Page 62 of Upon Blooded Lips (Vengeance #1)

TESSA

M irror Girl smiles at me as she fades away, leaving me alone with my reflection. My heart shatters, and I sink to the floor, wrapping my arms around myself while rocking back and forth.

Mirror Girl?

Tears blur my vision, the emptiness inside threatening to consume me.

She left me.

My entire body trembles as the vestiges of adrenaline flee my system, leaving me a shaky mess. I glance up when Nate and Eric approach, their masks in their hands, their faces twisted with worry.

“She … she’s gone.”

Nate drops his mask and carefully picks me up, whispering soothing words in my ear.

I fist his T-shirt and let everything out.

My tears flow freely, years upon years of hurt soaking his chest while he carries me to the bed and lays me on it.

They curl up beside me, holding me tight as the dam of emotions breaks.

Goodbye.

I stand alone in front of the incinerator, my fisted hands tucked under my chin while David’s body burns to ashes.

It’s over. Presley will spend the rest of her life locked up in that hellhole.

Dr. Palmer, David, Grange, Kendrick, and Robert are dead.

The Unseen took care of my bullies, and Nate and Eric killed Stephen.

So why aren’t I leaping for joy? Why do I feel lost, like I’m drifting rudderless on the open sea?

All these years, it was Mirror Girl’s strength that kept me standing, kept me fighting. I’m not sure how to go on without her.

Nate steps into view, smelling strongly of bleach.

Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I should have been helping them clean.

God, I’m such an asshole. He cups my face and tilts my head back, forcing me to look up at him.

His eyes soften as his thumbs sweep over my cheeks.

“We have to go. Eric found a coded ad in the Willowmen Gazette from Agent Gerhardt.”

“What did it say?”

“‘Agent S.G. to T.H.: They know. Go now.’”

My brows lower. “Why would she warn us?”

Nate spreads my hair back from my face with hands that have known so much death yet touch me and Eric with so much tenderness.

“Why didn’t she bring you in for questioning?

” I shrug. “Exactly. Who knows? You saw those news articles. Maybe that was why, or maybe her compassion and empathy outweigh her oath to her job. Whatever her reasons, she’s risked her career to warn you, and I don’t think we should let that sacrifice be in vain. Maybe we can pay her back one day.”

I suck in a deep breath and nod. “Okay. What about the warehouse?”

Nate presses his hand over my lower back and leads me toward the elevator, where Eric waits with my suitcases and backpack. “We’re donating it to The Duke in thanks for her help with your training.”

“And we sold Club Oblivion to Rafe Martinelli,” Eric adds.

I stumble to a stop and shake my head. “But you love your club.” We step into the elevator, guilt nipping at my heels. They lost the house, their warehouse, and their club because of me.

“Look at me,” Nate orders, his voice harsher than it was a moment ago.

I raise my head, meeting his amber gaze.

“We lost nothing, little one. They’re bricks and mortar, nothing more.

We’ll find our place in this world and build a new home, make a new life.

The three of us are together now, our pasts behind us, and our future ready to claim. ”

Eric grins while dragging me out of the elevator and through the office. “Yeah, what he said. Now, come on, there’s a plane waiting for us.”

“Wait, what plane? Where are we going?”

“The Seychelles. We deserve a vacation after all this. But first, I need to grab something from the house before we go.”