“If Mara was at the hospital,” I say carefully, “and someone treated her off record… I would assume there was a reason for that.”
Angel’s jaw tightens.
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
The tension in the room climbs another notch.
Angel drags a hand down his face and exhales sharply.
“I need to know if she’s okay, Bex.”
The frustration in his voice is real now. Raw.
“She’s my sister.” His eyes soften with his voice. “She’s all I have left.”
The words hang in the air and for a second something inside me almost softens.
Almost. But then…
“You can trust me with her,” Angel adds.
And I see her… I see Mara bruised and broken asking me not to tell anyone, not even Angel and my head moves before I can stop it. Just a small shake.
No.
The sound that ripples through the room is sharp. Someone sucks in a breath and murmurs start immediately.
“What the fuck…”
“She just…”
“What does that mean..”
“Can we trust…”
You can feel the room shift in real time, lines moving, sides adjusting. Angel notices it too and his eyes narrow slightly.
Then finally… Clutch speaks. “Bex.”
My chest tightens. For one stupid second hope surges through me. Maybe he’s about to shut this down. Maybe he’s about to tell Angel this has gone far enough.Maybe…
“Bex,” he says again, his voice rough. “I need you to answer Angel.”
The words hurt like a physical blow.
“We need to know who you’re loyal to.”
He gestures toward me.
“Baby… you’re wearing my cut.”
His eyes meet mine.
“Act like it.”
I suck in a ragged breath as something inside me cracks, a quiet splintering somewhere deep in my chest.
Time of death…