Page 173 of Pretty When She Breaks

Jade shook her head, and I sat down beside Ocean and Kaos on the couch. I was tired, and still a bit shaky after shooting that gun, but so happy.

We had to wait a few minutes for Jewel to return from wherever he’d taken Dax. There was a few drops of blood on his sleeve, and his face was flushed, but other than that he looked fresh as a daisy.

Casey was looking between me and Jewel, eyes wide as he ran a hand through his short hair. Jewel had stopped as soonas he saw Hugo, and the older alpha stood, his face morphing from shock to a wry smile.

“Good to see you,” he said gruffly, and stepped over to clap Jewel on the shoulder. He shook his head and huffed out a laugh. “Figures. If anyone’s too stubborn to stay dead, it’s you.”

Jewel’s nose twitched for a second, and a flush of red crept up his neck. He covered it quickly with a cocky grin. “I’m glad to see someone still has faith in me,” he said, folding his arms.

“Thaddeus really dead?” Hugo asked me, and I nodded. He laughed again. “Good riddance, the bastard. Wish I could’ve done it myself.”

“Come on,” Finch said, trying to herd everyone to their feet. “I’d like to sleep in my own bed tonight, so let’s move.”

I rested my hand on Ocean’s shoulder. “Ocean?” I whispered, gently shaking him as he stirred.

He lifted his head, his eyes landing on me. He huffed and pulled me closer.

“We’ve got to go,” I told him, helping him to his feet. He was still ruled by instinct right now, but Shatter had said it would take time. And I’d give Ocean all the time I had left to see him come back to us.

We all followed Finch out the door, leaving the Crimson Palace behind us.

The tunnel came out next to an abandoned warehouse, and Finch led us over to a white van parked in the nearby lot. I took the back, with Ocean beside me and Kaos on my other side. Finch and Hugo took the front, with Finch driving. Which left the middle row to Jewel, Jade, and Casey.

Jewel wedged himself by the window, shooting Jade a smirk. She stepped back, letting Casey in next, and perched herself right on the edge of the seat.

“You should strap in, Miss Jade,” Casey pointed out, tugging down her seat belt and clicking it in place.

“Thanks,” she said, not making eye contact.

“Casey, darling.” Jewel tapped his shoulder as Finch started the car. “I’m having a difficult time findingmyseat belt. Could you help me out?”

“Oh. Of course, Master Jewel,” he said, reaching over to help Jewel strap in as well.

“Ooh. Master Jewel? You can call me that any day.”

Jade whirled around as Casey clicked Jewel’s seat belt into place. “Stop flirting with him,” she hissed, jabbing her finger in his direction.

“Aw. Jealous, Jade?”

I gave a loud sigh as Jade scoffed. It hadn’t even been five minutes.

“As if,” she said. “Just keep your games away from Casey.”

“Who said anything about games?” Jewel shot back.

“Okay, let’s just cut it off there,” I said loudly, patting Casey’s back. “I’m sorry about them,” I told him.

He gave a little nod, but thankfully Jewel and Jade remained quiet as we continued our drive through the city.

NINETY-EIGHT

LAUREL

We pulled alongside a nice-looking duplex building downtown, and Jade passed a tag up to Finch, so he could put it in the front window. Her orange Bentley was parked in the spot in front of us.

“This your place?” I asked, turning to Jade.

She shrugged. “I own both sides here. Trust me, you do not want to go to the rat’s nest that they call home.”