Page 144 of Lessons In Grey

I took her phone and unlocked it, finding her most recent text on her screen. A blocked number.

Blocked:He did a number on you, didn’t he, mouse?

If you’re to stay in this world, you’ll need to

learn how to fight or hide. Tell brother dearest

that we’ve fought this one before.

There was that rage again. Bubbling and boiling, just like it did in all of us.

I pulled out my own phone and dialed his number. No answer. “Fuck,” I muttered and held out her phone.

“Who was it?” Ash asked.

I turned back to the tree and called Malachi.

He picked up on the second ring. “Is she alright?”

“He sent her a message. The eldest one. Did he contact you?”

There was a shuffling in the background. “No,” he said, hisvoice a little clearer. “What did he say?”

“We’ve fought him before. He knows who did it, Malachi,” I said in a hushed tone. “What game is he playing?”

Malachi was quiet a moment. “He wouldn’t let anyone hurt us, you know that.”

“If he fucking touches her, I don’t care where the loyalty lies, I’ll fucking kill him,” I seethed. “That is a promise.”

“You know him, we all do. He’s unstable, but he loves his family. He accepted Rae—”

“Don’t talk to me about Rae,” I snarled. I released a breath and shook my head. Rae didn’t deserve that, she has done nothing wrong. “Do you have any guesses who it could be. Anything?”

Malachi released a breath. “No. Arman is growing tired. I’m allowing him to sit in this horror for a few moments before I start again. I understand your position, and here is my suggestion. There is an apartment just below Emily’s. I’ve rented it out. Put whoever you want there, I suggest Jeremy, that way you have someone close if you need to leave.”

I sneered. “He’s untrained.”

“He and Matthew have made mistakes and they’ve both been reprimanded. You trust him, I know you do.”

I worked my jaw, mulling over the options. “I’ll give him a call, you keep pushing. Tell everyone to think over our old cases. We left someone dangerous alive, I need to know who.”

I hung up and called Jeremy.

“Greyson, thank God, I’m so—”

“I forgive you. You’re moving in, I’ll send you the details.” I hung up, running a hand through my hair. Fuck. Azrael and his fucking puzzles. Anything that happened to Emily after this would be his fault. That would never be forgiven.

I turned back to Emily, trying to force the rage from my shoulders. She was holding Sirius tightly, watching me carefully.

I walked up to her and kissed her head. “We’re getting close.”

Her eyes found mine. “You don’t have a name or anything.”

“My brother may be a certified psychopath, but he’s still my brother. A name doesn’t matter, not in this world.”

“Am I allowed to know what just happened?” Ash asked from the couch. “Does it have to do with what happened to her?”

Emily leaned down, kissing Sirius’s head. “Yeah,” she said, her voice still thick. “They’ve got a lead.” She turned back to me. “Is the bed clean?”