Page 119 of Warrior

“I want to get sober, and I can’t do it alone.”

No going back now.

32SAINT

“You might be wonderingwho I am and why my men have gathered you here.”

The man looks around carefully from his position above us. He wears a black suit. His white shirt is partially hidden under the buttoned jacket, and a slim black tie is knotted at his throat. He gives off regal vibes in the strangest of ways. Like he has any right to stand in Tem’s club as if he owns it.

The mayor scoffs from the other side of the crowd. “Gathered? That’s a nice way to put it. Your men rounded us up?—”

A Cyclops jabs him in the back with the butt of his gun. The mayor staggers forward, then glares back at the man who struck him.

A chill rushes through me.

The man above, standing to the side of Kade and Gabriel, is closer to Antonio’s age than ours. His hair is mostly dark, perfectly styled with a single curl hanging down in the middle of his forehead. He reminds me of a 1950’s rock star. Somewhere between attractive and average, but the magnetism is hard to miss.

The one above us continues as if there wasn’t an interruption. “You can call me Ouranos. And I am here to save Sterling Falls.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. IlikeGreek mythology. Studied up on it quite a bit when I was first starting to make masks for Olympus. Ouranos is the father of the Titans, but he seems too young to be Kronos’ father.

Brother, then?

“We’re fine on our own, thanks,” one of the aldermen calls.

Ouranos cocks his head. “You call thisfine?”

He leaves the staircase landing and heads down. Kade remains immobile, but Gabriel follows behind him. I meet Kade’s gaze. Any heat or passion is gone, replaced with a cold façade.

At least, I hope it’s a mask and not the truth of him.

Ouranos reaches the dance floor and strides toward the alderman. There are four of them here, including Nadine Bradshaw. I only know one who’s out of town…

“Is fine all you hope for Sterling Falls, Baron?” Ouranos questions.

Alderman Baron—whose name I didn’t know, and certainly didn’t expecthimto know—gapes. He’s more shocked than me.

Antonio’s hand wraps around my wrist.

“Fine is not a benchmark of success.Fineis a failure.”

Up close, I can make out the silver hairs at his temple. His face is clean-shaven, like Gabriel and Kade. His jaw is steep, his face narrower than what might be classically handsome, and his nose has a bump just after the bridge it that makes him stand out.

“Hold him,” Ouranos says softly.

Two of his men grab the alderman from behind, one on each arm. They were there too fast, almost anticipating theirboss’s order. Or perhaps not trusting the Sterling Falls’ native to behave. Baron immediately struggles, yanking to no avail.

“You are a failure to this town.” He lifts his chin, and they shove Baron to his knees. One of them offers a handgun, which Ouranos takes.

Antonio’s grip crushes my wrist. I grasp at him back, my body tensing.

The gunshot is not unexpected, but itisjarring. I shield Antonio with my body, half turning away. If there was any hope that this was a ruse, it’s now gone.

Baron drops, released by the Cyclopes holding him.

Ouranos hands his weapon to one of them, producing a handkerchief from his breast pocket and wiping each finger individually.

He moves through the crowd. I keep Antonio behind me, but everyone shifts out of his way. Not a single person seems to be able to meet his gaze.

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