Page 45

S able is curled against Dayton’s chest, her soft, even breaths barely audible. Dayton holds her tightly, his arm draped protectively over her, his face buried in her hair. They both look peaceful.

I can’t sleep. I won’t.

Every time I close my eyes, I see Kai’s pale face, the blood-soaked floor, and the lifeless way his body slumped in my arms. It plays on a loop, over and over, each detail more vivid than the last.

My fists clench at my sides, the old anger rising in my chest. I take a slow, deep breath, forcing myself to stay quiet. Dayton and Sable need this rest. They’ve both been through hell and waking them won’t change anything.

From the other side of the wall, I hear it. The dull thudding of something hitting the floor—Levi’s tantrum in full swing. He’s probably throwing books, maybe even smashing something against the wall. It’s his way of dealing with the pain, and honestly, I don’t blame him.

I should stop it—go to him and console him. But I don’t have the slightest clue how to do that. One of my best fucking friends, and I can’t help him.

Dayton said that Levi just needs to burn out his rage alone. We all have our ways of coping, and this is his. He didn’t join us tonight, refusing outright when Dayton asked. I get it. He doesn’t want comfort. Neither do I.

I shift on the bed, my hand coming to rest on my chest where a dull ache has taken root. It’s not physical, but it hurts all the same.

The Syndicate called earlier. They gave Levi a brief update. Kai is stable but unconscious. Their assurance should’ve brought relief, but it didn’t.

Stable but unconscious.

That’s not good enough.

I don’t trust them. The Syndicate might’ve kept their word for now, but they’re not saints. They’re puppeteers, pulling strings from the shadows, manipulating us for their own gain.

If they let Kai live, it’s only because it serves their interests.

And then there’s me. The one who failed to protect my brother. My best friend.

You should’ve seen it. You should’ve stopped it.

I was supposed to keep him safe. All of them.

But I failed.

My throat tightens, and I rub a hand over my face, trying to force the thoughts away. It doesn’t work. Guilt claws at my insides, making it harder to breathe.

My mind drifts back to the moment we found Kai. The image of his blood pooling on the floor, the sound of Sable’s desperate cries as she pounded on his chest, trying to keep him alive.

And me? I froze. For a split second, I froze.

I let fear take hold, and in that moment, I wasn’t the leader they needed. I wasn’t the strong one. I was just a man drowning in his own helplessness.

Sable’s face is serene despite the streaks of dried tears still visible on her cheeks. She’s been through so much, and yet she keeps fighting. She’s stronger than any of us give her credit for.

Dayton stirs beside her, his grip tightening slightly as he shifts in his sleep. He’s holding it together for Sable, for all of us, but I know he’s struggling too.

And Levi… Levi is falling apart in his own way.

Then there’s me.

The one who’s supposed to hold us together.

But how can I do that when I can’t even hold myself together?

The bed creaks slightly as I sit up, my feet touching the cold floor. I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees, my head in my hands.

What the hell are you doing, Silas?

I can’t stop the thought, can’t stop the self-loathing that accompanies it. Every failure, every misstep—it all circles back to me. I was supposed to be the protector, the one who kept them safe, and I failed.

A soft murmur pulls me from my thoughts. Sable shifts in her sleep, her hand reaching out as if searching for something—or someone.

Her fingers brush against my thigh, and for a moment, I freeze.

She’s not awake, but her touch grounds me, pulling me out of the spiral.

I cover her hand with mine, letting her warmth seep into my skin.

“I don’t deserve your trust,” I whisper to her, even though she can’t hear me.

But I’ll take it. For now, I’ll take it because it’s the only thing keeping me from falling apart completely.

I sit like that for a while, holding her hand as the weight in my chest grows heavier.

The house is finally quiet. Levi’s tantrum has burned itself out, leaving nothing but the occasional creak of the old manor and the soft hum of the heater.

I glance toward the window, the faint glow of dawn just beginning to creep over the horizon. Another day. Another chance to make things right.

But how?

I lean back against the headboard, closing my eyes and exhaling deeply. But just as I begin to slip back into a fitful sleep, something tells me to open my eyes.

And I see it on Dayton’s desk.

Barely visible, but it’s something that pulls my focus. My gaze locks on the photo. My mind races, connecting dots I hadn’t even realized were there, threading clues I’d dismissed as irrelevant.

It all lines up, clear as fucking day.

I sit up straighter, my pulse hammering in my ears. The realization hits me like a freight train, and for a second, I can’t move, can’t breathe.

I know who it is.

My hands curl into fists, my jaw clenching as rage and disbelief war within me.

“Son of a bitch!”