The White Lily

Chapter 14 **WARNING**

**WARNING BLOOD**

In the chaos, Sebastian lost Sylus. When we reported back to Enzo, he said everyone has made attempts to contact Sylus, but he is avoiding everyone. We knew.

I hid my gunshot wound from everyone. I didn't want them to worry. I head to the medical wing, trying to be sneaky.

Doc stood up from his desk and smiled when he saw me. "Winter, what brings you here?"

I peeled off my vest and outer layers, keeping my tank top on as I showed him my shoulder. It was red and oozing, since I didn't take care of it like I should have in the moment. "I was shot."

Doc's eyes went wide as he rushed over, dragging me to an open chair, forcing me to sit.

Without another word, he began extracting the bullet. I clenched my teeth so hard, I thought they would shatter. The bullet fell to the floor, the sound echoing in the silence. Blood seeped from teh opening, and I bit back a cry and looked up to see Roman standing in the doorway, frowning.

As Doc worked, Roman walked up to me. "Why didn't you tell me you were shot?"

I grunted as Doc cleaned out the wound, the antiseptic stinging like fire. "I didn't want anyone to worry."

Roman sighed and pulled up a chair across from me. He watched as Doc patched me up. "Wanna talk about what happened back there? I know you were about to disobey a direct order from me. You weren't going to kill the target."

I sighed and grunted as Doc continued to fuss over the open wound. "He knew things about the League that even I didn't know. I just wanted answers."

"About their reach into TF? We have specialists looking into it now."

"We can't trust anyone, Roman," I hissed as Doc threaded a needle through my skin.

Roman raised his eyebrows. "What about me? Your Lieutenant. Your..." He trailed off, glancing at Doc, who was busy stitching the bullet hole closed.

I knew what he meant. I sighed as Doc tied off the stitch and gently wiped any blood from my shoulder. It stained my white tank top. "I trust you."

Roman nodded. "We will find that bastard. He won't leave Europe."

I nodded too. I needed to know why Sylus was there in that warehouse with Aaron.

***********

I paced my room, the walls feeling closer than they ever had before. The necklace, a small but constant reminder of Roman, lay buried in my sock drawer, safely tucked away from prying ears. I didn't want him listening to the turmoil boiling beneath my skin. Not tonight.

The events of the mission replayed in my mind like a broken record. Aaron's lifeless eyes, the missed opportunity, the cold command in Roman's voice when he'd ordered me to pull the trigger. My fingers twitched, still remembering the weight of the gun and the instant when everything had gone wrong. I had wanted answers--needed them--and Roman had snatched them away in a heartbeat. All because he had to follow orders like a good little dog.

I threw myself onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling, but my mind was far from quiet. Aaron had been our only clear link to the Elders and Sylus, the last thread connected us to the figures pulling the strings behind the League and TF. Now the thread of fate was severed, and we were back to square one.

I clenched my jaw, the anger bubbling up again, threatening to swallow me whole. I wanted to confront him, to demand answers, but I knew it would be a waste of breath. Roman would never admit he'd made a mistake. And maybe that was the problem.