“I really fucked up.” I gulp back a mouthful of coffee.
“It’s not irretrievable. She loves you.” A happy smile ghosts over her mouth. “And you love her, and nothing about that was final. For what it’s worth, I think she’s doing the right thing. You need to do this for you, and it’s your best chance at a future relationship with your son and with her.”
“As much as I hate this, because I already miss her so much, I need to man up for Arlo and focus on him.”
“It is possible to do both,” she says as I tuck into my breakfast. “But you definitely need to handle the Jane stuff. Athena may not realize it, but she needs that closure as much as you do.”
I frown. “I’m not following.”
“She needs to be the center of your world, Drew. You need to fully let Jane go so you can give your heart to Athena.”
“A part of my heart will always belong to Jane.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” She shrugs. “I think Athena will be fine with that once you’ve laid her ghost to rest. You haven’t grieved properly for Jane, Drew, and I think things will look a little different when you do.” Abby puts her hand on my arm, peering at me with equal amounts of sadness and resolve. “I am so fucking angry and sad at the fate Jane suffered. She didn’t deserve it, but enough with the guilt, D. This isn’t on you, and I’m done letting you punish yourself. Jane’s dad made the call to leave Rydeville, acting on the information you provided, but it was stillhis decision. He did what he believed was right for his family. You didn’t misstep or trust the wrong person; her father did. But he's not to blame either. Fate wasn’t in his hands or yours. It’s time to forgive yourself and let go of the past to focus on your future.”
A pounding on the front door cuts off any reply I might have made. I stride down the hallway with Abby chasing my heels, frowning when I spot a frantic-looking Sawyer Hunt peering at me through my door cam. “What’s wrong?” I ask the instant I open the door, panic trickling through my veins when I spot Xavier sitting in the passenger seat of Athena’s car.
“Ares called us after he called Athena,” Hunt confirms just as Charlie’s car turns into my driveway. “We called the others. It’s better to update everyone together.”
Kai hops out of Charlie’s car and stalks toward us as Athena climbs out of her car and runs toward me. Fear is written all over her face as she clutches her cell to her chest. “He’s not answering.” Her tone is borderline hysterical, and she’s visibly trembling. “Arlo always answers my calls unless he’s at practice, but I know he’s not.”
“This is about Arlo?” My brow puckers as fear creeps up my spine.
“Didn’t you tell him?” She looks at Hunt.
“There wasn’t time.” Hunt pins me with a sober expression. “It looks like Amos is on to us, and he might be in the wind.”
“He won’t hurt Arlo, right?” Abby says, falling into Kai’s embrace when he reaches us.
“I don’t think so, but if he’s unhinged, who knows what he might do.” A pained whimper accompanies Athena’s words, and I don’t care we’re not together, I pull her into my arms and hold her tight.
“We’ll get him back.”
“Let’s talk inside.” Xavier wears a grave expression.
When we’re all seated in my living room, Xavier and Sawyer begin explaining. I keep my arm around Athena’s shoulders as they fill us in. “Emil Petrov showed up at a private airfield in North California late last night,” Hunt says. “From what Ares and the board have managed to piece together, he was there to meet Amos. Most likely lured with the promise of retribution.”
“How the fuck does Amos know about our play?” I ask.
“Ares mentioned an element within the Luminary society that is still loyal to Rhett Carter. We know Amos is part of that group, and he obviously has someone feeding him intel,” Xavier says, leaning back in his chair and stifling a yawn.
“But this was contained intel.” Kai rests his chin on Abby’s shoulder.
“They have a mole within the inner ranks,” Sawyer says, flicking a piece of lint off his pants.
“Let’s stay focused. It doesn’t matter how it happened. What matters is Amos killed Emil and he’s pinned it on you,” Xavier confirms.
“A bunch of Bulgarian mafia are on a plane headed in this direction,” Hunt adds.
“Let’s set up a welcoming committee.” Charlie cracks his knuckles.
“Fuck the Bulgarians. Give them the kid, tell them the truth, and send them on their merry way. We’ve got more pressing matters, like finding my son.”
“Salinger and the others raided Amos’s house. Looks like they all left in a hurry. They clearly had help because there is no trace of them anywhere,” Xavier explains.
“And the tracker I had on Arlo’s cell has been disabled,” Athena says.
“Your father figured you were playing him,” I surmise, and she nods.
