Page 125 of Diamond Kisses

She’s dead.

Peter’s dead.

So many jewelsdead.

I fisted the blankets and tried not to drown in my grief.

I couldn’t.

Tears squeezed around my throat.

I stared at the ramifications of my past.

I’d been lucky enough to find her.

So fucking blessed to be loved by her.

And now…I’m alone again.

I wasnothingwithout her. I could’ve become something with her. I could’ve become someone I was proud of. But without her…I didn’t even want to try.

The same calmness that’d fallen over me when I’d reached for Q’s gun settled once again.

I’d been a stain on this world for long enough.

It’s time.

My tears receded. I even managed a cleansing breath. I opened my eyes and looked at my older brother with no animosity or guilt or shame. “I’m so sorry for putting your family in danger.”

Q shot a look at Tess, who lingered in the doorway.

Without a word, she vanished down the corridor, giving us privacy.

Once she’d gone, he winced and swallowed hard. “AndI’msorry for sending you into danger.”

I flinched as fresh pain cut down my back. Shifting on the bed, the tightness of bandages around my chest and the thick padding across my shoulder blades and down my spine made me prickle with entrapment.

Q glanced at the new cast around my forearm. “We X-rayed every inch of you. The break in your forearm needed setting. Even though it shows evidence of prior healing, it’s unfortunately broken again.”

I chuckled with black humour. “Yeah, I felt it go when I used a gun as a baseball bat on Roland.”

Q arched an eyebrow but didn’t ask questions. “The recent healing on your ankle seems stable enough. Your ribs show evidence of multiple fractures. The gunshot wound on your side turned out to be the least of your problems.” He rolled his eyes. “The bullet just went straight through the skin. It didn’t damage anything. However…your lack of body weight and the lacerations on your back.” He wiped his mouth and shook his head. “You might need a skin graft if the stitches don’t hold. Even with stitches, the scar tissue will always—”

“I’m fine.” I swallowed hard, cursing the fact that the painkillers kept ebbing the longer I stayed awake. “I don’t need a grocery list of my injuries. I’m aware.”

Clenching his jaw, he nodded once.

We didn’t speak for a long moment before he muttered, “Why were you wearing the collar of a slave? Why are you so badly beaten? You went in as a Master. You called me from Victor’s personal phone as hisfriend.” His gaze met mine. “What happened?”

I really didn’t want to take a trip down memory lane, nor did I have the strength to but…this would be the first and last honest conversation I’d ever have with my brother, so I answered him. “I tried playing a game with an opponent smarter than me.”

“Victor wasn’t smart. He was insane.”

“Either way, I lost.”

“Did he…rape you? Do you need to talk to someone? Are you—”

“I told you.” I glowered with as much strength as I could. “I’m fine.”

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