“When you have no one left,” Emilia says quietly, “what else was he supposed to do?”
Phantom’s jaw flexes. “He could andshouldhave called me.”
I throw my hands up and let them fall to my sides, exhausted and angry and terrified all at once. “Tell me where he is and we can both ask him why he picked me over you.”
Silence stretches over the entire room.
Then Willow speaks, voice razor-calm. “It sounds like he is in too deep and doesn’t think he’ll make it out alive if your father gets what he wants.”
My chest caves inward.
“I know Shawn didn’t,” I whisper. “Micah is in the same danger. It’s why I recorded almost all of what went down tonight and sent the video evidence off to a detective back in New Orleans.”
“Good. Can I get a copy of that?” Phantom takes his phone out. Lucky for me, mine is still in the inside pocket of his coat that I still have on.
He gives his number and I shoot him a copy. “I don’t think I got any of you in it, but if I did, sorry. That was not my intention.”
“No worries,” Reaper answers. “Our tech can erase anything.”
My brows go up. “But I already sent it to the detective, remember?”
Storm’s smile is full of mischief when he answers, “He can erase that too, if need be.”
Oh.
Emilia’s gaze softens when it reaches mine. She stands with Storm near the tree in the corner with an arm around her like he’s anchoring her to the world. The lights on the tree glow against their faces and make them look like they live safely within their bubble of love.
“He’s a real piece of work, huh?” Emilia says. “Your dad, I mean.”
I let out a humorless breath. “He’s a power-hungry real estate mogul who wants to stick his fingers into every single money jarthere is in the south and work out from there. And he’s done a pretty good job of it.”
Phantom’s gaze stays locked on me as he says, “Why would your name be in the book alongside his?”
He’s not accusing me. I know it, but the sting is real all the same.
My stomach drops. “By blood, no association. Believe me, my father did not put my name in that book. He put me on his hit list if he ever finds me. Now that is true.” I take a step closer, refusing to let the fear gripping my chest keep me quiet. “But am I a part of the Euphoria problem? No.”
Phantom studies me, and I see something in him shift.
The second he chooses to believe me, every muscle in my body relaxes.
That same love that flickered deep in his gaze at Chloe’s shines through even now, and it makes me furious because it means I could hurt him again if I’m not careful.
I lift a shoulder in a tight shrug. “That book helps you, not me. Right now I am worried if he left my brother breathing. We all wear masks. Mine is one of a worried mother and sibling.” My voice shakes on the last word. “My father’s wealth and ambitions know no limits. He will end anyone who gets in his way. He thinks our blood is blue and all Devereaux are untouchable. Except by his hand. That's why I need to find my brother.”
Phantom steps closer, voice dropping into that low rasp that always made my body betray me.
“Is that why you ran from me?” he asks in a deceptively low tone. “Because you couldn’t fathom being linked to a Savage who he saw as beneath your station for his billionaire princess?”
I stumble back as if slapped.
He stares at me with his jaw tight and his eyes blazing with a renewed fury at me.
“How dare you say that?” I force myself not to shake.
“That’s unfair, Phantom,” Charli snaps in my defence.
She moves to my side and hands me a steaming mug of coffee like warmth can fix this.
