Page 55 of Warrior

“No. She would’ve?—”

“I have a family,” he snaps. “Who does she have?”

She has her brother… who is currently out of town.

She had Nyx… who died.

“Reese was with her,” I argue. “She was sleeping. Unconscious. The nurse?—”

“Jace told me,” Antonio interrupts. He eyes me. “You haven’t talked to Jace King, have you? Been skipping his calls to hide in your tattoo shop?”

I lift my chin. The words hit home, but he doesn’t have to know it.

Doesn’t stop him from seeing right through me anyway.

He sighs. “Stop hiding.”

Right.

“Do you need anything done at Bow & Arrow?”

He shakes his head. He walks slowly, his physical therapist right beside him. I follow along on his other side, tempted to reach out and grab him. But why would I, when it’s clearly unwanted?

“Vittoria is handling the bills.” He glances over. “How’s Tem?”

“She’s…”

“You don’t even know, do you?”

“She’s fine.” It’s a bald-faced lie.

He’s right—I don’t know. All I have is Reese telling me to be home more, toseeher, and Tem avoiding me. Or starting fights. She’s been acting flighty, but why wouldn’t she? I could see how I devastated her by informing her about Kade’s tattoo.

She left. I presume she’s staying at Bow & Arrow to avoid me, and Reese hasn’t been around either. Which is fine. I could use some alone time…

Lies.

At least I haven’t been back to Elora’s house in West Falls.

That’s something, right?

And that reminds me?—

“I think she burned down Kade’s house.”

Antonio pauses, then bursts out laughing. Immediately, he presses his hand to his chest and doubles over. He gasps and takes a long moment to straighten again.

“Youthink? I would, too. I hope the fucker was inside it.”

I wince.

He waves me off. “Your heart is too kind sometimes, Saint. And sometimes, it’s far too cruel to the wrong people.”

Maybe so.

My conscience is clear, though, now that I’ve at least confirmed that Antonio is awake and kicking.

While I’m walking to the car, my phone buzzes.

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