Page 46 of Love and War

One month later

Salemsteppedoutofthe house wrapped in a blanket. She favored her left side more, and her face and neck were covered in black and blue bruises. The gash above her brow was gnarly looking.

We both stared at each other.

“So, it’s true,” I finally said. Instead of speaking, she blinked at me like I was nothing but a fucking bug she wanted to swat away. “I swear you two are the most stubborn assholes I’ve ever had to deal with. If it weren’t for Aziza, I’d probably beat the shit out of you,” I grumbled. Aziza was as stubborn as they came, hard-headed. And Salem was just like it, only I couldn’t deal with it.

“Holy shit.” I watched as Salem stepped back against the door. Shocked about something. “You’re him.”

“What are you referring to?” I asked, cocking my head to the side.

“The one she’s been in love with since, shit, forever, honestly.” At least she was confirming something. I feared that Aziza was no longer in love with me. That she no longer cared.

But it wasn’t time to hash any of that out.

“She told us about what happened, and then finally yesterday Dimitri told us about Tobias. I don’t know where Zane is. He went off to find the Cartel after you left. He’s supposed to be back in a few hours. But he told me and Aziza about Tobias last night.”

“Dimitri’s pride won’t let him thank you,” I said, turning my full attention towards her. “You made Zane into a person. Before he was a walking robot. And thank you most of all for saving them all. You saved Tobias, a few times from what I hear, ” I said, smirking over at her.

Salem may be an asshole, but she’d been saving everyone from the beginning. Mila when she was pregnant with Tobias. Saving Zane even if it was from himself. All of us.

“Aziza told us everything.”

She nodded her head.

“I know we don’t know each other much, but Zane does hate himself for leaving you. I won’t ask you to forgive him. What he said was inexcusable. But please understand wh—” My phone cut me off, ringing.

“What’s up?” I answered, not bothering to look at who was on the other line. Walking down the steps, I headed towards my car.

“Killian, they're gone,” Aziza cried into the phone. Hearing her cry like this did things to me. I couldn’t bear it. “Killian, Luca took him! They took all of them!”

“FUCK!” I roared. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

Ripping the door open, I glanced up at Salem watching me from the corner of her eye.

“He was taken again. Luca took him! Tobias is probably going to die because you couldn’t get your head out of your ass and fix whatever is going on between you and Zane,” I yelled. I knew I shouldn’t have said it. I knew that, but logically I was tired of this back-and-forth game.

“Killian!” Salem screamed just as I was getting into the car. Arching a brow at her, I waited.

She ran down the steps, climbing into the passenger side. The blanket forgotten on the steps.

“Go to two three two West Road,” she ordered.

Knowing exactly where she was talking about, I floored it out of the driveway.

“What’s there?” I asked.

“My weapons.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. This was the Salem that I liked, that reminded me of Aziza.

The Aziza that I wanted back, the one who told me how it was. Whatever was on her mind. And once Luca was taken care of, I planned on reminding her exactly who she was with me. Even if that meant taking her away.

20

Aziza

Myfootlaidheavyon the peddle, speeding away.

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