Page 24 of The Final Cut

Ever looks at Nash, his expression faintly accusing. It tells me what I need to know.

“You knew,” I say.

Nash does not move. “Yes.”

My chest goes tight in a way that makes the air feel too thin.

I turn to Ever. “But you didn’t.”

His jaw flexes. “I learned it tonight, same as you.”

His voice is rougher than usual. Anger lives beneath it, and none of it is aimed at me.

Shiloh’s hand closes around the back of the couch. “Same.”

That helps, the tiniest little smidge.

If they had all known, if every man in this room had walked me into that ballroom with another secret folded behind his teeth, I think something inside me might have gone quiet for good.

But Ever did not know. Shiloh did not know. Even if Nash did, they did not.

“And Deacon?” I ask. I already know the answer. How could he not have known, living there with Delia and Isabel all these years?

Nash’s eyes hold mine. “He knew.”

“Convenient that he’s at the hospital right now.”

“He should be at the hospital right now.”

“That’s not what I said.”

“I know.”

I laugh once. It has no humor in it. “You and Deacon knew my grandmother ordered me dead, and neither of you thought that was information I deserved before I stood in front of her wearing a mask and a pretty green dress?”

Shiloh’s gaze drops. Ever looks like he wants to put a fist through concrete.

Nash takes it without defense at first. That is the only reason I let him speak when he finally does.

“You had just learned Delia was alive,” he says. “You were carrying the house, the letters, Deacon, Cal’s lies, the assignment. Every answer opened another wound. We knew you could survive learning Mother Superior wanted you dead.”

His voice lowers. “I wasn’t sure you could survive learning she was blood.”

The reason is too human. I wanted cruelty. Strategy. Control. Something cold enough to hate cleanly.

This is fear.

“You don’t get to decide what might break me,” I say.

Nash’s eyes stay on mine. “I know.”

“No.” My voice shakes, and I let it. “You know now. You knew enough tonight to let me walk into that room ignorant. You knew enough to stand beside me while she smiled at me.”

“I did.”

“She called me a mistake.”

His face hardens.