Page 103 of Desecrated Saints
Theo goes next, his cheeks stained with tears as he presses a kiss to the coffin’s surface. He’s the most emotional of them all, but the hard set of his jaw betrays the angry torrent battering him from within.
“I’m fucking sorry, Lys.”
Hunter goes last, passing Theo in the aisle. His steps are hesitant and afraid, so unlike the powerful force to be reckoned with that he’s projected since day one. This is far more terrifying than any threat levelled against him or his team. After laying the rose, he stares down at the inscription.
“I didn’t keep you safe. I will never forgive myself for that. You paid the price for my stupidity.”
After several long seconds of contemplation, Hunter turns his back on her remains. His gaze is fixed on the cobbled stone of the church, unwilling to reveal his pain to anyone else. Enzo quickly pulls him into a crushing bear hug.
“It’s my fault,” Hunter croaks.
Enzo holds him tighter. “Stop it, Hunt. This isn’t on you.”
“We should’ve pulled her out. I was so desperate for answers, I put her at risk.”
“We made the decision together,” Theo speaks up, wiping his eyes. “Alyssa was her own person. She wanted the truth more than anything.”
Hunter scrubs his face. “No outcome is worth this. I jeopardised a member of the team. That’s on me.”
“Stop it,” Enzo demands. “Alyssa’s death isn’t on us. It’s those evil, corrupt bastards that have to pay.”
Taking several deep breaths, Hunter finally manages to look up, and our gazes collide. His picture-perfect, stubbly features are carved in agony. I swallow the lump in my throat, dropping his gaze.
We all know why Sadie is dead.
Our demons aren’t so different, after all.
“Fuck,” Theo stutters. “I can’t believe… this is goodbye. She… I… goddammit.”
Enzo tugs them both into a frantic hug, all three men huddling together. It’s heartbreaking to see them embracing each other, mourning the one missing person from their family together. I can’t imagine losing one of my guys and the pain it would bring. A piece of their souls will forever be missing.
“Go on,” Kade instructs us.
With a steadying breath, Seven squeezes past me. I follow him up to the awaiting coffin. He’s clinging to me so tight, I fear my bones will break. Miniature quakes rock his entire frame as he battles to keep his emotions under control.
We stop at the side of the coffin.
“I don’t know what to say,” he admits.
I wrap my arm around his firm bicep. “She’s still here, Sev. Say whatever you need to.”
“She can’t fucking hear us.”
“Just get it off your chest.”
Sighing, Seven releases my hand to trace his sister’s name with his finger. “I shouldn’t have said what I did in the warehouse. You’ll always be my family. Jude may be gone, but I can still be the person you thought I was.”
I hold his long-stemmed rose for him. With bleak eyes meeting mine, he nods once. I step closer and place the rose on the coffin, feeling the weight of the moment bear down on me. My friend is gone. She was the first one to be there for me, to see beyond the thick walls I put up.
Sadie was a good person.
Flawed, imperfect, but undeniably good.
“I hope we make you proud.” I swipe beneath my eyes with my coat sleeve. “Thank you for being a far better friend than I ever was. You deserved more than this.”
We barely make it back to our seats. The sombre mood feels suffocating. All I want is to escape and mourn in private, let my emotions overcome me where nobody can see. Some things need to be endured alone.
As we line up to file back outside, a shrill ringtone pierces the air. Looking surprised by the noise, Hunter stares down at his screen with a frown. When he answers, his low hiss of greeting would terrify most callers.
