Page 47 of Silent as Sin
The mutters returned, lower this time, colder, brothers already turning names into death warrants.
Then Warden’s gaze locked on me, heavy enough to pin me to the chair. “We’re not running blind anymore. We need answers. And the only person who’s seen enough to give us something is Wren.”
I knew what was coming before he said it.
“You’ve got to get her to talk, Ashen. What she saw. Who Venom trusted. Who else was around. Without that, we’ve got nothing.”
The words hit harder than I wanted to admit. I thought of her in my bed, wide eyes staring at the glass bird, whispering my name last night like it meant something. Asking her to dig through that hell again could break her.
But Warden was right.
We didn’t have the luxury of waiting.
I gave him a tight nod, chest burning. “I’ll talk to her.”
The vow settled deep in my bones, heavy as iron.
Because if she didn’t—if she couldn’t—this war was going to eat us alive.
***
THE WAR ROOMstill rang in my head when I shoved the door open. My brothers’ voices, the weight of Warden’s order, it all stuck in my blood.
Get her to talk.
The last damn thing I wanted was to push Wren before she was ready, but if I didn’t, we were flying blind into a war we couldn’t win.
Jewel and Elara sat with her when I stepped inside. Jewel had a book in her hand, reading something soft-voiced. Elarahad a mug of tea resting between her palms. Wren was curled up against the headboard, blanket around her shoulders, the glass bird perched on the nightstand like a sentinel.
Three pairs of eyes cut to me. Jewel read the storm on my face quick, snapping her book shut.
“Come on,” she told Elara, already moving for the door. “Let’s give them space.”
Elara hesitated, gaze lingering on Wren, then me. Like she wanted to say something but thought better of it. Finally, she followed Jewel out. The door shut behind them with a soft click.
Silence swelled in the room.
Wren’s eyes were on me, wide and guarded. She wasn’t trembling, not yet, but her body was too still. Like she was bracing.
I dragged a hand down my face, took a step closer, then stopped. Didn’t want to crowd her. Didn’t want her thinking this was about force.
“I need to ask you something,” I said. My voice came out rough, heavier than I meant.
She didn’t move. Didn’t nod. Just stared, clutching the blanket tighter.
I exhaled hard, pacing a few steps before turning back. “Warden thinks… hell, we all think you might know things. About Venom. About who he trusted. About who might’ve been at that ranch.”
Her throat worked. The blanket bunched tighter in her fists.
I shook my head, hating the way her face went pale. “I know this isn’t fair. You’ve already been through more than any woman should have to take, and I swore I’d never press you like this, but someone out there wants you dead. And if you don’t help me, I can’t keep you safe.”
Her eyes filled, shimmering under the light. She looked away, lips pressed tight, like she could hold the words inside forever.
I moved to the edge of the bed, lowering myself slow. Close enough to touch, but I didn’t. My hands hung between my knees, fists clenched.
“I went back to that house,” I told her, keeping my voice even. “Me, Warden, the twins. Someone was there. Waiting. They opened fire on us.”
Her head snapped toward me, eyes wide in horror.
