Page 117 of The Destruction You Desire

"So, where are they?"

He looks between Luca and me, obviously battling with what he's willing to tell us, which makes me wonder just how bad it is.

"You know who Kane's friends are, right?" he asks Luca.

"Hawks, yeah. Why do you think I sent him to help?"

Leon nods, lifting his hand to rub at the back of his neck, but not before I get a look at his busted knuckles and the blood that's splattered down his arm.

"We taught Julian a lesson he's never going to forget. He may or may not manage to find his way back to Maddison."

"And Brett?" I urge.

"I ensured his punishment is much more painful and long-winded."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Luca barks.

"It means that he's going to be the Hawks plaything for a while. There's nothing they like more than a bit of old-fashioned torture, apparently."

"Jesus. You should have just killed him."

"Where is he?"

"I don't know."

"But you went there?"

"Yeah, but I was in the back of the van. It was dark. Middle of nowhere."

Luca studies Leon for long seconds, assessing whether he's being completely honest or not. In the end, he must decide that he is, either that or he really doesn't care as long as Brett is gone.

"Okay," he finally says with a nod of his head.

"We're going to destroy him, Luc. We're going to make sure he loses everything he's ever loved."

"Money and fame then."

"Exactly. I've got some ideas, but they can wait. Right now, I need a shower." He looks over Luca's shoulder at his bathroom door longingly. I get it. He's covered in someone else's blood. He's probably more than desperate to get rid of that.

"Okay. We're going to Rosewood tomorrow to talk to Mom. You coming?"

"We're having breakfast with Kayden first," I add, remembering my brief conversation with Aunt Fee earlier.

"Are we?" Luca asks, his eyes lighting up in excitement at the prospect.

"Yeah. Lee, you're more than welcome to come. He'd love to spend time with both of you."

"Y-yeah, okay."

"Come on, P. Let's leave him to it." Luca reaches for my hand as he moves toward the door.

"Just give me a minute."

He watches me as I step up to Leon and throw my arms around his shoulder.

Lee is motionless for long seconds as I hold him before his arms finally wrap around me.

"Thank you for whatever you did tonight. But please, do not get in deeper than you can handle with this."