brutal

Chapter 40

REID

There's a blistering pain all over my body, specifically in my ribs where one of the men I shot at managed a jab or two. But I'd imagine that whatever I felt compared to my sister was only a drop in the ocean, and that was enough to numb the complaints in me.

I rubbed my hands together back and forth as I waited a hallway away from the emergency room where Verena was undergoing operation. Kai was with me earlier, probably out of respect or some bullshit he was thinking he owed me, but left anyway when his phone rang.

The past few hours have definitely been one hell of a ride. And while I would say that I couldn't expect Deimos suddenly needing my help, what took me by surprise was how easily I agreed and followed him all the way here.

It was all for Verena, I kept telling myself. But I wondered if maybe some part of it was for old time's sake with the man I used to call my best friend.

Ugh. Sappy shit. Nevermind that; I would kill the bastard if my sister wouldn't kill me for it first.

A few minutes, Kai returned with clear exhaustion in his stance. In my periphery, I saw him hesitate for a moment before he cautiously approached and stopped in front of me.

"Once she's stable, I'll fly her out to New York so that my uncle can take care of her instead. She'll receive the best treatment and be safer there."

I kept my eyes on the floor as I cracked my knuckles. The cuts on my hands were screaming at me to get them treated, but I couldn't care any less.

My voice was low when I spoke, "My sister wouldn't be here if it weren't for you, Deimos."

Step-sister, I heard Verena's voice correct me in my head. I shut it out a second later. When she wakes up, then she can call me out.

Kai fell silent for a moment, and I looked up to see the guilt in his eyes. It would have been more amusing should I have seen just how whipped Kai was over Verena, but now it was only an insult. It wasn't supposed to offend me as much as it did now.

"I know," he murmured. "You don't think it's killing me that this is all my fault?"

"Then why the hell did you let her go in the first place?" I said as I stood and went toe-to-toe with him.

He was only a few centimeters taller than me. We used to joke about it before, how him having the advantage meant he was better. But now, he seemed like anything but. I'd never seen him shrink in the same way he was now.

I had to give it to him. Kai Deimos was an honest man. Fucker really was guilty.

Doesn't mean he earned my forgiveness.

"Because I trust her. I trust in her. You should've seen your sister, Reid. You and your family underestimate her too much."

"I think I treat my little sister just fine. And you don't know shit about my family, Deimos."

"Right. I don't because you pulled away the second I started questioning the secrets you were hiding. How the hell could you hide her away for so long? Why would you do that?"

"Same reason you hide Emma in that fort of yours." Kai merely blinked, the only indication he was taken aback. "Yeah. I know about your secrets, too."