“Or citizens of Paradise Grove.”
“Everyone here?” My voice came out a squeak.
“No. We don’t share that privilege with everyone, but most are eager to be a part of it if they know.”
“Why?”
“Adamantem infractum manet.You and I both know what that means.” A diamond remains unbroken. The saying that meant they were indestructible, all powerful. Most of the nation had heard the statement. People knew of the secret society and how much power it held, knew of the saying. I nodded as he dragged a finger over my collarbone. “You’re trembling.”
I gulped and looked away, not sure I could respond without my voice shaking too, but I had to try. “I’m digesting the information.”
“You finally fear me, darling Mia? Have I cracked that resolve all of a sudden?”
“All of a sudden?”
“You’ve held your own this long. Nothing should change now. A secret society can’t possibly be worse than what you were imagining I was part of.”
I wasn’t sure about that. “What’s your role? Do you lead it?”
“I’m a Knight, Mia. And my father used to hold most of the power.”
“And so now you do.” He didn’t have to say another word. “What happened to your father, Jameson?” His eyes held mine. “And your wife?” I didn’t miss how they hardened at that question.
“I think you’ve asked enough questions for the day.” He locked down his secrets so fast, like he couldn’t trust a single soul, like those barriers were permanently in place, keeping everyone out.
“Have I?” I blurted out. There was no use fearing him now. I was too far in. And didn’t I deserve the answers when I’d been made to stay here?
“My wife never showed to pick Franny up from school, and later she was found dead. I won’t have the same happen to Franny … or to you.”
I pieced together what must have happened, how he had to tell Franny that her mom was never coming home.
And my heart broke for not only the man who lost his wife and his partner but also the daughter who lost her mother. “Jameson, it must have been hard for you and Franny to—”
“Franny only thinks her momleft. We don’t discuss anything else. You won’t either.” He stood there stiff with authority, so disconnected that I wondered if it was a defense mechanism.
“You know you could just ask me to rather than demand it,” I pointed out.
He clenched his jaw down like there was a struggle, a struggle to trust me, to see me as an ally when it came to his daughter and his life rather than an obstacle. “I could, but then there would be the risk that—”
“That I respect you rather than fear you, Mr. Knight?”
His brows slammed down in agitation.
“I’m here for the best interest of Franny. You know that by now. So, work with me and try to trust me.”
“Trust is a weakness.”
“Do you think that with your friends? With Archer? With Hades and—”
“They’re different.”
“Your wife would have wanted—”
“Me to trust no one because I couldn’t trust her either, Mia.” He swallowed and sucked on his teeth before saying quietly, “We knew she abandoned us before her accident.” He didn’t say why. “It was hard enough to explain to my daughterthat Lex didn’t care to come home. We don’t see a need to tell Fran she died a year later, or have her mourn a mother I couldn’t trust enough to stay.” His words were harsh, but as I digested all that information, I found myself hurting for him. For his loss. And for the resilience he had to have.
Yet, I tried my best not to feel bad for him now. He didn’t want the pity. “I understand. But youcantrust me. I’ll prove that with Franny. I want what’s best for her only, and I won’t tell you how to parent, but …”
“But you want to?”
