Page 117 of Ravaged Saints

It wasn’t her. She’s not the type to sneak, and if Aspen wanted something, she’d take it, or she’d burn this whole fucking place to the ground. But Bryn? I never trusted her, and there was something off about the scent lingering in my room last night.

“Knox.”

Max’s snaps me out of my thoughts. He steps out of the house, looking around. His eyes are dark, almost lethal, and the last time I saw him like this, bodies were left behind him.

“Where’s Ethan?” Max asks.

“Out for a run.” But my gut twists. Something’s not right.

Ryker appears behind him. “And Bryn?”

“She’s in the main room,” Dante answers.

“She’s not there,” Ryker mutters, glancing toward the gate.

“Probably went downstairs,” Aspen offers, but her face holds uncertainty.

Ryker steps closer to her, his expression unreadable. Then, in a move that throws me off, he cups her face gently.

“I’m sorry, Aspen.” His tone is quiet, raw in a way I’ve never heard from him before, and tears gather along her lashes, unshed, and I move before I think, spinning her back to me, her dark hair whipping around, strands sticking to her face.

“What the fuck is going on, Aspen?”

“You need to tell him,” Ryker murmurs, and I snap my gaze to him.

What have these two been hiding?

Aspen nods, her hands sliding up to grip my face, pulling me down so our eyes lock like she’s searching for something.

“I think Ethan is planning something for the base.”

Dante strides toward us, shaking his head.

“Come on, Ethan would never.” He’s always been the one to keep the peace, to defend us when we’re at each other’s throats.

“He told you that?” I ask as controlled as I can.

Aspen nods, but before she can speak, Ryker grips her shoulder, and I catch the unspoken plea in his eyes.

“Bryn told her,” Ryker says.

Fury ignites in my veins, and my jaw clenches, fists curling as I release Aspen and storm inside, boots slamming against the floor.

“Bryn!” My roar echoes, but there’s no response.

Dante is right behind me. “I’ll check downstairs,” he says before disappearing down the hall.

“But she said Ethan was doing something good for all of us.” Aspen’s voice wavers as she steps inside, pleading, but there’s no way in hell I’m believing a word out of Bryn’s mouth.

“Knox!” Aspen grabs my arm, yanking me back, and I whirl on her, struggling to rein in my rage.

“You knew we could be in danger and didn’t tell me?” My fists clench, muscles coil tight.

“She wanted proof,” Ryker interjects, stepping up beside her. “She didn’t want to make things worse between us and Ethan.”

I glare at him. “And you—you fucking knew?”

“She told me yesterday,” Ryker says, standing his ground. “I was giving her time to find something more.”

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