Page 40 of Martyr (Sterling Falls Rogues #3)

“All things considered, I think Lyssa should come back.”

I’m met with blank stares. It might be the time—we woke everyone up to have this conversation after we finished with the Cyclopes in West Falls. All I want is to fall into bed. Literally, any bed. But the sun is rising, and I don’t see that happening for a while yet.

“What?” I spread my arms. “We have a plan to take out Ouranos. We have dealt with a good chunk of the Cyclopes, and you guys said you’d take over weeding out the rest.”

Jace nods slowly, but he still doesn’t seem convinced.

I face Kade. “What will Ouranos do if he gets in contact with Gabriel?”

“Use what happened on Isle of Paradise against us,” he says.

“ Exactly . We talked about this. We planned for this. We knew that Ouranos had spies at the trauma center. Gabriel doesn’t visit, but he does check up on her a few times a year.

All that to say, he doesn’t know what happened, and that is exactly the thing Ouranos will exploit.

” I rub my hands together. “Come on, guys. You know I’m right. ”

Kora clears her throat. Her guys all look at her, but none seem surprised that she has something to say. She holds Wolfe’s hand on her thigh, and she meets my gaze.

“You are right,” she says. “If he gets in Gabriel’s head, the only way to prove our side isn’t a lie or a manipulation is to show him the truth. The only truth: she’s alive and awake.”

I narrow my eyes. “I’m sensing a but .”

“But…” Her cheeks pinken. “I love Sterling Falls, and it’s still dangerous. With where she is in her therapy, is it wise to remove her from that environment?”

“We can get her anyone she needs,” Kade says. “Physical therapy. Speech. Occupational. The trauma center isn’t the be-all and end-all.”

“It might be setting her back being there,” I add quietly. “She was there up until she was torn away and sold to Terror. Since then, Terror is the last place she knew.”

“So is it a benefit to keep her somewhere familiar and safe, or a hindrance?” Reese seems more worried than anything. “I don’t know.”

I bite my cheek and try to stem my frustration.

We’re at my brother’s house, seated around the dining room table once again.

At least this time, Kade isn’t in zip ties.

There are coffee mugs all around. Daniel is missing—he left for Bow & Arrow with Saint to get a jump on rewiring our security system.

The Cyclopes had cut a lot of wires, plus the sheriff’s office removed some hardware in their raid… Daniel offered an upgrade, complete with new cameras, internet, and alarms on the doors and windows.

Since Saint volunteered to go with him, his absence is loud, as well.

“Artemis,” Vittoria says softly. “I don’t know if Gabriel can change.”

“What?”

“He has had a long time to become this version of him.” She keeps talking so gently, it’s making it worse. “Why do you think Lyssa wants to see him? She knew him in Terror—that’s it. They trauma-bonded. And when she didn’t wake up, it broke him. Sometimes, things just can’t be fixed.”

Things, like people. Things , like Gabriel’s mental state.

I was in Terror, too. I was just as lost and afraid as he was.

What if I fell in love in Terror?

My attention shifts to Reese, and my heart skips a beat.

What if Reese fell asleep and never woke up? What if it was Antonio’s fault? Would I have blamed him? Would I have?—

Reese grabs my hand and squeezes tightly, like he can hear exactly what I’m thinking.

“I believe in him,” Reese says to Vittoria. “He’s done horrible things, I truly understand that.”

He’s a victim of Gabriel.

So is Antonio.

Kade.

Saint.

Me .

I absently rub the crook of my elbow. The desire for heroin is always there, but I’ve been getting better at tuning it out. Right now, it’s a screaming need. I want to take it and get the hell out of my own head. I don’t want to be in charge, I don’t want to think .

“Everyone is worth saving,” Apollo murmurs. “No one’s soul is that far gone. Not when they were so kind in the face of everything that happened to them.”

“I remember Gabriel when he came out of Terror,” Wolfe says. “He never left Lyssa’s side, but he was…”

Kora’s expression turns sad.

“He wasn’t crazy,” Wolfe continues. “He wasn’t full of hate or anger. After years . That has to count for something, doesn’t it?”

“The boy in Terror was gentle.” Antonio takes his wife’s hand and rubs her knuckles. “He didn’t deserve his fate—none of it.”

“Putting Lyssa’s life in danger should not be up for debate.” Vittoria’s voice is firm. “I stood by as you brought that monster into this house, Artemis. Please don’t make me do it again.”

A lump forms in my throat. I’ve never seen kind, sweet Vittoria this upset. She sits tall in her chair, her mouth set in a firm line. She watched her husband come back from agony. He barely survived Gabriel. And, on some level, I understand her stance.

I just don’t agree with it.

“It’ll be Lyssa’s choice,” Reese says. “Tem and I will go, we’ll just ask her if she wants to see him again. She says no, we come back without her.”

I nod quickly.

My brother grimaces. “Okay. When?”

Reese and I exchange a look.

“I need a few hours of sleep,” I admit. “We’ve been up all night.”

Jace chokes on his coffee.

“ Not like that! ” I shriek. I cover my face. “Get that image out of your mind, Jace King. We were killing Cyclopes.”

Kade snickers, but that’s the only sound in the room. I drop my hands and am met with stares.

“Please elaborate,” Kora says.

I take a deep breath. “Okay, well …”