Page 35 of Deadly Little Hearts

“I’m trying to fix this between us—that’s what this was all about.Giving you something in return for peace,” I say.

Kai laughs, though there’s no humor in the sound.“And look what you did!You killed people from the Hood and the Ville.You call yourself a leader?Pfft.You’re a destroyer.”

I swallow past the thump in my throat.He’s right, but I won’t be telling him that.

“Daddy would be so proud.”Kai smirks, and my fists ball at my side.I’m ready to punch this asshole.

“Enough!”Gage yells, stepping between us.“This isn’t the time or place for this.We need to settle this properly.”

Zion scoffs.“Only way this is going to get resolved now is by war.”He turns around, heading back for their car.“May the odds be forevernotin your favor.”

Bear follows Zion, but Kai stays back, shoving his gun back into the front of his pants.“Whatever happens from here on out, that’s on you.”

He leaves, and my heart pounds so hard and fast that I can’t hear anything else around me.A hand lands on my shoulder, but I don’t move.I watch as they leave, dust kicking up behind the car.

Guilt slams into me.Who the fuck am I?Is that all I am, a killer?That’s all I know.All I’ve ever known.Kai is right about one thing.If I’d been on time—if I’d thought to have the building checked by security beforehand, if I’d scanned everyone as they entered—I could have saved them.

Chapter 18

Lucas

Freya’shandlookssosmall.Her fingers curl around mine, holding on for dear life, like she’s afraid I’ll let go.Part of me wants to release her and walk away.But the other stronger part can’t leave her like this.Lying on the hospital bed with angry burns lining her arms.

The doctor said they will heal without too much scarring, but fuck, I want to take it all away.I want to release the pain that’s sewn into that little frown on her forehead.To tell her that everything is okay, that I’m here to protect her.But we’re not living in a fucking fairy tale, and I won’t spin those lies to her, no matter how much she needs to hear them.

She groans, and I sit up straighter, gripping her hand tighter.The frown on her forehead deepens and her eyes blink open.She sits up and looks around the room, her eyes widening before settling back on me, and her frown disappears.Her stare cuts right into my soul.Begging me to forgive her, to lean forward and claim her plump, pink lips that I’ve been missing and dreaming about every time I close my eyes.

“What happened?”she asks, her voice all husky, and fucking hell, it’s sexy as sin.

“The town hall blew up,” I say, and she sucks in a deep breath.She coughs.I reach for the glass of water, bringing the straw to her lips.

She takes in several sips, her throat bobbing up and down.Her cheeks are covered in soot from the smoke, and for the better part of the last thirty minutes, I’ve wanted to wipe it away.But I can’t.She’s not mine anymore.Hell, was she ever, really?

“Is everyone okay?”she asks, and I place the cup down on the table next to her, not wanting to burden her with more bad news.“Hazen and Gage?”

“Yes, they are okay, but anyone who was in the town hall isn’t.It was packed, Freya.”

Her frown deepens, and she sighs.“Fuck.”

We stay in silence for several minutes, and I still don’t let go of her hand, and she doesn’t let go of mine either.There’s so much I want to say but don’t.I want to yell and scream—hell, even walk away.But there’s something holding me back, keeping me here.She could have died today, and that’s not something I want to experience again.It felt like someone ripping open the last little bit of my heart, pulling it apart vein by vein until nothing remained.

As much as I hate to admit it, Freya still has her claws in my heart, and I have no idea how to release her grasp.I want to hate her, to walk away and never look back, but I can’t, and that pisses me off.I’m so fucked up.

“Has the doctor been in yet?”she asks.

“Yeah, he’s been in and said it’s nothing critical.Everything will heal.”

She smiles, and I don’t remove my hand from hers, afraid that if I do, I’ll lose the last piece of her I still have.

“I’m really glad you’re here with me,” Freya whispers, and my gaze locks on to the hospital floor.I stare blankly at the dirty white vinyl while my stomach twists and turns.

“I didn’t really have a choice,” I mumble, and the bed squeaks as Freya moves away from me.She tries to pull her fingers free from mine, but I hold on tighter before she gives in.

“Are we okay?”she asks, and I finally look back up, her blue eyes staring into my very soul.

“It’s not as simple as that,” I say.

Freya huffs.“What can I do to get back to the way we were?”

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