“It hasn’t been easy.”
“She hates you and Pamela too.” Chad tightens his hold on my fingers. “Like really hates you.”
It’s not like I’ve ever done anything to her but exist. “I’m sorry she used you to get back at me and that Rhett took you as insurance. Your association with us put you in harm’s way,” I add, “and that doesn’t sit right with me.”
“Or with me.” Strain is etched upon Jase’s face. “If I wasn’t such a selfish asshole, I would have cut you loose years ago, but I valued your friendship too much. I tried to keep you out of this, but you got sucked in anyway.”
“If I’m not to blame myself for my dad, then you’re not to blame yourselves for this.” Chad drills us with a look.
“You’re right. The blame game does none of us any favors.” I stare off into space as I mull over our options in light of Chad’s revelations. We can use this, but it all depends on what Chad wants. I focus on his gorgeous, tired face. “What do you want to do? This can go two ways. We stick to our original plan, and you go live at the safe house with your mom and Tessa until we fix this mess, or we use this situation to our advantage. We tell Rhett his she-devil wife has loose lips and redirect his rage onto his other half. He can’t punish us, and we have a legitimate way of pulling you into the ranks now.”
Bree’s guy, Gregor, hacked into the system, and he took a copy of everything. If we needed it, I’m sure we could get proof of Cleo’s betrayal. Jase has already made it clear all copies are to be handed to him and only him. We don’t want these tapes falling into anyone else’s hands. And I don’t want Chad knowing they exist. We have no plans to look at them or let anyone else look at them. We just want to hold them in case we ever need to fall back on the evidence.
“I want in.” Chad doesn’t hesitate, and determination resonates in his tone and on his face. If anything, he almost looks at peace.
“You need to think about it,” Jase cautions. “This is a lifelong commitment, Chad, and these people are dangerous. This Luminary society is seriously fucked up. Even with us in control, your life will not be your own. We have a responsibility to our people and the world at large. It’s a massive undertaking and a giant burden. You don’t have to be sucked in. You can walk away.”
“No, I can’t.” He shakes his head. “And I don’t want to. My life is with you. I’m not going to change my mind, and I can’t unhear all the things I’ve heard. It’s crazy shit, and I’m still wrapping my head around it, but I’m going nowhere. I’m all in.” Resolve shines in his eyes as he looks between us. “I’ve known you were both keeping stuff back from me. It’s actually a relief to have no more secrets between us. I don’t need time to consider it. I had days where all I did was think about it after Cleo blurted the truth. I know what I want, and it’s you guys. I want to help Ares find his sister, and I want to help you take Carter down.”
I lean in and kiss him. Just ’cause I felt like it. “Are you very sure, Chad? There can be no going back.”
He brushes his lips against mine. “I have no doubts. This is what I want.”
I look up at Jase. “So, where do we go from here?”
His lips kick up at the corners. “I have an idea if you’re both on board,” he says before he proceeds to tell us his plan.
My chest heaves with emotion, and tears glisten in my eyes as I stare at Chad, nodding the same time he does. They gravitate toward me as one, and we wrap arms around one another in a group huddle, letting the magnitude of the moment settle between us. Nothing has ever felt more right, and it feels like everything has been leading to this moment. My only concern is, how do I tell Ares?
* * *
Now that Chad is all in, there’s no need to hide, so we call the pilot and charter the helicopter to take us back to Lowell. When we reach the compound we call home, Jase goes with Chad to the old townhome to pack up his stuff. I wander inside the house in search of Ares, but he’s already left for work. “He was on an early shift,” Bree says from her perch at the kitchen island. She’s dressed in sleep shorts and a hoodie with fluffy slippers on her feet and her blue hair tied into a messy bun.
“What are you working on?” I ask, coming up alongside her.
She slams her laptop closed before I can see the screen. “Nope. You’re not ruining your surprise. I’m making some alterations now the plans have changed a little.” Her eyes light up, and she squeals as she bundles me into a hug. “I’m so happy for you.” She eases back. “I take it things went well between you and Chad?”
“We still have shit to work out, but we’re on the same page. We’re both determined to fix our relationship and move forward.”
Her smile fades. “Is he okay?”
“He will be,” I say with confidence.
“Good.” She glances at her phone. “Shit, we need to get changed.”
I’m still wearing my party clothes, and my dress is crumpled from hours sitting in an uncomfortable chair. “Changed for what?” I ask as she loops her arm in mine and drags me toward the stairs.
“We’re booked in for a bunch of treatments at the salon.” Her wide grin is back. “I can’t believe you’re getting married tomorrow!”
“I know!” We walk up the stairs. “Is there time to drop by my mom’s house? I want to see if she’s coming to the wedding.” I received a cryptic text an hour ago telling me she was lying low and she’d reach out to me soon. That was it. No mention of my wedding or anything. She’s so damn frustrating to deal with at times.
“We have time for a quick visit,” she confirms.
When we stop by Mom’s house, Richard opens the door with Emilie in his arms. “Pamela isn’t here.” A flash of annoyance crosses his face before he hides it. “I haven’t seen her in days. Something urgent cropped up with the business, and she had to go overseas. I’m surprised she didn’t tell you.”
So much for not keeping secrets from her husband.
Mom clearly doesn’t want him to know she suffered a beating at her ex’s hands. I’m tempted to spill the beans, but I’ve got enough drama in my life and zero desire to interfere in my mother’s marriage, so I keep my lips zipped. “She sent me a brief message, but she didn’t mention she wasn’t at home.”
