Page 33 of Lessons In Grey

She looked from the jacket back to me, her eyes filling again. She pressed her lips together, swallowing, pulling my eyes to that beautiful neck of hers. Untouched by marks I would soon leave across her skin. “Okay,” she replied, her voice thick and cracking.

Fuck, I wanted to kill that man.

I crouched down in front of her and nodded, fighting the urge to reach out and touch her. “Rest your eyes, Snowflake, and remember that collapsing stars can be reborn,” I mumbled, my own falling to her beautiful pink lips. “I’ll be here when youawake.”

She hesitated only for a moment before finally nodding. She set her things to the side and carefully laid down, but not without wincing.

I moved over to the other side of the alcove and watched her until her breathing became even and her body relaxed. It took all of two minutes.

I waited five more before calling Malachi.

“Greyson!” he greeted, a smile clear in his voice. “We’ve just gotten into the air. Azrael and I are leaving Rome. Oh, the stories I have for you.”

His stories were always good ones. “I’m closing in on the drug trafficking ring,” I told him, watching as Emily’s chest expanded slowly. “Diamond is working for a man named Jyce. Stupid name,” I muttered. “Jyce.” I had already made the connection between Jyce and Diamond the day before I had confronted Emily about it, but I knew she wouldn’t have spoken to me if I had gone in as I usually did. I had seen the rage in her eyes last week when Remi had kissed me, and no string of deep words would have pulled her out of that, so I used the only other thing I had that would pique her interest. A mystery.

And it had worked until it hadn’t.

The last few days of silence had been difficult enough, dealing with trying to get rid of Remi had just made it worse. I didn’t need her anymore, what I needed was Emily. She was the only thing I needed. The only thing I wanted. The only thing I craved.

“Yes, it seems the more years we remain alive, the more ridiculous this world becomes. Good. Jyce, does he run the club?”

“No, he’s just a customer. A well-paying one.” I had been so lost in my own world that I had forgotten to contact Malachi about it. Well, now was as good a time as any, I supposed.

“Thank you for looking into it. Keep me posted. Azrael and I will be landing in the states soon, we hope to make a trip down at some point. Oh, but you should reconnect with Jeremy, he sayshe’s been trying to call but your phone just doesn’t seem to be working.”

I rolled my eyes. I was avoiding him. He wasn’t a part of The Family, but he was a part of Malachi’s men, who stretched far and wide. We had actually been friends for years, but he was…exhausting to say the least. I’d die for him, but I would also die because of him. “I’ll let you get back to it.”

“Keep me informed.”

I hung up, my eyes finding her once again as a thought filled my mind. Maybe Jeremy would be good for her. She needed more light in her life, and he was blinding.

10

Emily

September 22nd, 2021

Ijerked, inhaling sharply.

Rags leaned back on his heels, his hazel eyes steady, his wrists resting on his knees. “Five minutes.”

I had to force the panic out of my system as I slowly pushed myself to a sit. Fuck, everything hurt.

I fell back against the wall, the memories of the day slowly drifting back as I adjusted my hat and watched him pick up his jacket, now having a perfect imprint of my face.

Despite the irritation, I felt guilt too. I knew it was expensive. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled, picking at my fingers.

“Clothes can be washed,” he said, standing. He hardly spared it a glance as he folded it over his left arm, offering me his right hand, his expression welcoming, warm.

I studied it carefully. I still hadn’t dared look long enough at itto figure out what tattoos covered it. Covered either of them. I wondered how tightly he had held Remi with them.

God, what was wrong with me? I had made my decision, I shouldn’t even care what they did together. I was trying to protect him, so why did any of this make me so angry?

I ignored his hand and used the wall to help me up, my head spinning as I straightened. I closed my eyes, breathing through the dizziness. Shit. I needed some food or water or something.

“When was the last time you ate?” he asked.

I opened one eye and then the other, glaring at him. “You’re a mind-reader now?”