“I assume so.” I hear her burning cigarette paper. “Benefit from the quiet whereas it lasts, Archer.” She lowers to a whisper. “It’s about to get very loud…”

I drop the telephone to the bottom and smash it beneath my heel.

Chapter 21

Lilah

I cease on the entrance porch.

Wind chills my pores and skin. Bugs buzz round me. Water slaps in opposition to the dock throughout the garden. It’s the identical because it all the time is out right here however the within the home gained’t be the identical ever once more.

My ankles fuse to the wooden beneath me, refusing to take one other step.

Dante pauses as properly, his legs simply as stiff and chilly as mine are, and we stand collectively within the darkness.

Lucy opens the entrance door, her eyes broad with fear as she research our wounded faces. “What occurred?” she asks.

Dante inhales however the air slips proper again out.

She seems to be behind us, rising extra terrified. “The place’s Elijah?”

The sob strikes me down and I drop to my knees. My arms break my fall, however I battle to carry myself up as tears spill onto my blood-soaked fingers.

Whispering voices fade out and in above me. I can’t make out the phrases via my very own gasping breaths however no matter they’re, they make Lucy stroll again inside.

Dante lowers himself down to sit down beside me. His arms wrap round my waist and he pulls me in, holding me in opposition to his chest with unyielding energy.

“I’ve received you, little sister,” he says. “I’ve received you.”

Chapter 22

Lilah

Then

I killed a person.

Put a gun in opposition to his head. Pulled the set off, now he’s useless.

It’s not how it’s within the films. There was no crescendo of music. No dramatic break of rigidity. Just some kilos of stress, a little bit of recoil, after which… he was on the bottom.

“Good job, child lady. Tomorrow, we’ll get you tatted-up!”

As a lot as I hated Mercer calling me child lady (and the truth that he stated it along with his hand firmly planted on my ass), I actually really feel like I did job. I killed a person and acquired reward for it. Some anonymous man I by no means noticed earlier than. I killed him… and it felt good. I felt highly effective. I felt essential.

I protected my household. Even Gramps can be proud, proper?

“Hey.”

I flinch beneath the steaming bathe head. “Dammit, Eli…” I say with an aggravated gasp.

He chuckles from behind the scenes. “Did I scare you?” he asks.

I flip the water off and wipe it from my eyes earlier than extending my arm via the curtain for my towel hanging simply out of attain.

“Just a little,” I reply.

Elijah places the towel in my hand. I unfold it and look down at my naked, ink-less chest. Tomorrow, I’ll have a cobra tattoo. Identical to Dante’s.

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