Page 65 of Broken Wolf Heart
They all think I killed him, including Andy.
Guilt tugs at me for lying to her, but I shove it aside. As for the generals…
“I didn’t exactly do it on purpose,” I admit, my words more vulnerable than I like.
Andy’s gaze softens slightly. “Intent doesn’t matter to these wolves. Only outcome.”
“Is that why no one’s even batted an eye about finding out Dom’s dead?” I ask.
Her gaze flashes with an intensity I haven’t seen often from her. “Dom had no friends among us. He burned every bridge and left hate and violence in his wake wherever he went. No one’s sorry to see him go.”
“So, no big fancy funeral for him, then?”
“Elena suggested a simple memorial stone in the pack cemetery to appease any family. I approved it,” she says wryly.
“Wow. Okay. Thanks for taking care of that.”
“Elena did most of the legwork. She’s really good at what she does.”
“Scarily good,” I agree.
Andy grins.
The silence hangs between us, growing warmer, less tense.
“How do you handle it so easily? The violence, the having to be on your guard constantly—the pressure of it all?”
Andy glances at Razor, and I realize I’m asking a personal question in front of someone she probably considers her enemy. But she doesn’t brush off the question, and when she speaks, there’s a surprising amount of openness in her tone.
“Franco recruited my dad before I was born, so I grew up with violence and power games as the norm. My father used to take me to work with him. Said it would bring us closer. Make me stronger.”
Razor snarls at that.
Andy gives him a look. “Yeah, we’re a lot alike.”
“It’s fucked up,” he says.
“It was,” she agrees.
I shake my head, thinking of Grey. His dad did the same thing. So did all Vincenzo’s generals. It’s horrible.
“Did it?” I ask. “Make you stronger?”
“Sort of. Believe it or not, my dad was a good guy, all things considered. Better than any of the current regime—on both sides. I came to realize he did bad things for what he considered good reasons. When he died, Toros took his place, and Franco decided a marriage between us would unite those divided about Toros’ quick promotion to general.”
“Toros led the Bane though,” Razor says. “He foughtagainst Franco. I still don’t get why he gave that up and joined the fucker.”
“Power is a heady thing to dangle in front of someone. Regardless of their principles or morals. Although, I think Toros was always in it for power more than he was in it for the cause.”
Razor scowls.
“You didn’t have a choice?” I ask. “About marrying Toros?”
She shrugs. “I wouldn’t have said no despite not wanting it.”
“Why not?”
“This pack has always been my world, brutal as it is.”
