We move on. A building with five floors comes into view, mostly intact. Doors hanging open, but it’s better than nothing. We clear it floor by floor until we reach the fourth. Empty offices. Dust, busted computers, and a few broken chairs.
It’ll do.
Dante kicks open one of the doors, and we pile in. He drags two busted tables to block the entrance while Max slumps onto the floor.
“Let me check your wound,” Dante orders, already pulling one of the chairs over.
Max huffs but obeys. Dante cleans it with water and tears part of his sleeve for a makeshift bandage. I unbuckle my belt and toss it over to help hold it in place.
Not as bad as Aspen’s was.
Max kneels and pulls a couple of tuna and bean cans from his bag, part of what we stashed at the farm. We came prepared this time, thank fuck. We’ll stay here ‘til nightfall. We need food. We need rest.
I drop my bag, pull out six apples and two bottles of water, and pass them around.
Dante sits, jaw tight, eyes sharp. He rolls his shoulder with a hiss.
“Bryn’s alive,” he mutters.
We nod. We already knew.
“Ryker told us. Aspen toldhim,” Max says, digging into the can with his knife.
Dante freezes. His face drains of color. That barely-there composure shatters.
“Aspenknew?”
“Easy, Dante. She didn’t know for long,” It comes out harder than I mean, but I don’t soften it. “Some guy came for her and told her. That’s what Ryker said.”
“Is she a prisoner?” Max asks, but his tone’s already bitter, like he knows the answer.
Dante shakes his head slowly. His jaw twitches. Rage simmering just under the skin.
“She’s the main reason this whole fucking mess happened. She helped Roman. She betrayed us. She knew Ethan’s plan and made a new one with Roman.” He cracks on the last part like it still burns to say it.
I clench my teeth. I knew it. Deep down, I fuckingknewit. I should’ve ended both of them the day we found them. Should’ve, but then there’s Aspen.
And no matter how much rage I’m choking on, I still see her face, still hear the way she said my name.
“That bitch,” Max growls.
Dante hardens. “She kept me alive just long enough to lure Aspen in. Once she surrendered, she knew you three would follow.”
“So what, she wanted Aspen just to get us?” I bark, shoving another spoonful of beans into mymouth.
Dante nods grimly. “She talked about this bullshit of protecting Aspen. Giving her a chance at a normal life. And that…” He swallows. “Aspen could have a normal relationship and maybe even get pregnant since she’s young enough for it.”
I go still.
“What thefuck?” I roar, slamming the can down so hard it cracks.
Max snaps his head toward him, eyes wide. “Normal relationship? With one man? And get pregnant? Out here? Withno medical help?”
He snarls; his face twisted in disbelief.
“Bryn’s fucking lost it,” Dante grits out. “Last thing she said was she’d use Aspen to sway the other men. Turn them against Roman.”
“So Aspen was her bargaining chip,” I say flatly.
