Page 163 of BounBound By Scars

“No one gave him the benefit of the doubt,” I said, voice low and lethal. “Not one of you.”

Zane opened his mouth. “That’s not true. I—”

“You did not!”I screamed, cutting him off, my voice cracking around the words.

He fell silent.

I spun slowly, facing all of them. “If it had been Logan, or Zarek, or this walking goddamn statue of loyalty—” I threw a pointed glare at Dylan, “you would’ve hesitated. You would’ve questioned it. You would’ve lookedtwice.”

I took a shaky breath, tears blurring my vision.

“But Kabir?” I whispered. “Kabir never even stood a chance with you. None of you give a fuck!”

“We do,” Logan said gently, his voice a steady thread in the storm.

I whipped around. “YOU!” I pointed at Zarek again. “Are you sad your precious rogue asset got shot? Or are you just mad it wasn’t you pulling the trigger?”

Zarek didn’t respond. He just stood there—haunted. His jaw was locked, his eyes dark, regret sinking into every line of his face.

He shook his head once, like the answer hurt too much to say out loud.

Behind me, Logan stepped aside, pulling out his comm. His voice was quiet, but I heard it—every word.

“Kaylan, can you bring Leora as well?” he said. “She’s not okay. Amelia is… just… come over.”

I laughed.

Loud, cracked, hysterical.

“OfcourseI’m not okay, Logan!”

I spun toward Zane.

“Youlefthim. You left himbleeding. In some alley. Like a fuckingenemy.”

He didn’t flinch.

He just nodded—because he knew.

Logan stepped forward slowly, careful not to push. “Amelia—”

But I was already spiraling.

“You three,” I spat, gesturing between him, Dylan, and Zarek. “The fucking golden trio. The inner fucking circle of assholes.”

My chest heaved. The rage was molten now, rising fast.

“Kabir was never in it, was he? He was theasset. Never abrother.”

Logan’s face twisted. “That’s not fair. That’s nottrue.”

“Maybe not for you,” I snapped, eyes wet, voice shaking, “but forhim—” I pointed at Zarek like I was aiming a weapon. “Don’t even try to deny it. You never treated him like a brother. Not once.”

Zarek looked like I’d slapped him. But he didn’t argue.

He didn’t have the right.

“‘On it, Ghost. On it, Ghost. On it, Ghost.’I never want to hear him say thatever fucking again,” I screamed at him.

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