Page 83 of Blood that Burns

I nod. “What about Marcellus? Who’s transporting him?”

“Bash and I will take care of Marc.”

“Be gentle with him, Vzar. It’s because of him that the girls and I are safe.”

His brow lifts as his mouth tilts down.

“I need to go find Marina and Law,” I say. “Good luck.”

They all offer their well wishes and I’m just stepping onto the last step of the bus when Law comes barreling around the corner.

“Maggie.”

The blood drains from my face when I see him. His clothes are torn, and he looks disheveled. Blood runs from a cut at the corner of his eye, and the need to run to him overtakes me.

“What happened? You’re hurt.”

Law grunts. “I’d hardly call a small cut hurt, sunshine. You wound me if you think I’m that weak.”

“How did this happen?” I ask, ignoring his attempt at teasing.

This night has been the stuff of nightmares. My nerves are fraught and I’m two seconds away from breaking into tears. Tears of relief that Law and I both survived and so did the human girls. So far, the casualties have been zero, which is a damn miracle. Tears of sorrow for Marcellus and what’s to come for him and his brothers. And tears from exhaustion, brought on by the fear that coursed through me for so long tonight.

“Marcellus.”

My eyes meet his and my breath hitches at the sadness reflected at me.

“Is he—”

His head shakes. “No. He’s shackled into a car. They’re sedating him to transfer him back to Julian’s.”

I let out the breath I was holding.

“Okay.” I take another deep breath, looking around. “Where are Marina and Julian?”

Law’s arm snaps out and he grabs my arm, pulling me toward him. I’m caught off guard and wobble at the sudden move, but he places his other arm under my elbow and helps steady me.

“What was that about?”

His eyes shift around, not meeting mine. “I... well... I just think we should wait out here until they come to find us.”

My eyes narrow. There’s something he isn’t saying. He’s acting strange and dodgy, two surefire signs that he’s trying to keep me in the dark about something.

“What are you hiding?”

“Sunshine, I—”

“Don’t sunshine me, Lawrence,” I snap, cutting him off.

I’m growing more panicked by the second.

His eyes dart around, and he grabs hold of my elbow and ushers me off to the side, just out of earshot.

“Marc told me some things about who the traitor is working with.”

My eyebrows fly to my hairline. “Tell me everything.”

And he does. When he’s done, I stagger back, rocked to the core.