Chapter-65

As I laid back down, my thoughts raced. How could I face the monster that Lucien had shown me he was? I had survived the attack, but the fear remained, like a stubborn stain on my soul. I needed to find a way to get him to leave me alone for good.

I needed to be smart, to use my brains as a weapon.

I thought back to the night of the attack, to the words that had been exchanged. "Where's the fucking money, Marlowe?" he had snarled. Another puzzle piece I was missing. Had Torin taken the money? And if he did, how the hell had he gotten his hands on it?

I knew I had to get better, to get my strength back. I needed to face this situation head-on, and I couldn't do that lying in bed.

The following days were a blur of pain, both physical and emotional. Each breath I took was a reminder of the bullet that had pierced my side. Surgeon had patched me up as best as he could, but the healing process was slow. Tannin, Jess and Rook took turns caring for me, their eyes filled with a mix of concern and anger. Everyone was on high alert and two Raven’s were posted outside my front door at all times.

Late one night a sound woke me, but before I could scream, Torin appeared at my side, placing a hand over my mouth. My heart skipped a beat, seeing him alive, but the anger quickly took over. He looked at me with those piercing eyes, filled with a mix of regret and hope. I could feel his gaze on me, but I didn't say a word.

Finally assured I wasn’t going to alert the others, he removed his hand. "Marlowe," he started, his voice a gruff whisper, "I know you're mad, but let me explain."

I turned my head away, not ready to listen to his excuses yet.Finally with a sigh, I whispered, "What could you possibly say that justifies what you’ve done?" I spat, my voice laced with the bitterness that had been festering inside me since he’d appeared in my room a few days ago.

He let out a heavy sigh, his hand touching my cheek before I could flinch away. "I’m sorry I hurt you. But it was necessary."

I remained silent.

He shook his head, blowing out a breath, as, voice harsh, he stated, "I did what I had to."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, well, your had to, got me shot!" I couldn't keep the anger from seeping into my words.

Torin flinched, his face contorting with pain. "You think I wanted this? That I wanted to see you hurt?" His voice was raw, filled with the same emotion that was knotting in my stomach.

I squeezed my eyes shut. "You left me here to face the devil I never knew existed!"

He was quiet for a moment, then spoke in a low, intense tone, "I never meant for it to go down like this. I had a plan to draw my uncle out. To make him leave whatever stinking rat hole he'd hidden himself in and show his face. But I had to make everyone...." he peered at me closely, "everyone believe I was dead, to do it!"

I stared at him, then whispered, What the hell are you talking about? What, Uncle?"

He swallowed hard, his eyes never leaving mine. "Stephen Dinelli—Lucien's father—is my uncle!"

The revelation hit me like a second bullet. I sat up, ignoring the pain that shot through my side. "What? Lucien is your cousin?”

Torin nodded gravely. "Yes. I've been hunting my uncle down for years for murdering my parents. I thought I had him cornered. But he found out. He sent his goons to silence me, and I had to play dead to bait him out. I planned everything out. Except for one thing—you. I never dreamed they would come after you!"

His words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of his confession. I felt a storm of emotions brewing inside me—disbelief, anger, but most of all…fear. "What did you do, Torin?" I whispered, the color draining from my face.

He sat down on the edge of the bed, his hand hovering over the bandages that wrapped my torso. "I staged my own death. "But it seems by doing so, I put you on their radar."

My head was spinning with questions, but the pain was too intense to let me speak. I managed to croak out, "Did you steal the money?"

Torin peered at me, confused. “What money?”

I shook my head. “Never mind. What do we do now?”

Torin's jaw tightened, his eyes dark. "You? Nothing. Me? I'm gonna kill the bastards."

Before I could protest, he was climbing back through the window he’d came in through.