Page 103 of Blood in the Water

Shehadmade friends.

“Any sign of Max?” Leona asked as he wrapped my arm around her shoulders again and let me down the hallway to the kitchen. “Damn. Okay, keep an eye on the cameras, Ciel. Wynn, take Cas.”

“Wait, what?” I protested as Wynn grabbed my other arm, and Leona teetered me against him. My brain was finally waking up, but my body was still operating five steps behind. I could barely resist it.

“What are you doing?” Wynn asked, but he didn’t hesitate to take my total weight, and he didn’t even blink. Damn, he wasstrong.

Her eyes flicked up to him. “I need those files.”

“Leona—” I started, but she pulled a gun tucked into the waistband of her pants, and I lost my train of thought.

“This is not part of the plan, darling,” Wynn warned, his voice taking on an edge.

“Darling?” I asked. “Did he just say darling?”

They both ignored me. “What good are plans if we can’t improvise?”

She flicked off the safety and cocked the gun.

“No, Leona, this is not?—”

“Get Cas out. Ciel said we’re in the clear. I need those boxes. I’ll follow behind in two minutes.” She pushed us out of the kitchen.

Chatter came through their earpieces, but I couldn’t hear the voice.

“See? Ryuji said he loves me so much he’ll come get me if I get into trouble. Now go, this is my house. I know it better than anyone, even Max. I’ll be fine.”

Who the hell was this Ryuji? Anddarling?What the hell kind of friends had she made?

“Five minutes. That’s it.” Wynn hesitated another moment before he pulled me with so much strength my legs got tripped up.

I glanced over my shoulder, still trying to understand this new dynamic, but Leona was gone.

37

LEONA

Itook the stairs two at a time, with my finger on the trigger of my gun. “All good, Ciel?”

“I don’t see any movement. Keep your eyes open,” he responded through the earpiece. It was comforting to know he was watching. To know they were all listening and I wasn’t alone. My eyes glanced up at the camera in the hallway, and I saluted quickly.

Ciel wasn’t far—he was working from his mobile unit, which doubled as our escape vehicle on the road behind the backyard—but his ability to direct everyone through his digital eyes made it clear to me how much of an asset he was. He was the backbone of this rescue. Without him, everything would fall apart.

So far, things were going according to plan. We cut access to all the cameras and scrambled the phones. Only our earpieces could carry a signal. Ryuji did a clean sweep of one half of the house while Wynn did the other, clearing out any soldiers and ensuring no traps.

It had been easy. Almost too easy?

Or was that just the value of using the Shadows’ expertise?

Didthings go wrong when everything was meticulously planned, down to the moment?

I didn’t have time to worry about it. My main concern was checking out these files and getting Cas safe. I almost fucking lost my shit when I saw him, and the anger still boiled in my veins. How could Max have done that to him?

My gut twisted as I stepped farther down the hallway. The last time I walked these steps, I had demanded my father’s approval of my marriage to Max. Now, that just felt so hollow. So disgustingly naive. Shame painted my insides, drenching me with guilt. What would have happened had I not tried to push my dad? Would anything have been different?

I snuck inside my father’s study, my eyes immediately going to the red stain on the floor where I had seen my father the last time.

What happened that night came crashing back in a wave so intense I almost collapsed.