Page 42 of Revenge Saints
No point hiding it. Might even buy me some space, some fear, some respect. Something.
He hums under his breath, more curiosity than judgment. “Hmm… Bryn said you were special forces.”
He doesn’t flinch at the blood. Doesn’t flinch atme. Just cleans the wound like it’s any other.
“Yeah,” I mutter. “That too. Until Roman fucked me and my team.”
Sean nods, and I glance over at him, watching his careful hands.
“How does a man like you end up with Roman?” I ask, eyeing him.
Sean chuckles, but there’s no humor in it. “Didn’t have a choice. It was either join his little militia… or die.”
My chest tightens. I study him, see the shadow pass over his face.
“He hit the community I was living in. He came for medicine and women.” His jaw flexes. “Ours were gone, hidden before he arrived. But me?” He glances at the wound. “I was a doctor. That made me useful.”
Of course.
I grind my teeth. Roman’s been raiding unarmed communities, tearing them apart for supplies and flesh. And I’m willing to bet that somewhere along the way, that bastard crossed paths with Ethan, got wind of the base, the people, andAspen.
Sean pulls me back.
“He’s going to do the same to you, son.”
I meet his gaze, and my heart speeds up.
“Roman will make you choose. Bend the knee or watch your girl and your friends bleed.”
I swallow hard, the pain in my shoulder barely registering now over the fire in my chest.
“Why are you telling me this?” I ask, frowning. “Why’d you help me?” I nod to my shoulder. “Roman would’ve let me rot, and you could’ve too.”
He doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he lifts a hand and brushes his fingers along my cheek.
The touch is… unexpected.
“You remind me of my son,” he says, cracking.
Tears glint at the corners of his eyes, and he gestures to the ink on my chest.
“He would’ve been your age now. And he had a hawk tattoo.”
My throat tightens. I look down at my hands, bloodstained, broken, shaking with the weight of it all, and clench them into fists.
I willneverjoin Roman. But I’llneverlet Aspen, or the guys be his fucking casualties either.
I’ll do what I have to.
Sean’s tone drops to a whisper.
“You have an ally here, Dante.”
I look up at him. Nod once. I don’t trust him; I don’t fucking trust anyone now, but this is exactly what I needed.
Bryn
“Having trouble with your prisoner?”
