Page 177 of BounBound By Scars

“Likely clean-up,” Seb said. “Could be Romlinson. Someone’s tying off loose ends.”

I swallowed, but it scraped all the way down. My chest felt tight. Too tight.

Zane sat hunched over his laptop, eyes darting across the screen. Probably trying to substantiate what Seb and Kaylan had just said.

I kept my eyes on his laptop. It was easier than picturing Kabir bleeding out in an alley somewhere.

Alone.

I had asked Zane—why he left him there. I didn’t care that Kabir had insisted. I didn’t care what he said or what plan he had.

Zane should’ve made sure he got the medical help he needed.

Should’ve brought him back.

Suddenly, Zane tensed—his fingers digging into the sides of his laptop like it was the only thing tethering him to the room.

Leora noticed it too. “Zane?”

He didn’t respond.

His face had gone pale. Still. Terrified.

Then he started typing again—faster now. Frantic. Scanning. Clicking.

I was watching him fully now, no longer pretending to be detached.

Then he stopped moving.

Just… stared.

And when his breathing changed—sharper, shallower—I felt the ice spread through me.

“Is it Ronan?” I asked, voice barely holding together.

Zane slowly shook his head.

The world tipped on its axis when he spoke next.

“Kaylan, get behind Amelia,” he said suddenly, voice quiet but firm.

“What—” I turned, confused.

Zane didn’t look at me. “I planted a discreet camera across the Romano estate that night during the op,” he said, barely above a whisper.

I frowned. He hadn’t given me enough dots to connect, but his panic was bleeding into me now—slow and steady like poison.

He finally met my eyes. “I just watched Kabir enter the estate last night at twenty-one sixteen.”

My heart dropped.

“The mansion exploded at twenty-two thirty-four,” he said. “He never came out.”

I couldn’t breathe. Kaylan’s hand landed on my shoulder but I barely felt it.

Zane wasn’t done. He kept going—like the truth was something he had to rip out, piece by piece.

“The news just broke. Massive explosion. Romano’s mansion is gone. Dozens of casualties. Confirmed dead—Robert Romano, two Pentagon security officers, three high-level intel agents…”

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