Page 16 of Martyr (Sterling Falls Rogues #3)

“Lyssa Laurent.”

I freeze just inside the doorway.

Honestly, I thought I might get lucky and Reese would’ve fallen asleep while I was out. He was angry the last time I saw him, sitting on the bench by the beach. Angry at me . For decisions I’ve been making for my family.

My sister.

Whose name just came out of his mouth.

“Lyssa Laurent,” he repeats. “She’s a resident here on the island.

The other residents call her Sleeping Beauty.

Isn’t that a clever nickname? She hasn’t woken up in years, but the center is paid a very pretty penny to keep her body in good shape.

Physical therapists and whoever else make sure her muscles don’t atrophy too badly.

The feeding tube. Regular grooming—although I would expect that for any comatose patient. ”

I’m across the room in a flash, my hand around his throat. I slam him into the wall, my rage brimming closer to the surface than ever before.

Only the fire behind the grate, which he must’ve kept alive, illuminates the space. The light and shadows flicker across his features.

“The secret of Kade Laurent lies with his comatose sister,” Reese whispers. “Isn’t that right?”

My grip tightens.

He doesn’t even try to break it. He just stares at me, his green eyes boring into mine, and waits.

How the fuck did he find out about her?

When his eyes start to roll back, I loosen my hold. He sags back against the wall, and I stagger away, clutching at my head. I almost just killed him. I would’ve— no, I would not have . I could’ve, though. I could’ve just kept squeezing.

“You’ve kept her safe for years.” Reese’s voice is hoarse and scratchy. “After the horror that she went through in Terror.”

I close my eyes.

“And she’s exactly the reason why Gabriel wants to hurt Tem.”

I whirl back to face him.

He rubs at his throat. “You found both of them, didn’t you? But she was already gone.”

“Two years ago, Gabriel had Lyssa transferred to Isle of Paradise. She spent time there as a kid, and I made sure I was her emergency contact back then. Her parents didn’t give a shit—her issues were too much for them.

It was easy for me to take over in that regard.

When Gabriel brought her in, they called me.

It was the first time I had any idea she was alive—and then the truth of her existence was revealed to me. ”

Reese waits for more.

“Gabriel was the real segue into my relationship with Ouranos,” I admit. “He wanted me to stick close to him in Emerald Cove. It was… weird. He wasn’t all there, in a way. But whenever he saw me, he talked about Lyssa. He wanted to know about her childhood. And then, one day, Ouranos came along.”

A chill sweeps down my spine. Gabriel never mentioned Lyssa in front of him. The unassuming man stood like he had the power to destroy the world—and he would if someone tested him. He had no problem proving himself, be it through external leverage or mind games.

I was trying to find Reese at the time. Lyssa had slotted into place, but Reese had vanished. Ouranos offered me jobs that could fund my search, but it was never enough. I hit dead ends over and over. I dug myself deeper with Ouranos until I couldn’t see a way out.

And when I had nothing left to give, he offered one final thing: physical evidence of Reese’s location. The photo from the bank in Emerald Cove.

He said I could take that, and his resources, and find Reese.

In exchange, I sold my soul.

Gabriel didn’t have such qualms. The promises Ouranos made him were between them—although, later, I realized it was Artemis served up on a platter for him to twist and torture.

His revenge lives on, even now. His bloodlust hasn’t been satiated.

“Does he visit her?” Reese eyes me. “Will the marina incident get back to him and raise suspicion?”

I lift my shoulder. “Probably.”

“And Saint?”

“Ouranos took an interest because I took an interest.” I look away. “Rather, he brought his interest to my attention because of that. He doesn’t know my interest also extends to Artemis. He assumed my involvement with her was purely transactional.”

“But it’s not.” He shoves himself up and steps toward me. “You hurt her?—”

“Not planning on it.”

The laugh that comes out of his mouth is chilly. “You already have. You actively betray her at every turn. It’s her city.”

“Sterling Falls is a fucked-up place.” My tone is dismissive. “There’s no saving it. Not from Ouranos. Not from the next bastard who comes along with aspirations of power.”

Reese pivots and strides away from me. I trail him into the kitchen, my brows furrowed. He hits the light switch, and I almost wince at the brightness of the overhead bulbs. He goes straight to the freezer and pulls out a cold bottle of vodka.

Wordlessly, I retrieve two glasses. We should probably figure out food—there’s some shelf-stable stuff in the pantry, and the water that comes out of the tap is clean and safe to drink—but I follow his lead and let him pour the liquor.

He drinks his.

I mirror him. It burns on the way down, in the way only vodka does. It pools like fire in my belly and slowly spreads.

“Take off your jacket,” Reese mutters. “Stay awhile.”

“You have any other clothes?”

“No.”

I jerk my head toward the hallway that’s barely visible from where we stand. “There’s stuff in the bedroom if you want to change.”

“You keep stuff here?”

“I wanted contingencies.” I shift. “I bought this place as an abandoned cabin for a steal of a price. Every time I came out to visit Lyssa, I worked on it. Repaired the leaks in the roof, replaced the broken windows, redid the bathroom. Tiled the fucking shower and this backsplash.” I gesture to the white and yellow tiles between the counter and upper cabinets.

“A real-life handyman.”

“Shut up.”

Reese pours more vodka into my glass. He lifts his. “Cheers, brother . To you and your contingencies.”

We’re drunk by the time Saint and Artemis make their way back to us.

I didn’t fill Reese in on what the guy at the marina said.

He took my statement and insurance information—the boat was a rental, so what the fuck do I really care—and said there would be ferries coming in as soon as the fire marshals deem it safe.

Saint and Artemis are better dressed for the weather, but it’s clearly snowing.

They stamp their shoes off and enter in matching bright-red coats.

Saint removes his as fast as possible, like he’s allergic to the fabric, and hangs it on one of the hooks by the door.

Artemis does the same, but slower. Her shirt rides up in the back when she raises her arms, exposing a slice of muscled golden skin.

Too drunk to think things about the pretty little goddess.

I lean back on the couch, throwing my arm wide. It’s that or stand and get myself in trouble lumbering up to her.

Or Saint .

Him asking about my cock was unexpected—and so was Tem’s blush. We’ll revisit that later, hopefully. When their inhibitions have lowered.

“You two have to catch up,” I inform them.

I gesture to the empty glasses, the half-gone bottle between it. Reese has been heavy-lidded for an hour, his gaze on the fire. The conversation between us died out, and he only left briefly to raid my closet. He returned in black sweatpants and an orange hoodie.

Artemis makes a beeline for the bottle. She lifts it to her mouth and tips it back, her throat working as she takes one swallow, then another.

“Damn, girl,” Reese breathes.

“You two just sitting here drinking?” Saint asks.

She sets the bottle down without offering it to him.

Someone was probably a dick to her this evening. I’d put money on that. Her hair is clean and braided, and snowflakes cling to it. She tugs the braid over her shoulder and toys with the end of it.

“That’s how you and I became friends,” Reese informs him. “Drinking and talking.”

Saint freezes. “Really?”

“Yep. So take a seat. Maybe we’ll make it fun and throw in a game.”

Artemis perks up. “You got playing cards around here, Kade?”

I consider her and slowly nod. “Top drawer in the desk.”

She spots it tucked under the back window. There’s a lamp on it—off, for now—and a chair. I used to puzzle out ways of waking up Lyssa, or doing my finances, or sketching new renovation projects for this place when my money would flow.

Back then, I was hopeful Ouranos would pay me enough to allow that.

Now, I know he gave me just enough to keep me coming back for more.

“Aha!” She returns and takes a seat on the floor across from Reese and me.

We both landed on the couch earlier. Her back is to the fire, though, and it must be warm.

She probably picked the smartest spot to sit.

She taps out the deck from its box. She shuffles, the thrum of the cards against each other oddly soothing.

While she does, Saint lowers himself to the floor beside her.

“Strip poker?” she suggests.

Saint chokes.

She elbows him. “Come on. You never got your answer about Kade’s piercing.”