Page 100 of Vito

"What else do you know?" I demand.

Axin looks at the front window, partially obscured by fabric racks. "I saw it happen."

My control is threadbare as it is, and this nearly sends me over the edge.

Axin was supposed to have eyes on Eden—to watch over her, to protect her. And he fucking failed.

From the guilt looking like it's eating him alive, he knows it, too.

Before I can unsheath my knife and lunge for Axin, Raf steps in front of me. "Easy, brother."

Axin goes to the window, keeping out of sight behind the fabric. I swallow my fury as I come to stand beside him and look out the window. There's a clear line of sight to Gilly's.

"Eden texted me earlier in the evening asking if everything looked good on my end," he says, looking at the dark street. "She only said that Gus seemed on edge tonight, probably because of the full moon. I always come here for the end of her shift, but I was delayed due to a huge traffic accident and got here later than usual. They must have set up to hide and wait for her before I arrived because I didn't see anything unusual."

"What happened?" Raf asks.

"Everything was quiet on the street when Eden and Ambrose came out. Ambrose insisted on walking her to her car, which pissed her off." His jaw twitches. "They were halfway down the walkway when Ambrose took a bullet. He acted quickly and got her down behind a vehicle."

His throat bobs, and he stares straight ahead, reliving the scene. "I couldn't see the shooter, but I was about to run out the door to help her, anyway. But then two assailants crossed the road before I could get the door open."

"What did they look like?" I grit.

Axin turns to me. "Two males. Dressed in black fatigues. Balaclavas."

"Dressed the same like in Aiken's hit."

Axin narrows his eyes. He and Ohith know about the video, but Eden obviously hadn't divulged that I knew.

"Wait, what?" Raf frowns at me. "How do you know that?"

"Eden found a hidden camera that recorded Aiken’s murder," I admit.

"Jesus Christ," Raf rasps. "She watched it?"

I nod, turning back to Axin. "Go on."

"Eden shot one of the assailants in the stomach. The other came over the hood of the car and grabbed her."

Rage pummels my insides. "And you just stayed in here and fuckingwatched?"

"No, dammit." He fists his white-blonde hair. "It happened so goddamn fast. I was getting the door unlocked, but then Lixin Xhang was there." My teeth nearly crack. "He didn't hesitate; he snapped the neck of one and shot out the heart of the other with his Desert Eagle."

The rage inside me becomes a tangible, living, breathing monster.

That Lixin—that pompous, elitist fucker—was there to save Eden when it should've beenme.

All the secrets. All my inability to roar to the world that she's mine. Mine to fuck. Mine to love. Mine to protect. And I wasn't there. Just like Axin, I failed Eden.

It's too much. An animalistic sound of fury and frustration erupts out of me.

"I should've been the one there, not fucking Lixin," I snarl, not giving a fuck about what I'm openly admitting to Axin.

His eyes widen as the meaning of my words sinks in. His lips press together, then he lunges for me and punches me in the face, snapping my head back.

"You fucking selfish bastard! What have you done? What have. You. Done?" he shouts. "Do you know what this could do to her, you goddamn selfish prick?!"

Blood streams from my nose, and I fist Axin's jacket. "I love her!"

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