Page 112 of Ace of All Hearts

Kay snorts. “If she’s here, she’s not innocent.”

My teeth grinding together force my jaw to clench. “I knew it was a bad idea to bring Rach here. The Kings only help themselves.”

Kay is the eldest child in the King’s family. They only have two, really. Kayla and Caden. She’s the brains behind their whole circle and the reason the North Shore Crew, our entire gang, went to shit and lost protection from more prominent organizations.

“Why don’t we kill her?” I suggest. “She can’t stop us then.”

“Please do. And let’s see how you get out of King’s territory after that.”

“Fuck you,” I rage, taking a step forward and ready to grab her. Sam grips my t-shirt, pulling me back.

“Kay,” he interjects. “After everything you’ve done. You owe me. Let Sean take care of our girl. She’s unwell.”

“I don’t owe you shit,” she hisses. “I protected my family and would do it all over again if I had to.”

Sam nods, silent as ever. He runs his knuckles against his jaw while he thinks. Finally, he smiles. “Help her. And I might convince him not to come for you when he gets out.”

I know exactly who he means by ‘him’, but I also know he won’t be more apparent than that in front of Rose. Kay knows who he means too.

Her body stiffens, and I can see it takes all she has not to take a step back. “He’s never getting out,” she counters.

“You know him better than that,” Sam chuckles. “You know he’s capable of anything.”

Her eyes dart to Rachel, and I know we’ve got her.

“I never want him to step a foot into the North Shore,” she says.

“And I’ll tell him that as soon as Sean has looked at Rachel.”

Kay nods and turns to Sean. “Be quick.” That’s all she says before she leaves us.

“She’s going to be waiting outside with half her crew,” I warn Sam as soon as she’s gone.

Sean settles on a stool in front of Rachel. Rose still doesn’t let go of her hand.

“We’re dead as soon as we step out of this house,” I insist.

“Let them try,” Sam growls back.

And surprisingly, no one is out there when we leave so his threats must have worked.

* * *

Back at the cabin, Rose helps Rachel settle into bed. She’s been completely quiet since the moment she left her Stoneview mansion.

“We’ll get you a glass of water,” Rose murmurs to her. “Then a shower will do you good.”

Rachel simply nods, but her eyes are glassy, her mind not with us. Sam stayed downstairs, on the phone with Xi.

I sense Rose’s hesitation, not wanting to leave Rachel alone. I could go get the water myself, but I’ve watched Rose’s field of vision narrow to Rachel only for the last few hours. She hasn’t looked away, hasn’t separated. She needs to step away for a minute at least.

“You go,” I tell her. “Get water for yourself as well. You’re probably dehydrated.” She nods but doesn’t move.

“Princess,” I nudge her. “I’m staying in the room.” But her eyes don’t leave Rachel, and her hand doesn’t let go.

I put my two hands on her shoulders and gently haul her away. “Do me a favor and put some ice on your face,” I insist. “Go on.”

She finally turns to me, and I bring my thumb to her cheek. She winces when I graze it. It’s swollen and darkened since we left Rachel’s house.

---