Page 48 of Scornful

Rio just looks confused.

Emil's voice is dangerous now, but his eyes are on me, not Laken. "What the fuck did you just say?"

"Nothing," I say quickly. "He's trying to save his own ass."

"I saw you at the spa!" Laken continues, sensing he's found leverage. "And at that cabin! You think you're so careful, but?—"

I move before anyone can stop me, my fist silencing his words as it connects with his temple.

Laken drops, only Emil's grip keeping him from hitting the pavement.

"He's lying," I say, but Emil's looking at me like it’s all clicking into place.

"Holy shit," he breathes. "You're fuckin’ my sister."

"We need to get him to the clubhouse," Magnus interrupts, always the voice of reason. "Deal with this later."

But Emil's not listening.

He drops Laken and comes at me, his fist catching me in the jaw before I can block.

I stumble back but don't retaliate. In truth, I deserve this.

"You fuckin’ bastard!" Emil roars. "She's my sister! You gave me your word?—"

"I never lied to you," I say, spitting blood.

"You never told me the truth either!" He comes at me again, and this time, Rio and Magnus have to hold him back. "How long? How fuckin’ long?"

I stay silent. Nothing I say will make this better.

"We need to go," Magnus says urgently. "Now. Before someone calls the cops."

Emil's still straining against their hold, like he wants to murder me instead of the bastard who actually hurt Astrid over the years. "This isn't over," he promises me. "Not by a fuckin’ long shot."

He can say what he wants, but I won’t do shit.

I know it’s wrong of me to keep this from him. Hell, to keep it from all of them.

We load the unconscious Laken onto Rio's bike, securing him with bungee cords.

The ride back to the clubhouse is tense, Emil staying as far from me as possible.

I can feel his rage, and I know this is just the beginning.

At the clubhouse, we drag Laken inside through the back entrance.

Word's already spread—brothers gathering to see the man who betrayed us.

Fenrir waits in the main room, Runes beside him.

"Put him in the chair," Fenrir orders.

We dump Laken into a metal chair in the center of the room.

He's coming around, groaning and trying to focus through what's probably a concussion.

That's when Emil drops the bomb.

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