Page 209 of Fractured Devotion
Every step feels heavier, like I’m dragging the ghosts of the last twenty-four hours behind me.
I find the door, and my hands are steady as I knock once.
He opens it immediately, his face shadowed by the dim light.
He doesn’t ask questions.
He just steps aside and lets me in.
The room is plain with bare walls and a single lamp casting everything in soft amber.
I walk past him and stand by the window, staring down at the empty street below.
“You look different,” Alec says softly.
“I feel different,” I reply.
He watches me, his gaze heavy with something unspoken.
“Did you get what you needed?” he asks.
“I got more than that,” I answer, my voice steady but thick.
He lets out a ragged breath, stepping further inside.
“It’s not safe. You need to lay low for a while,” he says, his voice tender but steady. “Rourke’s already stirring the waters. They’re starting to dig and asking questions. Reyes has been scrambling all day to keep them off your trail. Mara too.”
I nod, letting the weight of his words settle. “They’ll keep digging,” I say. “It’s what they do.”
He sits down in the worn chair by the table, his posture tense.
“There’s more,” he adds. “Word’s spreading about the killings, have you heard? The ones tied to Miramont. Two board members dead in under forty-eight hours.”
“Yes, I saw it on the news.” My breath stills, but I keep my face calm. “Any suspects?” I ask, knowing full well who sits at the top of my mind.
“No names yet,” he says. “But some people are whispering, and others are terrified. It feels targeted. Too precise to be random.”
I keep my expression neutral, but inside, my thoughts coil tight.
Kade.
I hate how quickly his name surfaces in my mind. How easily I can imagine him slipping through shadows and making the necessary cuts.
I push the thought down, locking it away. “You’re laying low here?” I ask, shifting the focus.
He nods. “For now. It’s safe, and it’s close enough to keep an eye on the aftermath, and far enough for peace.” A faint smile tugs at his lips. “And if you ever need a safe place… or a friend, you know where to find me,” he adds, his tone soft but steady.
I arch a brow, amused despite everything. “Is that an invitation or a warning?”
He chuckles under his breath. “Maybe both. Especially considering the company you tend to keep.”
I tilt my head, sensing where this is going.
“You mean Kade,” I say, watching him closely.
His expression tightens, just enough to confirm it. “He’s not good for you, Celeste,” Alec says, his voice firm and serious.
I let the words hang in the air for a moment before offering a slow, teasing smile. “Are you jealous, Alec?” I ask, my tone light but laced with meaning.
