I was floored by the sudden sense that I would agree with Carmine’s mother’s plan.“You want to look after him?”
“I wish to know my grandson. There is hardly another option.”
“The other option is to heal my grandfather and kill you.”
Athira smirked. “Hardly anybetteroption. I have said that you no longer disappoint me. Do not begin that again.”
Burn.
This could explode in my face with the brutal consequence of Adeuto’s death. She could kill him the second I turned my back.She could play both sides, only to choose the winner in the final moment.
I couldn’t trust her.
But I could condemn her to my fate. Then we would really share a mutual interest—staying alive. “I agree.”
She grunted. “I didn’t know if you would have it in you.”
Before sitting here, stunned at the words I was hearing, I couldn’t have been sure I had this in me either. “On one condition.”
Athira’s crimson gaze narrowed.
“Once Adeuto is asleep, you take me to my twin, and we free her. Tonight.”
Then I could at least be sure that Athira would have gone against Carmine in an enormous way that he would be unlikely to forgive. She would be as condemned as me.
She tilted her head, a curious smile on her face. “You are playing the game at last.”
“Tiers?” I said sarcastically.
Athira nodded. “Yes, but the real version and in the real arena. I agree to your condition. We free her tonight.”
23
I rested next to Adeuto on the bed, listening to his sleepy chatter. This hideout was tiny, and nowhere near as well-stocked, but a few trips back and forth would solve that. I couldn’t take Adeuto back to the old shack until Athira dealt with Grandfather.
I swallowed back guilt and stroked my son’s forehead before pressing a kiss there.
“Is Neti still here?” he asked sleepily.
He was exhausted, and once again, I let myself hate that this was his life. “She’s outside.”
Adeuto smiled. “That’s good. She looks after me.”
My throat squeezed. My son was putting his trust in animals at this point.
Adeuto felt for my face and rested his hand on my cheek. “And you, Mama. Don’t be sad.”
I kissed his palm and didn’t offer any lies. I was only good at lying to him when his life was on the line, apparently.
“We’ll get this place set up tomorrow, darling. Your grandmother will stay with you now.”
“While you deal with Father?”
“Yes.”
Adeuto paused. “Where’s Grandfather?”
My heart sank. “He will go, my love. And he goes knowing that you are safe and that I can continue on with my work against your father.”
