Page 19 of Drop His Mask

“I know, I didn’t either,” Jayce murmured, his tone embalmed in pain, agony,regret. “I know you have forgiven me, but I still blame myself. I shouldn’t have told Anadil about Sparrow. I’m sorry.”

“Come on you two, it’s neither of y’all’s faults. This world is a terrible place and every decision we make we try to change that, but we can’t control other people. You two were parents to your baby girl, you did the best you could.” Levi readjusted to wrap his arms around Jayce, too, providing comfort to us both. “This country just doesn’t allow our best to be good enough. But we’re almost through this, we’re going to win and then we can make a life for ourselves. We can make a better place for the future. And then if you’re ever ready for it, you can have another baby.”

Wedged between the two men, it was easier to allow myself to finally feel the pain of the loss of Sparrow. The aching that had always been a dull beat pounded louder, for a moment, before it slowly faded into the inner sanctum of my heart. I would always cherish her. Grieve for her, of what could have been, but that didn’t change anything.

I didn’t know how long we all stayed like that, but after some time I finally began to sew myself back together. I would never forget Sparrow, but in this moment I felt stronger than I had in years. It wasn’t just the false bravado I put in place, it was real.

Visceral.

I am healing.

We were going to make it, we were going to accomplish something.

We could be the change this country needed.

But first, we needed to get out of this fucking game.

Chapter 10

At What Cost

Julian

Five Years Ago

Julian’s head was in his hands as he sat beside Raven’s sleeping form. Her skin was paler than before, her cheeks hollowed, but she wasalive.They had been in this doctor’scarefor months now. Raven had survived and Geoff had managed to save baby Sparrow, too.

But she hadn’t woken up. The doctor explained she wasn’t strong enough to.

They would need to let Sparrow grow and once it was time, they would deliver the baby via C-section.

Except Julian didn’t quite trustthe doctor.

Geoff hadn’t been willing to take them in, not even when Julian had explained Raven was pregnant. Only when Julian mentioned that she was having a girl did the doctor agree to help.

But with a steep cost.

Julian exhaled, tapping his feet, and sitting up. He flexed his hands, examining the new marks in place.

Geoff had ties to the Factions, and while Julian was adamantly against joining, he had begrudgingly agreed to side jobs in order to afford to keep Raven there.

Nothing is free in life.

But Julian didn’t care. Raven was alive. Sparrow was alive.

He had fulfilled his promise, and he wasn’t going anywhere.

A loud click startled him, and he cast a glance around the room. It was sterile, filled with medical equipment, but on the far wall was a TV.

It was the source of the sound.

Shortly thereafter, a loud siren blared, but the screen remained black. He jumped to his feet to turn it off, but then it went silent again as the image swapped.

Julian’s heart bounced around his chest as his mind caught up to the image.

There was a man in a suit and tie on a stage. He was masked and white teeth were on display as he bared them in an attempt at a smile.

“This country has been brought to its knees by terrorists!” the man shouted, but there was no inflection, he was monotone. As if he were not a man at all but a replica of one.

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