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I recognized Coulter's voice immediately, talking to Romeo, the guard standing watch. The door was ajar, letting a sliver of light run up the opposite wall. I tilted my head, indicating to Coulter that I was already awake.
He didn't answer but just stood in the doorway, waiting.
I pressed my lips to Tatiana's temple, inhaling the scent of fresh ocean air, a flutter of a memory, no doubt, before whispering softly, "I'll be back."
She stiffened in my arms, signaling that she, too, was awake and rolled over, her fingers trailing after me as I stood from the bed.
"He can come in," she murmured softly, and I nodded at him.
The small lamp by the floor bathed the room in a soft, yellow light. Coulter was wearing jeans and a black t-shirt, his hair rumpled, and worry etched the edges of his eyes.
Gone was the carefully curated smile, the mask of indifference he usually wore, replaced by a look of concern. "Torian reached out."
I grabbed my shirt from off the floor, tossing it at Tatiana's head. She smiled playfully, a brief glimpse of mischievousness before pulling it over her head and sitting up. Her eyes blinked wide, seriousness quickly falling over her features as we waited for news.
"'And?" I asked.
"He said that the order came from higher up. The server didn't have any other information than that. He's not important enough."
"Fuck," I cursed under my breath, glancing at Tatiana. She didn't move, except to inhale a slow breath.
"At least we have a reason to meet with Ahanu." The representative who negotiated between the Kings and the cartel.
Coulter nodded. "Yes." His gaze moved from Tatiana, to me. "That's why I'm here. We're meeting with him in an hour."
"This early?"
"We requested it," Coulter answered. "We've been unnecessarily generous, given them everything they wanted. They're provoking us now. First the drugs, now this. They have to pay for what they've done."
"If they'll admit to it." Guilt thrummed through me. I knew they had every reason for retribution –– if they'd discovered Carlos.
Tatiana stood. "I'm going with you."
"Of course." I wasn't lying when I said that we would go everywhere together. Especially after that night at the hotel.
"Are you sure?" Coulter asked. "What if she––"
"She's coming." My tone was final.
His throat bobbed and he nodded. "Of course."
Suddenly, his faith in me made my betrayal that much worse. I'd been ordered to maintain the peace, at least until after Rose had her baby, and the guilt I'd felt since betraying the family, the lie of omission about what I'd done, hung in the air.
"Look," I faced him, desperately wanting to get this out. I couldn't bear to keep this secret any longer. It was eating me alive and, maybe, if I said it now, I could find some way to make it right. "I need to tell you something."
Tati, as if sensing my vulnerability, clasped my arm. "Knight. Don't."
I bit down on the lump in my throat. "I have to."
"You don't."
I looked at her. "I do."
She shook her head, her gaze begging me. "It's my fault. Let me try––"
"Try what?" Coulter's voice was like a sheet of steel wrapping around us, and his intensity filled the room with tension.
I took a deep breath and forced myself to look him in the eyes. "I betrayed the family."