“Your guy?” I arch a brow.
“We have had a protective detail on your family since you returned to the US.”
“Fat lot of help that was when my sister was taken,” I snap.
“Ares. Stop. Victor lost three men the night your sister was kidnapped. They tried to prevent it and died attempting to save her.”
“It would’ve been nice to know that.” I glare at my mother. I’m glad she’s safe and not in that bastard’s clutches, but I’m super pissed at her. She concealed so much from me. Things I should have known.
“I’m sorry.” Remorse floods her face, and it seems sincere.
I heave out a sigh. I don’t know what to think anymore.
Mom presses kisses to both our brows in turn. “Are you both okay?” She examines our faces before sweeping her fingers gently over Ash’s face. “Are you feeling all right, honey?”
“I’m fine.” Ash looks up at me. “We’re physically fine.”
“I’m sure it’s been a lot to take in.”
“It has, and we still don’t know everything,” Ash replies.
“Is anyone going to explain what the fuck is going on?” Bree asks, exasperation clear in her tone.
“We were trying, then you all had to start with the unnecessary teenage bullshit,” Vincent says.
“Not a teenager,” I snarl.
“Then quit acting like one,” he retorts.
“Drop it,” Ash snaps, rubbing at her head and wincing as if she’s in pain, and I instantly feel remorseful.
What. The. Actual. Fuck?
I wish I could reach into my head and scrub that last thought from my mind.
“There is much we need to discuss,” Mom says, exchanging looks with Victor. “I wanted to do this with Doug here, but he’s tied up with Luminary business.”
Ash and I share shocked expressions as Victor subtly shakes his head.
“Let’s talk in the sunroom,” Vincent suggests, jerking his head toward the double doors in the center of the large, bright living room. He moves over to Mom and begins steering her out of the room. Jase and Bree follow.
“I know she needs to know,” Victor says as he approaches us. Sympathy splays across his face. “I know what losing Clinton did to her. Losing Doug in the same way is going to devastate her. I didn’t want to lie to her, but this is a life-or-death scenario, Ares. You need to hear what we have to tell you. Then we can sit down and tell her together.”
“I am sick of all the goddamn lies!” Ash says, purposely keeping her voice low. “It stops here.”
“I’m sorry about the cameras,” I say, curling my hand around hers. I don’t apologize often, but it’s warranted on this occasion. It was a shitty thing to do even if I had to do it. I needed intel, and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to get it. Rescuing Lili is my only priority, and I will do whatever is necessary to get her back.
Ash yanks her hand back. “Not now. We’ll talk about that later.” She stomps out of the room, sucking all the oxygen with her.
“She’s got fire, that one,” Victor says, joining me in staring after her.
“She’s too good for me,” I blurt without thinking.
“Your father used to say that too.” Sadness ghosts over his face. “You are like him in so many ways, but you have Daphne’s wild passion and reckless streak.”
“You act like you know me, but you don’t know me at all.” Who the fuck does this guy think he is?
He eyeballs me. “I have watched over you your entire life, Ares. It feels like I know you, but perhaps I don’t. I hope we get the chance to rectify that now.”
