CYRIL HEARD THAT ROBBIEhad found Helena before he stepped into the bedroom to call his mom.It thrilled him as much as it terrified him.
They knew where Helena was.They could take the fight to her like Vale had said, and hopefully, get the upper hand because she wouldn’t see them coming.If they waited, she would get them where she wanted them, and it might be nearly impossible to win this fight.
Which wasn’t something Cyril wanted to think about.If they lost, his life would be ruined.Vale would die, and Cyril would be forced to work for Helena.He knew that Russell, Rachel, and the others would protect him as well as they could, but he didn’t think they’d be able to do much against the Organization, especially with Vale gone.No, there was only one way out of this that Cyril was willing to consider, and it ended with him and Vale and everyone they cared about safe and Helena and the Organization out of their city.
He sighed and flopped on the edge of the mattress.Oscar had been sleeping on Cyril’s pillow, but he quickly skittered toward him as if feeling that something was wrong.Cyril grabbed him and dragged him into his lap to pet his head.
It was smooth and warm.It felt nothing like petting a cat or a dog, but Cyril didn’t care.He loved Oscar the way he was.After all, he created him.
As much as he dreaded the conversation with his mother, he called anyway.He’d feel better once he knew she was away from this mess.He wasn’t sure how he would explain to her that he needed her to leave, but he’d find a way.
“Honey,” his mother said when she answered.“Are you calling to reschedule our lunch again?”
She didn’t know anything about Vale’s former profession.They’d never told her, and Cyril still wasn’t planning to.He just wasn’t sure how to explain that she had to leave without at least hinting at it.“Mom, do you trust me?”he asked.
His mother paused before answering.“Of course, but what’s this about?I don’t like your tone of voice.”
Cyril swallowed.“If you trust me, I need you to listen to me.I know you have questions, but I can’t answer them.”
“You’re scaring me.”
Cyril hated this.“Sorry.I just need you to pack some stuff and go visit Aunt Emma for a few weeks.”
“What?Why?”
“Just trust me, please.I can’t explain it, but it has to do with my job.”Technically, it did, so it wasn’t a lie.Helena wanted Cyril for his ability.She might have found him because she was looking for Vale, but now that she had him in her sights, she wouldn’t let him go.
“You can’t tell me what’s going on?”
“No.I wish I could, but it would only make things more dangerous for you.”Because she’d insist on staying and helping.Cyril wasn’t sure how she would react to finding out that Vale was a professional assassin, but he knew that she’d want to stick around for him even if she decided she wanted nothing to do with Vale.
Cyril couldn’t let her do that.
“Are you in danger, Cyril?”she asked.
“I am, and this person threatened to hurt you.Vale is taking care of everything, and he’ll protect me, but I need to know that you’re safe.Please, Mom.Just tell me you’ll go to Aunt Emma.”
Cyril could feel that his mother was still hesitant, but he wasn’t surprised when she agreed.“I’ll go if that’s what you need me to do.Are you sure there’s nothing I can do to help, though?”
“I’m sure.The best thing you can do is to get out of town.”
“You’ll call me?I need to know that you’re safe as much as you need to know that I am.”
“I promise I’ll call you every day.”
She chuckled.“Several times a day would be great, if you can.Now that I know that you’re in danger, I’m going to be anxious.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
“Please.”She hesitated.“You’re going to win this, right?I’m not going to get a call telling me that you’re gone?”
“I’m going to do everything I can, and so will Vale and the others.I just can’t promise it’ll be enough.”
She sighed.“I wish I could force you to accept my help, but I know how that would go.I’m going to have to let you do this, as little as I like it.”
“I’ll be fine.”He hoped it wasn’t a lie.He’d do his best to ensure that it wasn’t.
“Well, I guess I should start packing.I’ll be waiting for your call tonight and tomorrow morning.”
