Page 15 of War

He’s alive.

Beep.

He’s alive.

“How?”I take a few steps inside, each one feeling like I have lead in my boots.The lights are so bright, I wince, closing one eye until they adjust.

“We think it was a targeted hit.Not sure who or why, but we didn’t want another attempt while he’s defenseless, so we put out that he didn’t make it.”

That’s precisely what I’d do.No need to kill a man if he’s already dead.My own dad filters through my mind.He didn’t make it to the hospital.A meat wagon came to collect his body, or so it’s been stated.The story has been embellished depending on who’s telling it, but everyone is clear on one thing: my dad was a good man and didn’t deserve getting exterminated—as Kitty would put it.Anger, white hot, consumes me.

“The doctors say it’s up to him now.He’s in a coma.”

This man was president and would have given that order to kill my dad, and he had something to do with Harley.I don’t even realize I’m standing by his bed until Callan shouts my name, shocking me from my daze.

“Let go of the tube, Rogue.”His hand is outstretched, held up like a stop signal, and his body hunches forward slightly.It’s like he’s trying to tame a wild animal.

I dart my gaze to my hand where the breathing tube is clutched tightly in my fist.Tears, warm and salty, slide down my cheeks and fill the cracks of my lips.“He killed Harley.”I choke on the word, sorrow washing over me.No one prepares you for grief, and you never know how you will feel—how you will cope from one hour to the next.Some days I can function, and then in a passing moment, my lungs seize, and I struggle to remember how to breathe.

“Rogue, I promise you, he did not fucking kill her.”

“You can’t promise that.We don’t know.”I’ve left my body.I’m an entity hovering above myself watching.Darkness facing darkness.

“I know.I know him.”

“What about my dad?He would have given the order to kill him.He doesn’t deserve to survive when they didn’t.”

“Listen to me.”I’m shaking all over, losing touch with who I used to be.So much pain is finally overwhelming me.I’m coming unhinged, spiraling into madness, and my thoughts are muddled with anger so intense it’s all-consuming.“You’ve been lied to, Rogue.The Kings didn’t kill your dad or the Devil’s pres.”

Wrong.Wrong.Wrong.Sniffling, I swipe my free hand under my nose.“Lies.”I stare down at the frail man and the machines keeping him alive.Why him?

Beep.

Evil always wins, but I have the power to stop it and end him.

Beep.

One small tug.

Beep.

A gasp flees my lungs as Callan’s body closes around mine, his hand resting over my tight fist.“I promise, I’m not lying.We have proof, Rogue.I’ll tell you everything.You’ll see that we aren’t the enemy.”

I want to believe him, curl my body into his, and let him take all the pain away and heal me.God, I feel so fucking broken.

“Trust me.Please.”A scream claws up my throat, wanting to rip free.

Releasing the tube, I exhale the breath I was holding and grip Callan’s arm, trying to steady my weak legs.My thoughts are discombobulated.Turning in his arms, I gaze up at the man I’m putting all my faith in.

“If you are the enemy, I’ll kill you both.”

* * *

When we’re back at the compound, I head straight for his office, tensing when Georgina stops Callan with a hand to his chest.“Can we talk?”

I don’t wait around for his answer and continue to his office.A second later, he enters and closes the door.I sit with my ass on the lip of his desk, arms folded.

He leans forward, his eyes meeting mine.“Do you believe me about Georgina?”

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