Page 67 of Judgment Day

“Sharing is caring,” Exa cooed to Scar. “Save some for me.”

Scar nodded.

“Exa,” Arson came over the comm line. “The judge’s men are searching the house. And, uh, someone unexpected has arrived.”

“Who?” Exa asked.

“Declan.”

“What?” Exa’s gaze jerked to Scar.

Scar shrugged. “He pulled me aside and told me Miriam asked him to stay with us. She told him she had an old friend who lived nearby. He said the friend had a landing pad and that Declan could stay there in case we needed him. I tried to tell him to go back to the safe house. But he refused.”

“Is that why he pulled you aside earlier?”

Scar nodded. “I didn’t contact him and tell him we needed backup, though.”

“I texted him,” Liam chimed in. “Not sorry. You all need help. I’m switching over to his comm line to direct him.”

“Got it,” Scar said, still staring at Exa. “Are you mad?”

She wasn’t. Sure, he’d kept this from her. But this was nothing compared to what she was keeping from him.

Exa shook her head. “I’m not mad.” She flinched when someone banged on the basement door.

“Judge,” a deep voice called out. “You in there?”

“I’m here,” the judge yelled before Exa spun around and wrapped her fingers around his throat.

The door handle twisted. “How do we get in?” the guard yelled. “What’s the code?”

The judge gasped for air as Exa tightened her hand around his neck. His face turned red, eyes bulged. She squeezed tighter. Her hand was already wounded, but she didn’t care. His pain numbed her own.

“Judge. Judge.” Gunshots rang out. “Shit. Judge, we’ll be back for you.”

“Exa!” Arson called out. “The Timeless have arrived. We have them coordinating with Declan right now.”

Exa slowly released the judge’s throat. “The more you yell,” she told him. “The more pain you’ll feel.”

He swallowed, then whispered, “My biggest regret is allowing your fat ass to live.”

Scar reached for him. Exa raised her hand. Scar lowered his.

“It’s okay,” Exa told Scar. “I’ve been called fat all my life. It doesn’t sting anymore. Especially coming from someone like him.”

“Someone like me? Without me, you would’ve been dead a long time ago.”

“Without you, my adoptive mother... no, my mother. I need to stop calling her my adoptive mother. She was my mother. And she and I would’ve been happy if you hadn’t stormed into our lives.”

“I made your lives better.”

“You make everything you touch worst.”

“Oh, your life could’ve been so much worst. Had I gone ahead with my plan instead of waiting for you to mature, I wouldn’t be in this situation.”

Now, they were getting somewhere. Exa had always wanted to know what he’d planned to do with her.

“What did you plan to do with me?” Exa asked.

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