NO WAY BACK.

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Chapter 65 – No Way Back

Zane had faced a lot of things.

But not this.

Not the way Vincent's back was turned to him. Not the way his footsteps were measured, controlled, like he was forcing himself not to look back.

Like he was done.

Zane exhaled sharply, moving faster, falling into step beside him. "Vincent—"

"Don't."

One word.

Quiet. Lethal.

Zane clenched his jaw. "You're really just going to shut me out?"

Vincent let out a cold laugh, but there was no humor in it. "Oh, I'm sorry—were we supposed to have a heart-to-heart about how you've been lying to me since the beginning?"

Zane tensed. "It wasn't—"

Vincent stopped walking.

Turned to face him.

Finally.

But Zane almost wished he hadn't.

Because the look in Vincent's eyes—pure, burning betrayal—was worse than if he'd never looked at him again.

"Tell me something, Zane." Vincent's voice was low, steady. Deadly. "When were you going to say something? Before or after Jasper put another bullet in you?"

Zane swallowed. "I was handling it."

Vincent's lips curled in something that wasn't quite a smirk. Wasn't quite anything. "Right. Just like you 'handled' the fact that you worked for Lancaster?"

Zane inhaled sharply. "It wasn't like that."

"Then tell me what it was like."

Zane hesitated.

Because how did he explain it?

How did he tell Vincent that this wasn't about loyalty—it was about survival?

That Lancaster had never been an option. That he'd had two choices: obey, or lose everything.

That even now, Lancaster still had a noose around his throat, waiting for the perfect moment to tighten it.

But Vincent—

Vincent wouldn't see it that way.

He'd see the lie. The choice Zane hadn't made.

And that?

That was the problem.

Zane exhaled, fingers twitching at his sides. "I didn't betray you."

Vincent's expression didn't change. "You just didn't tell me the truth."

Silence.

Zane's chest ached.

Because this?

This was worse than Vincent yelling. Worse than him pulling his knife, worse than him storming off and cursing his name.

This was acceptance.

Vincent wasn't fighting him.

He was just—letting go.

Zane felt something twist deep inside him.

Because he could fix this.

He could try.

He just didn't know if Vincent would let him.

And for the first time—

He wasn't sure if Vincent should.

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