24. Grey

24

GREY

M y father's wrath is a taste on my tongue. The moment he steps into the room, I tense. Ten minutes ago, I might've put myself between him and Lexi—to protect her—but I can't bring myself to do it now. He doesn't acknowledge either of us as he stalks slowly around the other side of Dom's lifeless, broken body.

My father stares down at the carnage for a long beat. The blood has made a fucking mess; the carpet's beyond ruined. But I'm not sorry. I can't be. Not even if this brings Franco's full power down on my head.

The generals are quiet where they stand blocking the door. I have no idea if Lexi understands that's what they're doing. Nor if she realizes our lives are in their hands. I try to think of something to say, but I'm still reeling from Lexi's betrayal.

I can't think past it.

Past her.

Has she played me all along?

Pretended to care about me so she could destroy me in the end and keep her title for herself?

I don't know what's real anymore.

Or where to go from here.

Help would be nice, but I was too consumed with panic over Lexi to think about calling the others. Now, my phone lies useless at Rocco's feet. He notices me glancing at it and bends down to retrieve it, swiping to light up the screen that's full of notifications, undoubtedly from Dutch and the others asking where I went.

"Boss?" Rocco prompts. "You want me to call the kids in here?"

His gaze is still slightly unfocused thanks to the drugs we gave him, but he's not completely under the effects. Charlie and Alvaro both seem a little less steady. My father, on the other hand, appears completely sober.

"No." He looks up. Not at Rocco or even at me.

He's looking at Lexi, and the twist of his mouth tells me he's not going to let her just fade into the background on this one.

"What happened here?" he asks.

"Dom attacked—" I start.

"Not you," my father booms at me.

The alpha note to his voice should've closed my mouth against my will. Instead, I go silent by choice. Good to know his power doesn't affect me like it used to, but now's not the time to celebrate it. Or let him know.

"You," my father says, pointing to Lexi. "Explain this."

"Dom approached me at the funeral this morning. He asked to meet us here tonight. Said he wanted to talk about coming to work for us after Grey and I are married."

I stare at her, struck by how smoothly she just lied.

Has she always been that good at deception?

My father's eyes narrow. "Is that so? And what could possibly make Franco's second-in-command change his allegiances so easily after all his years of loyalty?"

"It was a trap," she admits quietly as if she's ashamed she didn't see that before.

My father eats it up. Anything that makes him feel like the smartest guy in the room. I'm a little in awe of Lexi's ability to manipulate him. Has she been doing the same to me? Wrapping me around her finger until I'm too lovestruck to notice?

"Of course it was a fucking trap," he snaps, laughing harshly. He looks at me. "I raised you smarter than this."

"Apparently not," I mutter. How much longer can I stand to stay in this room?

With her.

"And did you?" he presses, almost taunting. "Did you get anything important from this piece of shit before you ripped his throat out like he was some common street rat whose death wouldn't be noticed—or come without consequences? Please tell me you got something to make this stupid mistake worth it."

I don't let him see my reaction, but the fury that floods me is nearly as overwhelming as what I felt before my wolf ripped Dominic Albero to shreds. Because yes. I got something very fucking important. Beneath my skin, my beast surges—begging to be free.

For a wild second, I consider letting it loose.

The entire scene plays out in my mind. Just like with Dom, my father's surprise would cost him, and that would be all the opening I need to sink my teeth into his flesh and rip it from his bones.

We could be done with this fucked-up game once and for all.

But then the generals would tear me apart and the only one left standing when the dust settled would be Franco.

I can't let that happen.

Instead, I say, "Dom always thought Franco planned to name him alpha someday, and Lexi being part of Franco's bloodline threatened that future for him. He lured us here tonight so he could kill her. I did what I had to do to protect her."

Vincenzo glances at Lexi's arm, which she's cradling to her chest. He frowns. "What's wrong with your arm?"

She clears her throat. "I think it might be broken."

I ignore the twinge her words bring me. Her pain still affects me even now. That fact only pisses me off more.

"Albero did that?" my father asks.

"Yes," she says.

Vincenzo looks at Rocco. "Do a sweep of the entire building. Make sure this asshole didn't bring any friends."

"Got it, boss," Rocco says and slips out.

"Alvaro, check the security cameras. Verify their story."

After a quick nod, Alvaro leaves too.

Only Charlie remains. I don't look at him. I can't. Not after our conversation earlier. He'll either condemn my actions or condone them. Either way, our moment at the church doesn't make us allies—not for this.

"There'll be a massive shitstorm," Charlie tells my father.

"Should be considered an eye for an eye," he grumbles.

I stare at him, a little surprised, though I probably shouldn't be. He's right. Franco killed Anthony. We killed Dom. They were both generals. It should make us even. But it doesn't. We all know it doesn't.

The rule here is that Franco punishes, and we take it.

Now, I've broken that rule.

The consequence for that is death.

Even through the haze of Lexi's betrayal, I realize this is really fucking bad for me.

"Franco's not going to let this go," Charlie says when the silence stretches.

My father's expression is pinched. He's thinking. Spinning scenarios. I usually don't bother interrupting his ruminations, but tonight, several of those scenarios undoubtedly involve my death.

"What if he doesn't know?" I ask.

My father's head snaps up. He glares at me, but when he doesn't tell me I'm out of line, I press on.

"Franco has no idea Dom came here tonight," I say. "Dom kept it a secret, which means Franco won't be able to track him here. The only people who know Dom is dead or that I'm the one who killed him are in this building. We could keep it that way."

My father studies me. "Did you plan this?" he asks, and I'm too startled by the question to answer right away. "The party. Getting us all together, distracted, drunk."

My gut churns. He's so close to the truth, but I can't let it show on my face. "The party was for Anthony. He deserved to be honored."

"You didn't give a shit about Anthony so stop pretending you did. The only reason you're even here is to do your job with the asset."

Lexi flinches.

I tell myself to stop caring that he's insulting her.

"I did not plan this," I say through clenched teeth.

"But you knew you'd come here to meet Dom," he says.

"Yes."

"And you failed to mention that earlier this evening when you were watching us pour drinks down our throats."

"Yes."

"That's a direct violation of your pledge of loyalty to your alpha."

And there it is. I brace myself for sentencing. If he tries to beat me like he did at the lake house, my wolf won't let me pretend anymore. I'll have to fight him. Maybe all the generals too. And those drugs are already wearing off.

"You are no longer trustworthy when it comes to maintaining the security of the asset. Charlie, escort her to the estate and set her up in the guest apartment. Put double guards on her until I arrive."

I blink, blindsided by his mercy. "What?"

He looms over me, clearly misunderstanding my reaction. "I'm taking her, and I don't give a shit that she's your mate, so spare me your empty threats."

Lexi gasps.

My father steps back, snickers, mood changing in an instant. "There. Cat's out of the bag. Was that so hard?"

"Is that true?" Lexi asks me.

Her eyes are wide, and I can't tell if she's just upset that I didn't tell her or if the idea of being my mate is somehow disturbing.

"It was," I say flatly. She reels back like I've struck her. I turn to my father. "Take her wherever you want," I tell him. "I'm going to get cleaned up."

No one stops me as I shove past them and out into the hallway. I don't stop until I'm inside the bathroom two doors down. Even then, I do my best to shut out the weight of it all. I lean against the sink and let my head hang. Close my eyes. Try to breathe. All that matters is sorting out this mess tonight. I just have to get through this. I can deal with the rest later.

But when I open my eyes and look in the mirror—at the blood coating my chin. My throat. My hands. At the small gash along my arm—I know that Lexi's betrayal isn't something I can just wash off. It's not a cut I can bandage. The wound she inflicted on me is far too deep.