Page 81 of Crown of Smoke

I thought for sure she’d stay. But she didn’t. The disappointment cuts deep. Of course she wouldn't stay. I lied to her, used her, put her in danger. Even if she was here, I've given her every reason to walk away and never look back.

I close my eyes again, trying to hold onto whatever pieces of her I can grasp before they slip away entirely. The thought of never seeing her again leaves me more wrecked than any beating ever could.

I grit my teeth and force myself to sit up, ignoring the stabbing pain in my ribs. The room tilts and spins, but I can't afford to lie here any longer. Lucy's out there somewhere, probably still digging into the story that could get her killed.

"Fuck." The word hisses through my clenched teeth as I swing my legs over the side of the bed. Every movement feels like being hit all over again.

“He lives.” Blaise leans against the doorjamb, his arms crossed. “Still a comedian?”

I shake my head, regretting it when I nearly pitch forward.

“Whoa there.” Blaise rushes in to stop me from falling.

“How long have I been out?”

“Few days. You need food, Flint.”

My stomach hurts, but it could just as easily be from nausea as hunger.

My fingers probe the tender spots on my face. The swelling has gone down some, but I'm still a mess. The mace burns have mostly healed, though my eyes still sting if I blink too fast.

“Where’s Lucy?”

“She stayed until yesterday.” Blaise helps me out to the main living area of Phoenix’s place.

“She had enough?”

“She has a life she needs to live, Flint.” Ash rises from the table, pulling out a chair for me to sit in.

“I know that,” I snap. I know it, but I still hate it.

“You saw her. That’s what you wanted.” Phoenix heads to the kitchen. “Toast?”

“Whatever.” I look at Ash. “Is she safe? She could be in danger?—"

“She’s fine,” Blaise says, helping me into the chair. “She’s only gone to the newspaper and home.”

Relief floods through me. "You're sure?"

"Been keeping tabs on her since you got jumped," Blaise says with a shrug. "She's staying away from anything Kean-related, at least out in the world."

I narrow my eyes at my twin. "How do you know all this?"

Ash crosses his arms. "We put a tracker on her phone. For her own protection."

"Jesus." I run a hand over my face, wincing at the tender spots. "That's crossing a line."

"Says the guy who broke into her apartment," Blaise mutters.

The image of Lucy pleasuring herself in the tub flashes in my mind. Heat creeps up my neck. "That was different."

"Sure it was." Blaise smirks. "Look, none of us are winning any awards for respecting boundaries here. But she knows too much now. We need to make sure she stays quiet."

He's right, but it doesn't make me feel any less like a creep. Lucy deserves better than being stalked by a family of criminals, even if it is for her own good.

At least she's safe. That has to be enough for now.

I have some toast and soup, something my mother would have had Mrs. Cramer make for us.

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