Page 45 of Martyr (Sterling Falls Rogues #3)

Gabriel is covered in blood. His cheek is an ugly mess, the bruising and swelling growing by the second. He sits at the kitchen table in Kora’s house, letting me clean the cut on his lip with antiseptic. Although it must burn, he doesn’t move a muscle.

Lyssa sits across from him.

He’s focused on her, staring like if he blinks, she’s going to evaporate. He didn’t look away from her in the car, even as he helped her in and roughly wiped away the tears left on his cheeks. He seems to be in shock.

Imagine if Lyssa didn’t agree to come with me?

“Oh.” Gabriel frowns. “I have this.”

He reaches into his pocket and pulls something out. It isn’t until the object makes a dull, wet thump on the table that I turn my attention to it.

I choke. “That’s a hand.”

“Ouranos,” he says solemnly. “Proof of death.”

My mouth opens and closes.

“Tem.” Saint comes into the room. He eyes Gabriel, then nearly chokes at the sight of the hand on the table.

“Oh, good.” I motion to it. “You think you can get that… uh, identified?”

He shakes his head. “No. I’m not touching that thing. Whose is it?”

“Ouranos,” Gabriel says. “Obviously. Look at the ring.”

I focus on the bloody fingers again. The flat, circular ring on the pinky. Freaking pretentious, is what it is. There’s an engraving on the surface, but I can’t make it out. And, frankly, I have no desire to lean in closer.

“That’s not what I came in here for,” Saint says.

Lyssa makes a face.

“Spit it out, then,” I say on a sigh. “I’m not sure I can handle any more bad news.”

He cracks a smile. “It’s not bad news.”

I straighten. “Really?”

“We found Malik.”

Gabriel makes a face. I press a little harder with the gauze on his cheek, and he snatches my wrist.

“ Ow ,” he snaps.

“Where is Malik?” I demand.

“Hospital.” Saint shakes his head. “He was checked in as John Doe, that’s why we haven’t been able to find him.”

“And?” My breath catches. “Is he okay?”

Malik Barlow has been the last puzzle piece. He wasn’t at Bow & Arrow when we raided it, like Gabriel suggested. He wasn’t anywhere.

Gabriel sighs. “The minions probably brought him there when Ouranos said to keep him alive.”

I scowl and shove my chair back. It’s either that or take out my anger on him, and what would that solve? It might make me feel better for a few seconds, but it wouldn’t rewind time.

“You never visited me,” Lyssa says.

She’s been in all sorts of therapies—speech, physical, occupational—and while her speech is still somewhat disjointed, she’s made massive improvements. She’s improved in all areas, actually.

“I… didn’t,” he murmurs. “No. I did not.”

“I remember all of it.”

Uh-oh. “Um, what does that mean?” I interject.

Her gaze flicks to me, and she carefully tucks her light-blonde hair behind her ear. “Locked-in Syndrome. Means you’re conscious but… stuck.”

My eyes widen.

Saint coughs. “Damn, Lyssa.”

Her lips curl. “So that means all the shit Tem told me…”

“Oops.” I flash Saint a sheepish smile and sidle towards him. “So, um, where are Kade and Reese?”

“What shit did Tem tell you?”

She lifts a shoulder and mimes zipping her lips.

Thanks , I mouth at her.

“We should let them talk,” I tell Saint. I take his hand and tow him toward the door. “Jace can babysit. He owes me.”

“He owes you for what?” Saint chases after me.

“For putting up with you .” I laugh.

He grabs my hips and picks me up mid-stride. I squeak, but he doesn’t falter when he tosses me over his shoulder.

He palms my ass, his chuckle vibrating through me. “I’ll show you putting up with me.”

You know what? I’ll happily accept that.