Page 80 of Beneath the Thorned Crown

I already know what’s coming.

I just don’t want to believe it.

Charles doesn’t look away. Doesn’t stall.

"Nico."

The name lands like a punch to the gut.

I stare at Charles, my pulse pounding in my ears. "Say that again."

His jaw ticks. "Nico’s the mole. He’s the one feeding information. He’s the reason Jayden’s dead."

In that instant, my world tilts.

I shake my head. "That’s impossible. He’s a kid."

"Is it?" Charles steps closer, his voice razor-sharp. "Think about it, Dominic. Who’s been closest to Jayden? Who knew what routes we were running? Who suddenly became more valuable in our inner circle after Jayden and I started pulling back?"

My mind spins, piecing things together, but I don’t want to believe it.

Nico.

He’s been with me for years. Trusted. Loyal.

But Jayden said it was someone inside.

And now Jayden’s dead before he could finish the name.

A fucking coincidence?

No.

A tremor laces through me.

I turn to Charles, my voice deadly quiet.

"Where is he now?"

Charles exhales, shaking his head. "I don’t know. But I’ll find out."

I nod once, slow and controlled.

Then I straighten, pushing past the agony in my ribs, ignoring the lingering pain from the fight, from the loss, from the betrayal seeping into my veins like poison.

I wipe the blood from my chin.

Then I meet Charles’s gaze and say the only thing that matters.

"Find him but don’t kill him just yet. I’ll put a bullet between his eyes myself.” I turn to leave.

“Where the hell are you going?”

“If they can get to Jayden, what makes you think they can’t get to Isabella?”

Chapter 21 - Isabella

I sit on the couch, staring at the mess of my apartment, my thoughts tangled and disjointed. Everything feels heavy—like the walls are closing in, pressing down on me with every passing second. I haven’t even unpacked my bag yet. I haven’t even had the time to process everything.

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