Page 8 of Brutal Lies

“You’re safe, baby.” Jace holds me tighter, planting kisses on my head that I want to bat away. Doesn’t he see the filth I’m covered in, doesn’t he see me?

As he walks up the steps toward the house, a feeling of being watched has my eyes snapping open, and when they lock with Lucas’s, my heart stops. The man looking back at me with trepidation is the boy who once was so lost and has now been found.

And the way his eyes filled with guilt flick away from mine, brings with it an awareness of my realization.

He knows I know.

Jace carries me through the doors, and warmth hits my cheeks, but it does nothing to disperse the cold I feel inside when I see my man’s gray eyes flooded with terror.

Does he realize the veil has been lifted?

And the lies he told will be unearthed.

The secrets he hides are about to be revealed.

Does he realize the storm that is brewing.

The door closes behind us, but he remains on the other side.

Chapter

Six

CAL

Taking a deep breath, I open the door to Bren’s home, nodding at one of STORM’s security details guarding the outside.

While driving toward where Bren was, Oscar informed us of the news, and I chose to take a detour, knowing it’s what Bren would have wanted.

Five minutes ago, the threat to our families was downgraded, and now I have to inform Sky with the news of Bren.

I’ve already gone into my Mafia mindset and stepped away from how I feel as a brother, refusing to give myself time to process what has happened. I’m his second-in-command, which means I’m first-in-command now.

So, as I step into their family home, I ignore the nausea which threatens to spill over as I close the door behind me and wait for the stampede of tiny feet that rush to greet every visitor.

The house is silent, which is rare for this usually chaotic home.

Soft footsteps head toward me, and my head falls forward as I suck in a deep breath, and when I lift my head, my heart falls from my chest. A warm smile greets me as Sky heads toward me. I’m not sure what she sees on my face, but the usually permanent smile on her innocent face slips. “What’s wrong?” She tugs on the hem of her baggy T-shirt while I struggle to formulate words.

“It’s Bren, sweetheart.”

Her bottom lip wobbles, her eyes fill with tears, and her chest heaves, then she licks her lips and pulls her shoulders back, pulling herself together.

“Is he okay?” She stands motionless, waiting for my reply, but I know she already knows it, probably feels it in her heart, like we all do.

“No.” I shake my head, refusing to be emotional. “No, sweetheart. He’s not.”

She chokes on a gasp; her legs give way, and a blood-curdling wail rips from her, and I rush toward her.

“He promised me forever,” she whispers before slumping to the floor, taking my heart with her.

Chapter

Seven

JACE

As I carry Tia toward the spare room, I’m already wondering how this will work. How am I going to put her down for even a second? I want her in my arms and need to feel her warmth and the beat of her heart against mine.

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