly closing my door as I stepped out. “Something has come up, Mr. Devon.”

“What is it?”

She handed me a folded piece of paper, her fingers digging into the thin sheet with hesitation. “Although this is your last night, I hope you upkeep the rest of your duties until you’re relieved tomorrow.”

She bowed and parted before I could ask or say anything. In the quiet, I opened the note.

Two choices rested before me: finish my last mission that I had failed as the Hound, or follow my last assignment as a guardian.

The motorcycle roared to life, light December rain coating my skin as adrenaline raced through my veins. Wind gusted past me as I headed north to Silverman’s Island, knots pressing into my stomach and hairs rising on my nape.

Chapter 14

CHRISTOPHER SEPHTIS

A day prior. . .

Raphael was the first one to enter the library, his presence a soft brush within the dense air, adding the slightest shift that may go unnoticed if not focused on. Had his presence always harbored such sheerness?

Deep auburn eyes stumbled on me, his body suddenly freezing then instantly bowing, each motion faster than the last. Round lips parted but ultimately shut and stretched into a fine line as he stepped toward the spiral staircase that met the ceiling. His inclusion was one I failed to grasp. Raphael was the puppet in our schemes who lived in the shadows, called upon only when necessary. This was no place for him. Why had Alek dragged him to this?

Realization twisted in my abdomen. The answer was in the very role we enacted on him.

Alek entered the library shortly after with a crisp white button down, in which matched Raphael’s paling skin. The two shared unspoken words as Alek rested his hand on Raphael’sshoulders and lightly squeezed. When Mr. Amelle and Ms. Eli settled into the room, his attention fell on all of us.

I had agreed to Alek’s request to meet before the Christmas Ball due to its impending arrival. With less than twenty-four hours, each minute ticked away further from our grasp.

“The plan will go as such. . .

Katerina and Tristan will retrieve the notebook. During the Ball, Raphael will keep a close eye on Kaleb to ensure that he does no heinous acts. Christopher will also be monitoring Noah and the twins.”

His voice was the same, yet, there, in the depths of his words, echoed a resilience I never heard before as he filtered through our roles and designations.

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