Chapter 191

"You’re here as a backup plan. We don’t need you for anything. If you die, it won’t make a difference," Cole gritted.

"And if I open my mouth, will it?"

His eyes rested on mine.

The pain in them was mixed with danger and destruction. His lips were pressed together, showing how little humor there was in having your life at stake.

My brain snapped.

"Torman, you said he didn’t work for Norman."

His smile was bitter.

"I did."

"Finish what you know," I demanded, my face turning into an iron mask.

He knew. He had an answer.

His ass settled into one of the distant chairs. The shadow of his face was outlined by part of the light.

"Angelo Wayne."

Each of us reacted to that name.

Including Emília.

Her body overheated.

"You know him?" I asked Gray, leaning in to assess his expression.

Shock. Fear. Countless doubts outlining his features.

"We never told you about him," I stated.

"You didn’t need to," she whispered, as if afraid the walls had ears. "He’s Daniel’s uncle. A close friend of my parents."

My spine shivered.

The air condensed, and I was breathing lead.

"Now I have a more obvious version to tell you," Torman declared. "Apparently, George betrayed Angelo."

"And what does that have to do with the spoiled brat?" Cole growled.

"Angelo wants Emília alive. George tried to interrupt his plan."

Why the hell would Angelo Wayne want her alive?

"If you know anything, you better speak up," Cole snarled at Emília, who was still in shock.

"I don’t know anything!" she yelled. "My parents didn’t want me involved in anything they did beyond the hospital."

"Does Angelo Wayne belong to Othello?" I asked.

"I knew my parents and he were very close due to some shared things from the past involving health. I don’t know if he had an important position at the hospital."

He didn’t, but he could’ve.

"Could this be some grudge between the Grays and Waynes?" Asher said aloud.

"It can’t be…" Emília murmured. "Our families got along fine. I get along with Daniel."

Of course, she did.

"But then, does this have anything to do with the Factory?" Cole asked.

Francis shrugged.

"Maybe yes. Maybe no."

"Jaxon," I said.

"I’ll check." Fish nodded.

"We know where some of his trade points are," I continued. "At one of the orphanages in the city center, there’s usually movement from traders. It’s not the main Section, but it’s Wayne’s territory. We’ll invade. We’ll leave a message for the bastard."

My hands burned on Gray’s skin. I curled my fingers, with no resistance in marking them on her.

They almost killed Emília.

They almost took her from me.

"We can’t do this. The war isn’t ours, Faulkner," Jaxon said passively.

"Wayne is a guy we’re hunting."

"But we can’t just invade one of his trade sites without understanding the specific reason why he wants Emília dead, hiring an amateur for it. Without even interrogating what she knows or doesn’t know about the Factory," Jaxon pointed out. "There are loose ends in this story, and we need more certainty."

The rage fueling my heart was wild. I had a minefield of bombs inside me, and at any moment, I would be evaporated by the very weapons I set up.

It was driving me crazy.

Since the day she had arrived terrified, completely vulnerable and shaken, I had been thinking about the moment when the sins of those who dared to dream of her death would haunt them.

Now I had a clue. I had something to follow.

And it was Angelo Wayne, a bastard who, besides being the next organizer of one of the new Factory Sections, was the uncle of that idiot Daniel.

I felt Emília’s touch on my hand.

I lifted my gaze, examining her.

"Do what she chooses."

The silence in the room was deafening.

"What? You’re the leader, damn it!" Cole yelled.

"And I’m giving orders for you to do whatever she says."

His big eyes climbed my face. I could see the doubts popping in his mind.

"I don’t want you to do anything without the truth," she declared. "You can rest assured."

The snap of Van Doren’s tongue was ironic.

But I knew what was coming next.

"And me?"

Emília didn’t hesitate.

"I want you to dirty yourself for me."

My heart raced.

Adrenaline ruled my system.

My thirst would be quenched, damn it.

The siren crushed the atmosphere, making us jump and move into action at the same time.

"What the hell? Did someone break in?" Asher asked, heading toward the entrance.

Rachel’s barking made us more alert.

Jaxon grabbed his phone, checking the security cameras.

"I updated our system so we wouldn’t have any more intrusions," he informed. "I’ll figure out what’s going on."

I opened the drawer to grab one of the bigger weapons.

This time, I wouldn’t let anyone leave here without looking at my face before dying.

"What the hell?!" I shouted.

"Well, actually, I think Gray should give us a better explanation."

Jaxon tossed the phone onto the table, the video showing a familiar figure walking through the forest.

"Daniel…" she whispered, confused.

"What’s he doing here?" I asked, just as confused as she was.

"I don’t know."

"We’re going to kill him." Cole was already getting into position, and I moved behind him.

Vance was already advancing.

"No! Please, no!" Gray begged, pulling at my arm.

"I’ll talk to him. I’ll find out what he’s doing here."

I examined her, seeing her terrified and sad face.

I sighed.

"Go. But if I see anything off, I’ll kill him, even in front of you, and I’ll make his head your pillow. Got it?"

She nodded, running out.

I sat down, asking Jaxon to connect the cameras to the room’s computer and let me hear how many times she would breathe in front of him.