Page 92 of Whispers of the Dead

Benji nods. Guilt flashes across his face. “We heard you calling for her. We were locked up at the time, but we heard everything.”

The color drains from Emily’s face and she looks like she might be sick. “Then why didn’t you yell for me?”

Benji’s expression hardens, and he rubs his thumb along the length of the scar on the back of his hand. “Because Eugene had a knife to Zoey’s throat.” His voice is rough and filled with quiet fury. “If we made a sound, he would have killed her. He even threatened your life if you came too close.” He looks at me with a sad look in his eyes. “Golden girl’s neck is too pretty. Red isn’t her color. Unless it’s someone else’s.”

Heat creeps up my neck and I give him a smile, which he delights in.

“Oh, she’s blushing! Haven’t seen that for a while. Well, that color red is good on her, too.”

Emily’s fingers tighten around mine in an almost painful way. “I was right there?”

Benji nods and answers for me. “Yeah.”

Damon’s grip on my shoulders tightens, then loosens when I let out a small squeak. “Sorry, blondie.” His thumb traces the ghost of the path along my throat where Eugene’s knife had been that day. “Eugene’s unpredictability was his biggest weapon. If we had made a move, it would’ve been a massacre. He would have killed Zoey, and we probably would have killed ourselves getting out of those damn cells to get to him.”

Emily presses her free hand to her mouth with a gasp. “I didn’t know.”

I squeeze her fingers. “None of that is your fault. You found me, Em. That’s what matters.” My voice cracks, but Idon’t care. “It’s like we always said. We would never give up, and we would always find each other.”

She lets out a sharp exhale and blinks back tears before pulling me into a tight hug. Damon’s hands fall away from my shoulders. “I will never stop looking for you, Zo.”

I swallow against the lump in my throat and wrap my arms around her in a hug. “And I’ll always find my way back to you, Em.”

She pulls away, and her gaze sweeps over the dregs scattered through the large rooms. There’s something strange about sitting here so soon after Eugene had me trapped next to him while he forced my men to tear each other apart. It’s only been hours, but already feels like a lifetime ago.

Avery moves around the room, checking on every single person. His men help him tend to the wounded. Thankfully, every single one of us survived. It still amazes me that we pulled that off.

Emily’s eyes narrow. “So, what’s up with all these guys?”

Avery joins us. He stands tall with his arms crossed over his chest. “They’re mine now.”

Emily arches an eyebrow and scans the room again. “Yours? All of them?”

Avery smirks, then nods toward me. “And hers.”

I blink. “What—what?”

Avery tilts his head. “They pledged their loyalty to you. Didn’t you notice?”

I stare at him in disbelief. “I didn’t ask them to.”

“You didn’t have to.”

My mouth falls open, but before I can figure out what to say next, Jace chuckles and steps up beside me. “You earned it.”

“How?”

Jace shrugs. “Because you refused to leave us behind, even when it meant risking yourself. You cared about us despite everything we’ve done. That alone is more powerfulthan force.” Then he turns a smirk to Avery. “We’ve never had a leader like that before. Might even be more loyal to her than to you.”

Avery scoffs and shakes his head. “Watch it.”

Jace grins.

When the tension in the room settles, I glance down at my bare, aching feet. I spot a pair of boots near a guy who’s passed out, and I sneak over and snatch them up. They’re too big, but I don’t care. Shoes are shoes. After all, they took mine away, so it’s only fair.

After lacing them up, I take a few awkward steps and wobble. Avery, who’s been watching the whole time, speaks up. “You look ridiculous.”

I give him a playful scowl. “I look practical.”

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