Page 98 of The Betrayal You Serve

We stand in silence, my body beginning to ache from the tension as we watch the doctor work.

I have no idea what's going on but he mutters things like, "lucky," and "clean shot," so I can only assume things are really going to be okay.

"Right, he's all done," Doc says, turning to look directly at Reid. "I've cleaned and stitched him up. Given him some pain relief. He'll sleep for a while but when he wakes, give him these." He slaps a bottle of pills into Reid's hand. "Two every four hours."

"I know the drill, Doc. You know this isn't my first rodeo."

"I know, I know. Walk me out?"

"Sure thing." He gestures for the doctor to go ahead before turning to look between Devin and me. "You two good?"

Devin nods and I just about manage the beginning of a smile. Happy that we're not about to kill each other, Reid leaves us to see the doctor out.

The second he's gone, I rush across the room and gently drop down onto the side of the bed beside Kane.

I take his warm hand in both of mine and stare at him with tears in my eyes.

Don't you ever fucking do that to me again,I silently chastise, the image of finding him slumped on the floor in that room light up like a fucking comedy act refuses to leave my mind.

Victor could have killed him. Could have killed him there and then, and if he hadn't planned to meet me, how long would it have been before anyone noticed.

A sob erupts from my throat at the thought of him going and no one who cares about him knowing.

"This is all your fault," a low menacing voice echoes around the silent room.

"M-my fault?" I stutter, turning to look at where Devin is still sitting shirtless in the chair.

"Yeah," he says, resting forward and placing his elbows on his knees. "You caused all of this."

"I didn't do any of this. I want nothing to do with your fucking family," I spit.

"Yet here you are. Good little Scarlett Hunter playing with the big bad wolves."

My teeth grind as I stare at him.

"What did you really think would happen when you made him choose between your pussy and us."

"W-what? I-I didn't—"

"Yes, you did."

"I never wanted him to walk away from you. You're a part of his life, all of you are."

"But we're Hawks, Letty. So by telling him to walk away from the Hawks, you're telling him to leave us."

"No, no, I never—"

He pushes from the chair, his anger tightening his features and pulling his brows together.

"You knew this would happen yet you're a selfish cunt who did it anyway."

"No. No," I cry. "I just want him to have a better life. I want him to live out his dream. All he ever wanted was football and college."

"Bullshit, Letty. He's a Creek kid. We all are. This life we're all living it's a fucking lie."

Releasing Kane's hand, I stand from the bed so I don't feel at a disadvantage in this exchange.

"That may be true for you, but it's not for me, for Kane. I've worked my ass off for this. I've fought through hell to be here, to succeed, to make a life for myself. I'm not just here because my daddy wants me to control the fucking drug ring."