Page 18 of Fractured Reign (Gravestone Elite 3)

“You’ve got to eat something,” Sasha says quietly as the others dig into their meals.

“I can’t. Not yet. Are there any updates on him?” I ask, my questioning shattering the atmosphere.

“Mia, maybe this isn’t—"

My eyes lock on Bexley. “I need to know.”

“Nothing,” Channing says. “There’s been no sign of him.”

“Has Ashton—"

“Ashton doesn’t know anything.”

“I don’t believe him,” I grit out, feeling my loose threads of control slip. “He’s Cade’s best friend. He must know something. Anything that will—"

“He doesn’t.” Ashton steps into the room, taking the air with him.

“What the fuck?” Bexley barks. “I thought we told you to stay away.”

“I have as much right to be here as anyone. Kingsley didn’t only screw over the—"

I’m out of my seat before I know what I’m doing. Ashton doesn’t stop me as I hurl myself toward him with a knife poised in my hand.

“Oh no, you don’t.” Bexley shoots up and grabs me, hauling me back into his chest.

“Let me go,” I yell, my eyes fixed on Ashton as he watches me.

“You should let her come at me, Easton,” he says, coolly. “She deserves her pound of flesh.” Regret swarms his eyes, which is when I notice one of them is black and blue as if someone hit him, and I laugh bitterly.

“Don’t tell me you actually feel sorry for me?”

“I swear to God, Mia, I had no idea he was planning that.”

“You knew everything—"

“Not this.” He runs a hand down his bruised face, letting out a small breath. “I might be a sick bastard, but I didn’t think… Kingsley betrayed me, too. And for what it’s worth, I am sorry—"

“Don’t! Don’t you dare apologize to me.” I struggle against Bexley’s vise-like hold on me. Channing has moved to our side, no doubt ready to intervene if I somehow manage to break free.

“I-I can’t be here,” I blurt out. “Let me go, I need to go. I need—"

Bexley lifts me into his arms and stalks out of the kitchen with me.

“Put me down,” I demand, but he doesn’t let up. “Bexley, for the love of God.” I slam my palms into his chest. “Put. Me. Down.”

When he finally lowers me to the ground, I realize why he can’t talk. His jaw is clenched so tightly he looks ready to crack enamel.

“Bexley?” I whisper.

“Just give me a second,” he grits out, “before I go back in there and kill him.”

6

Bexley

Istare at Mia's terrified, exhausted eyes and allow them to ground me, to calm me, to stop me from walking straight back into the kitchen and ripping that motherfucker’s head off.

I told him to stay the fuck away. None of us want him here. Mia doesn't need him here, yet he ignored me like the stupid fucking cunt that he is.

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