Page 5 of Drop His Mask

“Talking to…Anadil.” Jayce hung his head in shame. “Raven told me last week and I talked to Anadil today again.” The previous anger was now replaced by something else entirely. “Julian. Look–” Jayce took a step forward, invading Julian’s personal space.

“What is it?” He didn’t like the tone. He didn’t like the way Jayce’s eyes were flickering about in anxiety. How his anger had come and gone so quickly. Half the scars on Julian were there because of Jayce’s hot-headedness.

“I told Anadil. About Raven being pregnant.”

Julian didn’t think before his fist was colliding with the side of Jayce’s face. “What is wrong with you?” Julian was seething as he ignored his pulsing hand. He didn’t trust Nightingale. He knew she was up to no good. Julian was constantly watching Raven which meant he was around her as much as he could be.

Which meant he saw the hot, pulsating rage that danced behind Anadil’s eyes, that grew every time she looked at her younger sister, Raven.

“You’re right.” Jayce didn’t even move from where Julian’s fist had thrown him. Instead, he dropped down to the floor onto his knees. “There was something off. I never saw it before, but she’s…she’s not the girl I grew up with. The friend I thought she was. She’s changed.”

“Of course she has, you idiot. She’s been used and abused for years and the one man that tried to keep her safe, that she is in love with, has not only been boning her little sister, but is about to have a child with her.”

Jayce finally whipped his head up. “Anadil isn’t in love with me. She’s like a sister.” The words were hoarse, pitched.

“Either you’re an idiot or you decided to one day be an ignorant asshole, but yes, she is.” Julian was livid. Jayce was going to get Raven killed.

“I fucked up,” Jayce expelled after a few silent beats.

“You did.” Julian was done with this conversation. Done with this idiot of a man. They would not be friends when he stepped out of this closet. Julian would no longer be a part of any Faction. Instead, he vowed then and there he would make it his mission to keep Raven safe.

“Anadil won’t expect you,” Jayce rushed out, causing Julian to pause.

With his fingers inches from the door knob, Julian turned back to Jayce. The latter was on his knees, his hands steepled together. He was begging.

“Please, she won’t pay you any mind. I’ll tell her you are working behind the scenes, that you will be fighting from the crowd. But you have to bethere. Stay with Raven in the shadows. Make sure nothing happens to her…to our child.”

“You don’t deserve her.” Julian spat the words onto Jayce below. He wanted to beat the man into a bloody pulp. But it wouldn’t help anything. It wouldn’t take back the damage Jayce had already done.

It would just upset Raven. He didn’t want to hurt her.

“I know,” Jayce croaked. “Please.”

“I’ll fucking do it, but I want you to listen to me.” Julian bent until the men were eye level. “If this goes sideways, and trust me itwillgo sideways, I will get her somewhere safe. I will keep her protected, but you aren’t to look for her. You need to leave her alone. Let her live a safer life without you.”

“I can’t do that, she’s carrying my child.”

“I don’t fucking care!” Julian snapped. “She isn’t safe with you!”

“Oh, but she’s safe with you?” Jayce’s annoyance was written clearly in his clenched fists and furrowed brow. He snapped swiftly to his feet.

Julian straightened to his full height, posturing over Jayce. The men were close in stature, but in this moment, Julian felt immensely pleased with the few inches he had on Jayce. “She isn’t safe with either of us, but I won’t put anyone above her. I won’t let stupid mindless notions put her in danger. When we leave this room, I never want to speak to you again. I never want to see you again. But mark my words, no matter what happens, I will keep Raven safe.”

Julian didn’t want to spend another second with the man. His fear, hisanger,hisdisgustnearly choked him. It felt like Raven was balanced on the edge of a cliff and any wrong move by either of the men, she would fall. Tumble to her death below.

And Jayce had just made a terrible misstep in trusting Nightingale.

Julian would do what he could to keep Raven safe.

But will it be enough?

“Sparrow.”

Julian stopped in his tracks before wrenching the door open.

“If she has a girl, she wants to name her Sparrow.”

Julian didn’t turn back this time as he threw open the door, leaving the room. He didn’t stop until he was in their designated outside area. He paid no mind to the guards.

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