Page 92 of Marks of Rebellion

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He doesn't understand. It's for his protection that I don't tell him. What I know isn't meant to be shared.

I cup his cheeks. "Listen to me. I'll do anything for you. But ask me something else besides that."

His face hardens under my fingers. "I can't. And it's not an ask. It's a requirement, Flower. I can't do this if you aren't going to let me in so I know how to protect you."

"Please don't do this," I whisper.

"You have to tell me everything," he insists.

Shaking, I rise, tears falling down my cheeks. "I'm sorry, but I can't."

16

Hunter

Time passes,but it doesn't make the anger or frustration die.

She doesn't trust me enough to tell me.

Ryker comes out, hands me a beer, and sits. "Are you going to stay out here all night?"

I grunt. "Might just do that."

"What's going on?"

"I can't stay in the dark any longer. If Vanessa doesn't tell me what happened, I can't protect her."

"She just needs some more time."

I swallow a sip of beer but barely taste it. "No. She's never going to disclose it."

"I don't think that is true."

I mutter, "Easy for you to say."

"What does that mean?" he snaps.

"Julieta told you her secrets."

"No, she didn't. She only told me a few things."

"That's more than I got." I take another swig of beer.

What a shitshow of a day.

My anger flares, and I decide to redirect it. "Was Julieta running drugs?"

Ryker's head jerks back. "What? No!"

"What about the border crossing?"

"That's part of her personal business."

I snort. "That's a convenient answer."

Ryker scowls. "You're such a dick sometimes."

"At least I'm not being fooled."

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