Page 62 of Deliver us from Evil

There’s quiet. Cass, Apollo, me…waiting.

Rube clears his throat. He hands me to Cass, and I miss his arms the second they leave my body.

When he stands over Zachary’s bed, it’s as if someone puts a stake through my chest and twists it.

Compared to Rube’s strong, broad body, Zachary’s looks so…fragile. Broken.

“What you did…” Reuben begins. “It wasn’t right. You know that. We all know that. But I’m hoping it was one of those times you couldn’t help it.”

I turn a puzzled frown to Cass, but he closes his eyes and gives his head a shake, as if telling me he’ll explain later.

Rube clears his throat again. Then he reaches out and lifts Zachary’s hand before lacing their fingers together.

“But then you did something so brave, so selfless…we’d be dicks not to forgive you.” His voice goes thick. “So if you don’t want to come back because of what I said, just know that I was full of shit. I do forgive you, Zach.”

“I forgive you too,” Apollo says. He gives Zachary’s head another stroke. “And I need you, man.”

“I forgive you.” Cass grabs his leg. “And you know I fucking need you.”

Then they all turn to me.

But the words stick in my throat. And when I shake my head, tears spill out of my eyes and race down my cheeks.

They don’t know what he did with the knife.

They didn’t hear how he threatened me.

I can forget about what he did, but I don’t know if I can ever forgive him.

“He saved your life,” Apollo murmurs. “Doesn’t that mean anything?”

“Apollo.” Rube’s voice is firm, his frown deep.

I glance at Apollo, then back and up at Rube. “What is he talking about?”

Rube points at Zachary’s chest. At the two sets of bandages plastered over his skin. “One of those bullets were meant for you, Trinity.”

“And one was meant for me,” Cass says beside me.

And then it comes rushing back.

My old house.

Gabriel trying to drown me in the bath.

The basement.

Gabriel chasing me down the hall.

Cass at the front door.

When I look down at Zachary again, it feels like someone is wrapping barbed wire around my heart.

“I…forgot.” I swallow hard and put my hands over my face. “How could I—”

“Concussion,” Apollo supplies, and then shrugs when I look up at him with slitted eyes. “What? You asked.”

I lick my lips. He saved my life. Possibly in exchange for his.

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