Page 108 of Requiem
Rafe’s gaze sharpens. “And?”
“And,” Adela says, “if we’re right, we may be able to force Nolan and Alexei’s files into one branch without collapsing the archive. And, hopefully, deleting everything about Jude during the transfer.”
Silence drops over the table, but it’s careful. Because none of us wants to get our hopes up. This could very easily go wrong, and my best friend will spend the rest of his life in prison after enduring literal fucking hell. He doesn’t deserve that, and I’ll fight like hell to make sure that doesn’t happen. I’ll kidnap him and move to a different country, honestly.
He willnotdie in prison. I think Emma and Heather also feel the same. We would relocate to somewhere tropical where nobody knows who he is.
I glance toward Jude automatically, noting that he hasn’t moved, but something shifts behind his eyes.
Rafe seems to notice it too.
The look that passes between them lasts maybe half a second, but it’s enough for my stomach to tighten. There’s something there that they’ve discussed privately.
Jude gives the smallest nod.
Rafe leans back afterward, expression unreadable again.
And I know immediately that there’s a layer to tomorrow nobody else fully knows about yet. Emma notices the exchange, too. I can tell because her eyes darted between them briefly before looking back down at her plate, choosing not to ask.
Whatever it is, Jude looks steadier knowing it.
Adriana breaks the tension first, pushing her wineglass across the table. “So,” she says dryly, “what I’m hearing is that we either expose a criminal empire tomorrow…or die horribly.”
Heather points at her with her fork. “See, I’m not liking the catastrophizing. Not one bit.”
Adriana blinks once. “I think this situation has earned catastrophizing rights.”
A rough laugh escapes Jude unexpectedly, catching all of us off guard. He notices immediately, shaking his head once. “Sorry.”
“I don’t know how you’re laughing right now,” Emma says firmly. “I’m struggling to hold down this food right now.”
His eyes drift toward her then, and the entire room seems to fade around them for a moment.
I knowexactlywhat I’m looking at.
Jude’s in love with her in a way that finally outweighs his instinct to destroy himself. And maybe that’s what saved him. Or maybe it’s what’s making him so fucking dangerous now. Because when a demon has spent years with one foot in hell, nothing is more terrifying than having a reason to claw back out. I’ve watched the fucker kill people.Brutally. He has an anger at his core that is honestly terrifying.
Rafe clears his throat lightly, pulling everyone back to the present. “Tomorrow requires precision,” he says calmly. “No improvisation unlessabsolutelynecessary.”
Kieran rubs a hand down his face. “I still hate this plan.”
“You hate every plan,” Adela replies.
“Because most plans are terrible. And we escape because ofluck.”
“Comforting,” Heather mutters.
The conversation keeps moving after that, drifting between strategy and exhaustion and half-hearted attempts at humor, but underneath all of it, I can feel the pressure building. Because this might be the last normal dinner we ever get.
***
Heather slips her hand into mine while we help clean up the last few dishes. “You okay?” she asks quietly.
I glance toward the basement door automatically. Jude’s standing there with Emma, both of them half-shadowed beneath the dim light near the staircase. He’s listening while she says something quiet to him, his head lowered slightly toward her like she’s the only thing in the room.
“Yeah,” I answer. “Just thinking.”
Heather follows my line of sight, and her expression softens instantly.
