Page 84 of Breaker

His perfect brows knit, like he’s debating his answer. “She was like my mother.”

Okay.

With a deep breath, I squeeze my eyes closed, gripping my dress to stop myself from spinning out of control. My mind quickly sorts through all the things I’ve learned and overheard. They were given names; they are brothers of sorts and received military training in a school. The men have a man they call their father. They are also very much not brothers in the familial sense, but in a bonded way. Viper had a name before he was Viper. Striker had a mother who passed away from an overdose. Breaker had a nanny.

“You never answered me,” he says.

my eyes open, the circling thoughts snapping to him and only him.

“Which part?” I ask. “Am I hungry, or did they touch me?”

Those plush, perfectly sculpted lips thin into a hard line, eyes darting to my nose. I swipe at it again, looking at my fingers for signs of blood, but they come away clean. Touching the bridge, I press around, hoping it doesn’t bruise, as I watch him, watch me. I know what he’s not asking. Rune and Zane certainly touched, but neither man was successful in everything else they planned.

“Neither,” I tell him. “And you never answered me.”

“I believe I did, Little Red,” Breaker says, stepping toward me and gripping my hand.

Holy shit, he’s gorgeous.

My cheeks puff as I exhale. “You evaded my question by derailing the conversation, Breaker. Why does Rune need weapons for the hunts?”

He raises my hand to his lips, kissing the back of my fingers.

“Come upstairs, and I’ll show you.”

Chapter 27

Breaker

My heart races asI lead her up the stairs to the third floor. Nervousness grips me, a feeling I haven’t experienced since the day I sat in the park, my enemy at my side, and we agreed to help Harlow take down Rune.

We reach the top floor, and she pauses, surveying the room. I step back, letting go of her hand and giving her space as I attempt to see it from her perspective.

The loft area sits at the back of the factory, with massive windows offering a view of downtown. The only furniture is a long wooden table holding my equipment, metal folding chairs tucked around it. Along one wall hangs weapons, more gear, and monitors.Allof them.

Cora leans forward, removing her heels and holds them in one hand, as she takes a tentative step forward, her eyes glued to the screens.

She lifts the hand holding her heels, gesturing at the wall. “That’s the outside of my condo.” She points to another screen. “And that’s Delly’s.”

“Yes,” I say and point to another screen. “And that’s Rune’s house and the offices.”

Each screen contains several livestreaming footage of their homes and the office building from various angles. I turned them back on when I arrived, using them to help me track Cora’s movements.

“You couldn’t get inside?” she asks.

Her question catches me off guard. “Rune has weekly security sweeps looking for any devices.”

“He’s paranoid.” She takes another step into the room, her eyes focused on the monitors. “It got worse about five years ago,” she adds, glancing at me. “I assume when he killed your brother?”

Fucking Viper. I wonder what else he told her.

“It seems like he had good reason to be paranoid,” Cora remarks as she moves further into the room. My stomach tightens with anticipation. Any minute now, she’s going to see…

Her heels drop to the floor. The noise clatters through the loft, and I wait for her to show signs of…

Something. Anything.

“I’m not sure if I should be flattered or horrified,” Cora says, staring at the wall covered in pictures and lists.

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