“I want to see my sister.” Ares stands and folds his arms across his chest. “I need to know she’s okay.”
“I already proved she was okay, and this was discussed previously. When you have played your parts and I’m satisfied, I will give you her location and help you to retrieve her. Until then, just shut up about it and do what you’re told.”
I shake my head at Ares in silent warning. His entire body is shaking with pent-up rage, and I know he wants to rip Rhett’s head from his shoulders. I get it. We all do, but we have to bide our time. Ares stares back at me, and we hold eye contact for a few brief tortured moments.
“None of that down there.” Rhett points in our direction before swinging his gaze to Bree and Ares. “I will be announcing your match, and you need to show a united front.”
“We won’t let you down,” Bree says, tugging on Ares’s hand. He drops down beside her again.
“See that you don’t.” Carter drills us all with a look before striding from the room.
“Cheery, isn’t he?” Jase says, and a laugh erupts from my chest.
“I think you had a lucky escape.” Bree looks over at me. “Imagine having to grow up with him as a parent?”
“Pamela was bad enough,” I say, and isn’t that the truth.
We sit up a little straighter so we can see into the room below from our seated position when the four Luminaries enter the space. Conversation filters into this room through two speakers built into the wall. We can hear everything as clearly as if they were standing beside us. They shoot the shit for a few minutes as they enjoy coffee and pastries before taking their seats, and the meeting is called into session.
“What is this about, Carter?” Salinger asks, drumming his fingers impatiently on the table. “It’s Christmas tomorrow. Surely this could have waited?”
“I’m afraid not.” Rhett stands, placing his hands behind his back. “It is with a heavy heart I must report a breach of Luminary protocol of the highest levels. A breach that jeopardizes everything we, and our forefathers, have built.”
“What breach?” James Manford—my uncle—asks with a frown.
Rhett pierces him with a look. “Why don’t you tell us?”
Walter Salinger, Ares’s murdering uncle, and Eric Stewart, Jase’s dad, sit up straighter in their chairs, wearing similar puzzled expressions.
“Cut to the chase, Carter,” Stewart says. “None of us have time for games.”
“I have a daughter.”
Panic courses through me at the words. “I thought that was supposed to be a secret?”
“Maybe my father knowing changed things,” Jase replies, running his fingers up and down my arm.
“You have two daughters,” Salinger says, looking at Carter like he’s lost his mind.
“I have another daughter. My firstborn. A first daughter.”
I watch all the blood drain from my uncle’s face.
“A daughter denied to me and hidden from me byhim.” He points at Manford, glaring at him with unconcealed hatred. “Him and his sister.”
“What the fuck?” I jump up and stalk to the window, wishing I had laser beams for eyes so I could zap my bio dad out of existence. “He promised he’d keep my mom out of this.” I know my mother is a shitty mother, but I don’t want her to die.
“What are you talking about, Rhett?” Salinger stops drumming his fingers on the table.
“Pamela’s daughter, Ashley, is my flesh and blood.” He thumps his hand over his heart. “She’s my daughter too, and they’ve gone to considerable lengths to hide the truth from me. James, Pamela, and Doug conspired to keep my daughter from me for nineteen years.”
“What proof do you have?” Salinger asks.
Eric is quiet because he already knows it’s the truth.
“Pamela tried to switch out the blood sample before Ashley’s initiation. I caught her and had it tested.” He hands out papers, which I’m guessing are the same blood test results he showed me.
“That was months ago.” Salinger skims his eyes over the report. “Why are we only hearing about it now?” He scrubs a hand over his fleshy jawline. “And while it’s reprehensible she would be kept from you, and Manford will have to atone for his actions, if he’s responsible, I don’t see where the urgency is? Or am I missing something?”
