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“Just let me finish.” I nod, staying silent. “The woman in the cellar.”

“What about her?”

“You said Johnson did that to her, right? Carved her up in front of you and made you watch?”

This is it. I gulp back my nausea and lie to his face. “Y-yes.”

“Well, Johnson is dead, and Jefferds found another body in the city with the same markings on the bones. Mal… he thought you were the accomplice.”

There it is.

The ringing in my ears is near deafening as my anxiety takes hold.

Don’t you fucking break,my subconscious demands.

How can I not fucking fall apart?He knows.

My nails dig into my palms, forcing myself to recentre before I say something I can’t take back. Looking him square in the eye, “That’s ridiculous,” I say. “Johnson almost killed me.”

Nox’s head falls, hanging in shame. “I know,” he replies, disgrace heavy in his voice.

“That’s not your fault.” I comfort him, cupping his cheek, and raising his eyes back to mine.

“Yes, it is. But let’s not fight about that now,” he says sullenly.

“Nox, can you just tell me why Detective Jefferds kicked your ass and then shot you?”

“He did not kick my ass,” he growls.

“Are you sure?” I gesture to his fat lip and black eye, smothering a giggle. Hoping to lift some of the doom and gloom his guilt brings into the room. I don’t blame him for what happened to me, and he shouldn’t either.

“This is nothing, you should see what I did to him,” he declares, smugness dripping off his every word.

I can’t deny his cockiness is a quality I enjoy. Especially when I know he was in that situation to protect me. I can put the pieces together now, he doesn’t have to finish the story. Nox didn’t want Jefferds harassing me,and a fight ensued when he was told to back off and he didn’t.

“And what’s he look like?” I question, heat rushing to my cheeks.

Ghost smirks, locking his emerald ringed eyes on mine. “Dead.”

Chapter Fifty-four

Graves

An abundance of different emotions flicker across Mal’s face in the span of about ten seconds, and I can place every single one of them.

“Dead?” She drags the word out, coming to terms with the reality of the situation.

“Mhmm,” I reply, nodding slowly.

Her fist slams into my arm while I’m lost in the look in her eyes. “What did you kill him for!?”

“OW! What the piss? Why do you think I killed him?”

“I don’t know, Lennox. Enlighten me!”

“Why do I kill anyone, Mallory?” My voice rumbles, dripping with renewed hunger. Her sharp intake of breath lets me know she hears it too.

“I don’t—” she whispers.