Celeste only ruminates on that briefly before deciding to let it go. She’s strategic, so she is no doubt picking up on the fact that what was important on that page has nothing to do with her family and everything to do with the Noires.
“What’s happening?” Rena wheezes, clearly catching that she’s the star of this merciless turn of events. She steps away from me, surveying my face before she peers at the rest of the family.
“Ty,” Wells says in his calm, authoritative tone, “you’ll have to trust us. We did what we could, and it should be smooth. But we need to tag her.”
“Tag me?” Rena spins, glowering at every last one of us. “Trial, recording, book, connections? Someone needs to start fucking talking to me. Not only Ty.Me.”
“A tracker,” Celeste supplies. “No sense in objecting.” She throws her thumb toward her husband. “This one drugged me and injected it into my neck on a plane.”
“Oh my God.” Rena’s hazels blow as wide as a full fucking moon. “Somebody tell me what the hell is going on.”
Wells takes that. “The connections should be obvious to you. Don’t overthink that point. We can’t divulge what’s in the book because you do not yet have KORT-level clearance, and the book is property of KORT. The method of you learning that information is more incriminating than you knowing it.” He pauses there, brows arched, waiting to see if she picks up on his subtlety.
“So, I might already be aware of what the book detailed?” she ventures.
“It’s quite possible,” he says, tipping his chin, and the goddamn impasse he’s navigating is evident. He always carries so much for us, careening in and out of pitfalls with more finesse than most could ever exhibit.
But that look passing between him and my wife tells me all I need to know. He’s suggesting the tracking for a good reason. He’s fucking worried.
“If we tell you too much,” he goes on before flicking his gaze to me, “it’s an automatic failure. You know this, Ty. All of us will be held accountable for going against orders and disregarding the confidentiality clause.”
“Fine.” I reach for Rena, dragging her back into my arms, needing to wrap myself around her like armor. “What can you tell us?”
“From what we know—which, of course, some of it was kept from us due to our relationship—it’s not so terrible,” Ivy starts in a serene warble. “In the next few days, you’ll both receive instructions. The trial is used to test loyalty to the organization and conflict resolution in stressful situations. That’s all I can say. You’ll need to comply in order to pass. If you do, you’ll be free and clear with KORT, and we can put all this behind us.”
All we need to hear to know how fucked up we’ve all become is theif you dopart because there’s a possibility she won’t.
I bark a sardonic laugh. “That is a vast downplay of whatever the fuck we have coming. Do you not remember our trials, Freckles?”
“Of course I do,” she whispers, tears finally dripping. “It was awful. But I got you all back, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat for that. And other than this shit, we have a pretty good life. I know this sucks, Ty. I wish I could change it. Wells and I tried. But there are three other chairs on that board, and if we had pushed too much …”
I hold out my arm, urging her to dive against my other side and planting a kiss in her hair when she does. “It’s not your fault. I just—”
“There’s a silver fucking lining,” Gage croons as Wells kicks up his chin to me in respect for comforting Ivy. “You were permitted assets.”
“Assets?” I parrot above both girls’ heads.
“Yep.” He grins, cracking his knuckles. “Whatever mindfuck they have in store, Liam and I are along for the ride.”
That’s why Liam wasn’t surprised to be staying back. They all knew about this.
“We don’t know precisely what that entails,” Wells clarifies. “But I suppose you’ll have a clearer picture when the instructions arrive. I’d anticipate some retribution for the request to be with Rena. It wasn’tappreciated. Regardless, you’ll all be together. And should you need to flee, Liam and Gage will be ready. And I’ll take care of the girls and meet up with you.”
They have it all fucking planned. If I had any doubt about how treacherous they expect this to be, Wells decimated it with that statement. This is a far cry from a loyalty test, which was already a precarious undertaking. I should’ve known when he so easily volunteered to go get the battered girl. And Liam not minding Wells taking Celeste makes a lot more sense. She’ll be safer getting the hell away from here.
“Was it planned for you and the girls to be away from us?” I ask.
“Somewhat,” Wells answers. “Ivy and I were prohibited from being with you during this. Celeste coming with us was already a consideration, so with the girl needing picked up, it makes sense. Because of your request, you’ll be tested too.”
We’ll both be tested but remain together.That could equate to any number of ordeals.
“And my brothers?” Rena finally mutters. “I still don’t understand what the hell you’re all talking about. But if things go south—if we need to flee—what happens to them?”
Wells strides forward and lifts Rena’s chin. “I won’t make you promises I can’t keep. We love your family and will always do what we can for them. But if things go south, you are our priority. We will do whatever is necessary to get you out, take care ofourfamily, and go from there.”
Whatever is necessaryis code for erasing ourselves and being reborn. No one outside this circle joins us for that.
When Wells steps away, welcoming Ivy into his embrace, Rena hangs her head. The same shame I’ve worn for thirteen years blankets her. Hopelessness. Like a traitor who made the wrong choice.
