Page 191 of Rose
Ahzii froze. She was exhausted, exhausted from the secrets, the lies, and the way every person seemed to have a different version of the truth.
“Let me guess…” she said bitterly. “He’s a serial killer who murders old people and keeps their pets as souvenirs.”
Kyre and A’Mazi turned to her like she’d lost her mind, but Olivia didn’t flinch.
“Not a serial killer,” she replied evenly, “but a terrorist… yes.”
Ahzii blinked, stunned. “What?”
Olivia’s voice didn’t waver as she laid it out. “Lazarus is William Davis, your husband.”
The words punched the air from Ahzii’s lungs.
“And you,” Sincere added quietly, “are Jane Doe.”
Her chest tightened as Olivia pulled up proof on her phone—legal documents, news articles, even a picture of William as Lazarus from four years ago.
Ahzii’s hands trembled. William had lied to her for years. The man who’d walked into her shop, made her fall in love, marry him, carry his child… had been living an entirely different life. The wrong man she’d fallen for hadn’t been Savior, it was William.
“Lazarus is the one who shot Savior,” Sincere continued, “and he died doing it.”
Ahzii’s mind scrambled to catch up. “He… he’s really dead this time?” Kyre asked.
Olivia nodded. “Yes. Sincere and I were supposed to meet Savior at the house, but the blackout had us stuck in traffic. When we got there, Savior and Lazarus were both on the floor. Lazarus was gone. I checked his pulse myself.”
Ahzii’s head spun. William was truly dead. And the strangest part? She wasn’t sad. The man she had loved had died long before this, in that fire. Even then, he hadn’t been the man she thought he was.
Her whole life felt like a lie… except for one thing she couldn’t deny. She still loved Savior.
“You good?” Kyre’s voice broke through her thoughts.
Tears slipped down her cheeks. “Savior…” she choked out before rushing into the hospital.
She didn’t care if anyone followed. The elevator doors opened to the waiting room where the Carter family sat in heavy silence. Her mother, was there too. Sarai was crying in Aunt Marley’s arms. Macho leaned on the wall with anger, and tears in his eyes. Savior’s parents sat with tears in their eyes, Selene sobbing like she’d already lost him, Bianca praying under her breath.
When Bianca looked up, she quickly crossed the room. “Shugga… I tried calling, but it kept going to voicemail. Are you okay?” She pulled Ahzii into a hug.
“Yes… no.” Ahzii’s voice cracked. “Has the doctor said anything?”
Bianca shook her head. “He’s still in surgery. Hours now. No update.”
The elevator dinged again, and Olivia, Sincere, A’Mazi, and Kyre stepped out. Sarai saw Ahzii, broke from her aunt’s arms, and hugged her tight.
“I thought something happened to you too,” she cried.
Seeing them all here—crying, praying, breaking—only cemented what Olivia had told her.
“I can’t lose him, Gold,” Ahzii sobbed, guilt and grief tangling in her chest.
Because deep down, she knew, Savior couldn’t have known she was the woman in that burning house. He couldn’t have known she’d married a man who was a monster. And if she had just told him the truth… maybe he wouldn’t be lying in surgery right now, fighting for his life.
The doctor stepped out, removed his mask, and cleared his throat. “Are you all here for Savior Carter?”
“Yes—how is my baby? Please tell me he’s going to be okay?” Selene blurted, desperation spilling out too fast.
Everyone turned to glare at her. Just a month ago, she hadn’t cared about Savior’s wellbeing. Now, with death close enough to taste, she suddenly wanted to play the role of a mother. Ahzii hoped this would be the moment Selene realized life was too short, and that her son had always deserved the love she’d withheld.
“Please,” Saint said quickly, his voice tight. “Tell us something. Anything.”
