Chapter 68

CHAPTER 68

R ose was right about hating Herc. Serena hadn't been going any place, but he'd taken her out anyway. Made sure she couldn't talk to anybody. Something was wrong there. But first . . .

When he was gone, I went over to Rose and held out my hand.

She reached in her apron pocket and gave me the film.

"Why did he do that?" she said.

"Because he's a bloodthirsty bastard and she had something on him he didn't want to go public. This mess broke whatever détente they had. She'd have screwed him over in a heartbeat."

"I know she kidnapped my kid and deserved to die, but I still hate him," Rose said to me, holding onto Poppy, who was shaking now. "He thinks this ended well? How many people died tonight?"

"Not Poppy," I said. "Not Darius. Not you."

That was good enough for me.