Page 50 of Damaged & Deadly

“He killed Evie,” he mutters in a voice so low that if I wasn’t standing right behind Sawyer, I wouldn’t hear him.

“You don’t—”

He shakes his head. “I do. He told me so… right before I…” He shrugs, looking at his hands as though he’s only realizing now that they are covered in dried blood.

The silence that follows his words is deafening. None of us seem to know what to say or do, everyone watching the moment that’s transpiring between Cain and Sawyer. I just hope she can keep a lid on his pain and anger. I really don’t want to have to fight him tonight. He looks like he’s been through enough and I know it’s not a fight I'd come out of unscathed. I seriously don’t need to deal with bruised ribs and a black eye while trying to stay under the radar and out of Giovanni’s hands.

Uncaring of the blood splattered up his neck and across his face, Sawyer cups his cheek, stepping closer to him. “Cain, I’m not so sure that he did. I… we… we found Evie.”

Chapter 20

Confusion swirls in Cain’s green eyes before a hardness enters them. “What the fuck did you just say?” There’s a sharp edge to his tone, warning me to tread carefully, but I’m not afraid of his anger.

“Santos had her. He’s been…” I shake my head, unsure of how to explain it so that it won’t send Cain over the edge. “She’s been locked up all this time. Luc showed us where she was being kept, and we got her out. She’s with Marcus and the kids.”

He just stares at me with that look of confusion and anger, and I can tell he’s not actually seeing me. He’s too lost in his head, trying to make sense of what I’m saying and connect it with whatever bullshit Santos told him.

Dropping my gaze, I take in the blood crusted over his hands and arms, noticing his knuckles are split on one hand. “I take it Santos is dead?” I ask softly.

“Yeah.” The word is barely more than a grunt.

“Good.” I lift my gaze to meet his. “It wasn’t nearly a painful enough ending for him, but at least he’s gone.”

He just nods. “It was really her?” His voice is tinged with astonished hope, like he doesn’t dare believe what I’m saying is the truth.

I smile up at him. “It’s her. She said her name was Evie, and she’s got your black hair and green eyes. It’s her, Cain.”

“Where is Marcus taking her?”

“I’m not sure.”

Stepping away, he uses his Bluetooth headset to talk to Marcus. “You have her?” he asks when Marcus answers, his voice breaking over the words.

His eyes close when Marcus responds to him, no doubt hiding the tears and the overwhelming amount of emotion he must be feeling and doesn’t want the others to witness.

“She’s my sister. Take her to the house.”

When he turns back around, he shares an intense, emotion-fueled look with Oliver, who also looks like he can’t believe the turn of events. However, unlike the happiness and awe shining in Cain’s eyes, Oliver looks slightly ashen over the news.

I remember him telling me that he thought he was in love with Evie when they were kids. Is that the reason why he looks like he’s seen a ghost? Does he still have feelings for her? Or is he worried that hewon’thave feelings for her anymore?

Unease makes my stomach flip-flop, and it only worsens when Oliver doesn’t meet my eyes.

“Let’s go,” Cain barks out, already starting down the tunnel. “I wanna get to the house ASAP.”

I hesitate, glancing at Dante and Enzo. Given the fact that Giovanni is out there somewhere, most likely plotting our demise, I don’t want us to separate. Although, neither man seems keen to follow Cain. “They have to come with us,” I call out, causing Cain to stop and turn around, a look of thunder on his face. “They don’t have anywhere else to go,” I remind him.

“Not a fucking chance, Red!”

“Giovanni knows they aren’t loyal to him anymore. He’ll have people out looking for them.”

Cain grinds his teeth. “Not my fucking problem.”

“Cain.” I try to keep my voice soothing, but I’m exhausted and sick of their bickering.

“No,” he snaps before I can continue. “They aren’t coming. I won’t have them at the house with Evie there, and there’s no way they’re going to the clubhouse.”

Looking into his steely eyes, I can tell there’s no point arguing with him. And even though I’m concerned for Dante and Enzo, I can understand where Cain is coming from. We have no idea what hell Evie has been through, and the last thing we want to do is overwhelm or trigger her.

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