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Hunter knows my brother. He’s one of the very few people who does. If he’s in doubt, then I’m not sure I should be confident of Cole’s i
“No. Ignore me. I’m questioning everything at the moment.”
“Me, too.”
“Especially Decker.” He shoots me a glance, then focuses toward the vacant corner of the room. “I can’t get over that lying little fuck.”
“He’s not enjoying this either. He doesn’t feel good about what he’s done, despite how moral it is.”
“There’s no place for morality around here. That’s not how things work.”
“And maybe that should change. This never would’ve happened otherwise.” I stare at my fingers clenched in my lap. “I need to fix it.”
There’s no other choice. I don’t think I can move forward with these atrocities hanging over my head.
“You need to think long and hard before you contemplate getting involved.”
“No, I don’t. My thoughts on this won’t change.” Maybe if I’d reported my uncle for his crimes when I was little, or taken it into my own hands long ago, this never would’ve happened. I could’ve stopped it all before it even started. “I won’t be a spectator in this life anymore. I don’t care if I die trying. I will make my father pay.”
He turns to me, his brows pulled tight, his eyes narrowed.
I hold my breath, waiting for him to tell me I’m an ignorant, whimsical fool. Instead, he slowly nods.
“It won’t be easy.”
“I know.”
He pushes from the mattress and holds out a hand. “We’re going to need a fucking brilliant plan.”
“And Sebastian needs to be involved.” I grasp his offering and push to my feet, waiting for his refusal. “Is that going to be a problem?”
“Yes.” His grip tightens around my fingers. His jaw ticks, too. A multitude of frustration flows off of him, making my heart tighten. “But I’ll do anything for Sarah. And right now, you both have the same goal in mind.”
“Will you promise not to hurt him?”
“Nope.” He doesn’t release my hand as he leads me to the door.
“Hunter, please. This is serious.”
“As serious as a grown man kicking me in the shin?”
I frown. “Excuse me?”
“Forget it.” He drags me out into the hall. “I promise to behave. For now. Is that good enough?”
I roll my eyes. “Do I have a choice?”
“Not at all.”
A derisive scoff leaves my lips. “Then I guess I’ll have to deal. Just as long as you realize I’ll take a bullet for that man if necessary.”
He winces, and I’m not sure if it’s in confusion or distaste. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come down to that.”
He guides me along the hall, the murmur of conversation drifting from the kitchen. I can hear them talking. About me. The whispers don’t stop until we reach the entry to the dining room to find them sitting opposite each other at the large wooden table, the space between them scattered with snacks.
I meet Sebastian’s gaze, his expression growing pained when he lowers his focus to my grip on Hunter’s hand.
“We need to talk.” I squeeze the fingers entwined with mine then let go.
“It looks like you two have already been doing that.” Sarah scowls. “Should we be thankful you’ve decided to include us?”
“Cut them a break.” Sebastian drags out the chair beside him and raises a brow, wordlessly offering me the seat. “The big guy was too scared to knock on the front door. We don’t want to frighten him away from a conversation.”
“Fu
I watch the exchange, unsure whether it’s friendly fire, or something more sinister. They both appear tolerant and calm despite the underlying tension.
“Are we even capable of discussing this in a civil ma
“This is civil.” Sebastian grabs a granola bar from the center of the table and pushes it toward me. “You need to eat.”
I grab the offering, my fingers deliberately sliding over his in a show of thanks before he moves his hand away.
“Start talking.” Sarah doesn’t quit scowling. “What have you two been scheming behind our backs?”
I raise an unimpressed brow as I break open the food wrapper and take a bite. “There wasn’t any scheming. All we discussed is how I need to make this right. I can’t let my father get away with what he’s done.”
“You?” Sarah drawls. “You mean us, right? What could you possibly do on your own? Well, apart from slapping your daddy on the wrist and telling him he’s been a naughty boy. But given his proclivities, I’m sure he’d enjoy the hell out of that.”
My throat clogs with a spike of fury. My pulse thumps. Everywhere. In my ears. My head. Behind my eyes. I clench my teeth and take a deep breath before I do something that will delay any possibility of fatherly vengeance. “Someone needs to shut her up before I do it myself.”
She laughs. “I’d like to see you try.”
“Sarah,” Sebastian warns. “Either leash your bitchiness or I’ll kick your ass out.”
“Her bitchiness?” It’s my turn for derision. “Is that what we’re calling her personality these days?”
“Both of you, put a sock in it.” Hunter’s voice is a mere grumble of authority. “We don’t have time to fuck around. At the moment, Cole thinks you two are hiding because you had the fuckers from the drive-by tailing you. But that bullshit story won’t hold for long.”
“I agree. I need to tell him what’s going on.” Bottling this news isn’t healthy. Being separated from my family isn’t helping either. “He needs to know the truth.”
“About your father?” Sarah asks.
I glare through a sharp nod.
“And where, exactly, will you tell him you got the information? How are you going to explain the knowledge without exposing Decker?”
My skin turns clammy. My brother finding out the identity of the informant isn’t my biggest issue. What I don’t want to face is the reality of Sebastian leaving me.
But that is the reality.
He’s no longer going to be a part of my life. He’s walking away. He already made his choice clear. “Sebastian isn’t sticking around. He’s—”
“Like hell I’m not,” he growls. “I’m not going anywhere if you’re putting yourself in danger.”
My heart stops, the missing beats consuming me.
Is that all I had to do to keep him close? Risk my safety?
I bottle a laugh in my tightening chest. I should’ve known.
“I’ll look after her.” Hunter crosses his arms over his chest. “You need to cut and run. As soon as Torian finds out, you’re dead. Or worse.”
“Who says he needs to find out anything?” Sarah counters. “We have to keep this to ourselves for now. How do we even know he’s not involved?”
“We know,” Hunter and I say in unison.
“Fine.” She huffs. “You have unwavering faith in his i
The truth in her words is a betraying punishment.
I don’t want her to be right. Yet she is.
“I agree,” Sebastian murmurs. “You’ve said it yourself, Keira, there’s different rules when it comes to dealing with family. If he learns the truth, it’s only going to make this situation more complicated. And your father will never be punished accordingly.”