Page 66 of Bullets and Blood
And he’d hated himself for telling her those truths even as he was unable to stop.She dug deeper into his past and brushes with the law as well as every death he’d caused.It was one thing for his mother to know he resented her for turning him and that he hated killing for her, but another to tell someone outside the family.
He blinked, suddenly released.His hand shook as he drank his now cold tea.Had his answers been good enough?He waited for Garrick to do something.For something to be said.
Ann poured herself another cup of tea and considered him.“Taking you in is a risk.”
This was it.He was going to be cast out into no man’s land for the Orlans to hunt.He’d rather have Ann end him.
“I know,” he said softly.“I just want a chance to be someone else.”
“No one can be anyone else.But everyone deserves a second chance.”She lifted a finger.“One second chance.”
Nix frowned.
Ann pushed the laptop toward him.“You may let Zinnia know you are alive.You will give me access to your family site.You will follow every rule you are given.”
“And Lance?”
“I will speak with him when he has come back to himself.But he is mine now.”
Nix clenched his jaw.Lance was his…maybe.
He logged in and went straight to the chat.Zinnia had finally checked in.“She’s on her way.”
“Tell her to come here.”
Garrick stepped closer to watch what Nix typed.
For a moment, Nix didn’t write anything.“I don’t know where here is.”
Ann gave him an address in Serpentine—he didn’t even know where the suburb was, but he typed it in and added, ‘The Reids are waiting, and I no longer have access.’He glanced at Garrick for approval.
“Tell her you’re alive and unharmed.We aren’t monsters.”Garrick smiled, but the implication was there; the remaining Hadleys were the monsters.
He rewrote the message.‘I’m alive and safe.The Reids are expecting you.’
Garrick nodded, and Nix pressed send.Then, he copied the link into a new document and added his password.“Will that suffice?”
Garrick tested the password and gave Ann his nod of approval.
She smiled.“My niece will be here tomorrow to do the ink and make it official, but I want your loyalty today.”She pointed to the floor next to her.“Or Garrick will escort you out of my territory.”
He hadn’t expected this today.He’d thought he’d get a chance to talk to Lance first and firm up their plan and their future.He should’ve known better.Slowly, he got up and moved around the table before dropping smoothly to his knees.“What do you want me to say?”
“Nothing.Loyalty isn’t made of words but actions.”She offered her wrist.
Biting a lover was a completely different thing from biting a matriarch.He glanced up at her.If he did that, he was cutting ties with Hadley blood for good.Zinnia would know before she saw the tattoo.“If Zinnia comes here?—”
“Then I will deal with her separately, as is proper.You have no rank and no power here, Hadley.You exist because I allow it.Drink…unless you have changed your mind.”
Nix took her hand and kissed the red heart inked on her wrist.He drew in a breath.Then, he sealed his fate with a taste of her blood.
Garrick uncrossed his arms and offered his hand to help Nix up.“Brother.”
Nix shook it, unsure if Garrick was friend or foe or just his keeper.But he’d heard everything Nix had confessed to Ann.If she’d heard anything troubling, he was sure Garrick would’ve ended him.
Without the secrets the weight had eased.The hatred that had existed for himself and the life he’d been leading was no longer something he had to drag around and keep hidden.
“I’ll show him around.”Garrick led Nix outside, away from Lance, when he should be up there listening.
