Page 53 of Lost in Life

Everly looks them up and down, nodding her head. “That’s right, lovely. Welcome to the family.” With a wink, she looks over to West. “And who are you, big boy?”

West glances at me, his face pale. She waits patiently for his response. When he appears unable to form a word past his terror, I take a step forward, pulling her attention back to me. “My new recruit.”

Everly looks between us, her eyebrows shooting up. “Is that so?” She asks, her lips twitching.

I nod, gesturing toward both Nova and West. “They both are.”

Everly rubs her chin thoughtfully, looking at the two with much more curiosity than before. After several more moments of tense silence, she returns her gaze to me. “And tell me, Zayn.” Pushing upright, she picks up a knife from her desk, running her finger along the blade. “Why would I allow these two into my society? What makes them worthy to join?” She watches me closely as I pull out my small device. Killian bristles at my movement but she holds up a hand, stopping his reaction.

I unlock the device and hand it over to her, the screen showing all the data Tavish had gathered. Pointing at Rex’s face, I explain, “This guy was responsible for thousands of deaths. He ran the local opioid street market, but on top of that was a conniving scumbag who preyed on innocents.” Everly’s eyebrows shoot up at the word. One which I have discovered since her takeover matters more than anything.

The protection of the innocents. Her one rule in our new society.

She’s unlike her step-father in that manner. His careless lack of remorse for who was harmed in his pursuit of power a direct contrast to her insistence to protect those who cannot protect themselves. My mind flashes back to the rumors of one such person who was harmed by the man.

Clearing my throat and pushing aside the guilt gnawing at me, I continue. “See, these two?” I gesture toward West and Nova. “They helped me put an end to him.” Holding my hand out, I wait for Everly to hand over the device again before pulling up a few photos I took earlier.

Offering her the device once more, a sense of pride wells up inside of me at the impressed look on her face. Tilting the screen toward Killian, she arches an eyebrow. “Impressive.” He rumbles, returning to his stoic position.

Chuckling, she hands back my device. “Quite.” Looking over West and Nova once more, she sets down the blade. I subtly release a relieved breath, the symbolic action not lost on me. “You know what this means, right?” She asks, glancing at me.

I nod, knowing I’m going to get an earful from the two spitfires, but at least they’ll be alive. Sort of.

Raising her arms, her eyes twinkle as she proclaims, “Welcome to Societas Exspiravit.”

TO BE CONTINUED

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