Page 67 of Corrupted Union

“Yes,” Damyon continued. “I was a little surprised as well. Though, I shouldn’t have been. Young Stetson fits the mold perfectly—spoiled yet neglected—makes for a nasty combination.” He tsked. “But that is not why I’m here. It has come to my attention that the items I acquired from Mr. Donovan were not his to distribute. As I said before, I’m only in town briefly and have no interest in making enemies.” He dropped his chin in a gentlemanly nod. “Please accept today as a sincere token of my apologies.”

With the flick of his wrist, light and sound exploded outward. The effect was so intense, I had no choice but to clamp my eyes shut, cover my ears, and drop down to the ground in the hope of avoiding possible gunfire. The sensory assault didn’t last long, though the smoke filling the room lingered.

“Whatthe fuckwas that?” Oran’s words were almost inaudible over the ringing in my ears.

“A goddamn flash-bang?” I called back. “Who the hell walks around with that sort of thing in their pocket?”

Disoriented and choking on smoke, we searched the area, but Damyon and his men were gone. At first, I thought Flynn had escaped with him. Then I noticed a body on the ground. Caitlin’s brother lay in a pool of his own blood, his throat slashed wide open. The Russian had killed him before escaping. An apology?

What the fucking hell?

I ran toward the door, hoping our men stationed outside had managed to stop him. They didn’t. And worse, those we could see were gagged and bound.

“He must have had an army of his own men out here,” I thought aloud. We’d thought he was working alone, but it looked like we’d been wrong.

“Yeah, but he didn’t harm anyone except Flynn. What the fuck does it all mean?” Oran stood at my side, both of us baffled.

“No fucking clue.” I took out my phone, and my heart thudded to a stop. Rowan had texted only minutes earlier. Her ex was on his way over to talk, and she had no idea he was a sociopath.

“Fuck!” The ragged curse exploded from my smoke-ravaged throat. I took one lurching step before a pair of hands wrenched me backward.

“Where are you going?” Oran barked. “He could still be out there.”

I didn’t even think. My fist was deep in his solar plexus before I realized what I’d done. “Don’t fucking care. Rowan’s in trouble, and if you get in my way again, I’ll break your fucking jaw.”

This time, no one tried to stop me.

I waited downstairs for Stetson,pacing from one side of the living room to the other. Nerves spiked my blood with adrenaline. My ex might have been in the dark about his father’s activities, but that didn’t make our conversation any less intimidating. In fact, if Stetson had known, he might at least begin to understand my perspective. Instead, I would have to explain to the man I’d been dating for a year why I’d broken his heart for seemingly no reason at all.

At some point while wearing a path in the wood floors, I texted Keir to let him know what was happening. I wasn’t used to updating someone on my activities. Stetson and I had never had a relationship like that. But I knew Keir would want to know, and I enjoyed knowing it mattered to him. ThatImattered.

I’m so happy for you, Ro. You deserve joy in your life.

Ivy’s presence was a soothing balm to my nerves.

I stepped over to a mirror near the entry that I usually avoided and smiled softly at my reflection. Ivywashere with me. I’d always felt like my face reminded me of what I’d lost, but suddenly, I realized it was also a rare gift. My very DNA enabled me to keep her with me always.

I tilted my head down and studied the blond roots starting to show at my part. How would it feel to let it grow out? To let all the hurt and guilt and blame grow out until it no longer suited me, and I could start fresh with a new style. A new me.

That sounds awfully drawn out. Two-tone is so yesterday. How about we go to a hairdresser and just bleach it back to blond?

I snorted with a laugh.I’ll consider it.

The doorbell chime wrenched me out of my lighthearted thoughts, dunking me back in a vat of oily dread.

I expected the security guard out front to let Stetson inside. When that didn’t happen, I hurried to the door and opened it. Stetson stood on the other side, his face unusually solemn.

“Hey, come on in.” I stepped back to allow him room, then peered around the landing, surprised to find the security guard unexpectedly absent. Had he run an errand or been called away? I would have asked Mom, but she was on the third floor in the library doing whatever Mom did to keep busy.

I closed the door and led us into the living room. “Stetson, I’m so, so sorry about everything. I never wanted to hurt you.” I perched on the edge of a club chair, my hands clasped tightly together—partly out of worry and partly to keep my tattoo out of sight.

Stetson didn’t sit. He stood several feet away, his arms crossed with one hand rubbing his jaw. “You know, Rowan, that’s the thing. Your actions didn’t just hurt me. You made me look fuckingpatheticin front of the whole damn city.” The malicious glint in his eyes shocked me.

I shot to my feet. “If you’ll let me explain—” I had no idea how exactly I’d explain anything, but I never got the chance.

“Sit.Down.” His words were blades taking me out at the knees.

Something wasn’t right. I felt like a stranger stood in my living room. Weeks earlier, when I’d found Keir in the house, I hadn’t felt a lick of fear. I wasn’t sure if I’d changed that drastically since then or if an innate sense of intuition had kept the emotion at bay, but either way, this was different.

---