Page 104 of Borden 3

“That’s between Borden and me.”

Hector grunted in pain as he slowly twisted his body to look at Theo. “He doesn’t need your help.”

Theo grinned as he leaned over, relaxing his arms against the back of the couch. He stared at us, each individually for seconds at a time. Then he said, “If his men were enough, he’d have been able to put these fucks underground. And before you even tell me he’s partners with the Warlords, need I remind you they’re the fucking reason he’s in this mess to begin with?”

I opened my mouth to protest. “That’s a lot of firepower on his side, Theo—”

“If he accepts any help from the bikers, he looks weak.” Theo scoffed. “Every time a biker steps foot in New Raven, Borden loses more of his power. The only time he has ever been at the peak of his ruthlessness was when Kate Davenoth bit the dust. Does it need to get pushed that far? Should you or your little boy have to eat a bullet to revive the Borden everyone loathed and feared?”

What did it matter to him what happened to Link or me? But I never got to know because Hector’s body shook, his anger boiling to the surface. “You think your little boys that hide in the shadows are gonna change things, Theo?”

“Damn straight,” Theo returned swiftly, undeterred by Hector’s mocking voice. “He needs us. We’re the key to his success.”

“I’d like to see you convince him of that.”

Theo’s voice was full of certainty. “When he gets here, I will.”

And just like that, he answered my next question.

Borden was coming.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Emma

I had cleaned Hector up to the best of my abilities. We were still in the living room. I had migrated to the couch, fighting to keep my eyelids open. Theo was in and out of the house. Two of his men stayed behind, keeping guard outside Stasia’s bedroom. I heard Theo bark out orders. He wanted people stationed around the house.

They were preparing for Borden’s arrival.

I’d used the bathroom once—just once—to get a lay of the house in case Theo had lied about me being allowed to leave. During that time, the men didn’t so much as blink in my direction. But they got extremely stiff when I looked down the hallway to where Stasia’s bedroom was (her bedroom door decorated by her pink, flowery drawings).

I backed away from the hallway, understanding that some boundaries weren’t okay to be crossed.

“You believe him?” I whispered to Hector.

Hector turned his tired eyes to me. “Funny enough, I fucking do.”

“What do you think he wants?”

Hector shook his head. “I don’t know. Something ain’t right about it.”

I agreed.

I kept my eyes glued on Theo’s men. The way they catered to Theo and each other. The marks on their bodies. The look of pain in their eyes. Yes, these were Lost Boys, and they went to him. For purpose, or because they were lonely—I wasn’t sure.

But they were hurting in their own ways.

And I didn’t know what to make of it.

It was two in the morning when the sound of engines drowned the air. My heart pumped with adrenaline. The Warlords were here, too. Hector stiffened at the sound of motorcycles, his face falling when he realised he’d have to face them. I grabbed his hand, and he relaxed slightly.

Theo was in the kitchen when headlights flooded through the kitchen window. He was downing a glass of milk, his skin slick with sweat because he’d been warring with a punching bag outside for the last hour. The sounds were so constant, they’d nearly put me to sleep.

I stood up from the couch, ready to see my husband. Theo stared at me for some time, an unreadable look in his eye as I rounded the couch, waiting.

I jumped when a bullet sliced through the air suddenly. Hector jumped out of his seat, his pains forgotten. Theo’s eyes continued to stare me down, the sound sliding off him like water.

“THEO!” Borden screamed. I tensed at the sheer rage in my husband’s voice. The entire room vibrated with the sound of it. “GIVE ME BACK MY FUCKING WIFE!”

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