“I kept her whereabouts hidden from Vincent because of my suspicion. I wanted to keep Hera safe. Ultimately, I think that’s what tipped him off.”
“You should have fucking told us,” Jase snaps. “We let him escort Mom, Lili, and Jocelyn thinking he was trustworthy.”
“I didn’t know that had happened. I was on my way back, and I’ve been trying to reach your father for hours.”
“He’s been in and out of meetings and fielding phone calls all day,” Baz says. “I’m sure he meant to return your calls when he found the time.”
“I’m sorry.” Victor buries his head in his hands. “I’m so sorry.” He lifts his head, piercing us with tortured eyes. “If anything happens to them, I will never forgive myself.”
“Can we not point the finger of blame?” I ask. “I know we’re all worried, but we need to keep our wits about us. If we don’t, we are no good to anyone. We are their only hope now, and we need to maintain cool heads.”
“Ash is right. We need to work out a plan.” Jase sits on my other side, and he’s equally worried. Baz and Bree too. Their parents and Jocelyn are unaccounted for, most likely in the crypt in Carter’s clutches. Who knows what the fuck he has done or what he has planned? Unlike Ares, Jase’s hand is firmly laced in mine as he leans on me for support.
“Does Carter know about the secret tunnels into the crypt?” I ask, my gaze dancing between Bree and Jase.
“What secret tunnels?” Victor and Baz ask at the same time.
“There are hidden tunnels accessible through a secret entrance in the woods at the eastern side of HQ,” Bree says. “Jase and I discovered them by accident one time.”
“We have a way onto the property that avoids the cameras at the gates and it’s our best hope for getting into the crypt undetected,” Jase says.
“He’ll be well protected,” Baz says, crossing his feet at the ankles. “We will most likely be outnumbered.”
“At least we have the element of surprise,” Bree says.
“Hopefully,” Ares adds.
“So, what’s the plan when we get inside?” I inquire.
“We need to take out the guards in the hallways as quietly and efficiently as possible and find out where Carter is holed up,” Victor says.
“He’ll be in the main room,” Jase says. “There’s no question about it.”
“I agree,” Baz says.
“Well, that’s a problem,” I say remembering the big wide space. “How can we creep up on him in there?”
“We can’t.” Victor balls his hands into fists. “All we can do is take out as much of his protective detail as possible and hope we can overpower the rest in the main room.”
“That’s a shit plan,” Ares growls. “He has innocent children in there. They could get hit in the crossfire.”
“If you come up with a better plan, I’m all ears,” Victor replies.
“We need backup,” I say, pulling out my cell.
“Knight?” Bree inquires, and I nod.
“Is that smart?” Victor replies.
“He’s my brother, and I trust him.”
Ares grabs my cell, ending the call. “He didn’t call to warn us. He hasn’t given us any leads, and he helped us to rescue Chad, which we now know was orchestrated.”
“I trust him, but I think Rhett is on to him too. He let him help us to rescue Chad, and he has ensured nothing was leaked in Knight’s presence because he didn’t trust him not to tell us.”
“I agree with Ash,” Bree says. “Knight is trustworthy.”
“Of course, you’d say that after a night spent bouncing on his dick,” Baz unhelpfully supplies.
