It’s control.
His power.
Hischoice.
“I’ll always listen,” I swear. “No matter how you choose to speak.”
TWENTY-SIX
MARA
“How do I look?” I ask, stepping into the living room of the hotel room in D.C.
Jasper’s eyes widen and he nods in approval as Dredyn whistles. “Damn. Your father is going to hate it.”
I smooth out the fabric of the dark green dress. “It was on the ‘approved’ list my mother sent,” I say. “So he can take it up with her.”
Talon swoops in, dropping to one knee and sliding on my gold heels, lingering as he clasps the hook. His lips kiss my ankle before he fixes my dress over my shoes.
“There’s a locator in your heel,” he says, his hand gliding up my calf as he rises. “So if they try anything, we’ll know.”
“I’ll be with Milo, Valen, and Kade on the drive over.”
Dredyn crosses his arms, jaw tight. “I would feel more comfortable if we could drive you.”
“You’re allowed at the dinner, thanks to Talon’s dad. I’ll see you then.” I reach up, cupping his face, forcing him to look at me. “I’ll be fine. They’re not going to do anything with Valen and my brothers there.”
“Your brothers are PTO. That doesn’t make me feel better,”Jasper signs.
“Milo is my twin. He wouldn’t?—”
“Wouldn’t he?” Dredyn’s voice is harsher than I want it to be. “Two months ago, he watched your father give you to Chase. What makes you think he’ll protect you today?”
The words sting because there’s truth in them. Milo stood by while I was engaged against my will. Stood by while I was locked in that penthouse. Stood by while Valen?—
I don’t answer because I don’t know. I want to believe Milo’s had some kind of awakening. That seeing me with the OCK boys has opened his eyes to the Syndicate’s poison. But wanting something doesn’t make it true.
There’s a knock at the hotel door.
“That’s them,” I say, grabbing my clutch.
The boys walk me to the door. Jasper hands me my coat, helping me into it, before Dredyn pulls me into a crushing hug that lifts me off my feet for just a second.
“If anything feels wrong...” he starts.
“I’ll signal, I know. I’ll be fine. This is just a photo op and a dinner—in and out.” I pull back, looking at all three of them.
“That’s what worries me,” Talon mutters. “When have we ever had an ‘in and out’ with your family?”
Fair point.
I kiss each of them and head out of the door with a Secret Service agent.
The black SUV idles in front of the hotel, exhaust pluming white in the frigid air. Through the tinted windows, I can make out shapes: Milo in the back, Valen and Kade in the middle row.
The driver—someone I don’t recognize, probably White House security—opens my door without a word.
I climb in beside Milo, and the door shuts behind me with a heavythunk.
