Dante shifts behind me, and I turn to watch as he slinks closerto me,his eyes never leaving mine as he closes the distance between us. My mouth falls open when he slides right behind me, his legs going on either side of mine as he pulls me back against him. I glance over at Ollie who is still holding my hand, but headjusts himself so Dante can wrap his body around mine without complaint.
Ares continues, his facecompletelycalm. “I put out the word I was looking torelocate, expand out west. Their community was a logical choice, already heavily entrenched with Infinities and their children.”
“What exactly is it you do?” I interrupt him.
“He’s a fixer, a problem solver,” Milo answers for Ares. I look over at him and his eyes meet mine. For a single second I think I see something in his face, jealousy, wistfulness, something, but then it’s gone before I can even decipher it.
“Which means what?”
“I have a security company. But in our society, I’m who they call if something happens that can’tbe easily explained. I fix problems,” Ares explains without an ounce of smugness. He states it like it’s a fact that can’tbe denied.
I pinch my forehead. “Whatkind ofproblems?”
Ares shrugs one wide shoulder. “Anything from some newly transitioned kid starting a fire at school, to a politician who needs to hide that his wife has another husband.”
My back goes straight. “What if you get caught, what if the government or the police find out about you?” I can’t keep the fear from my voice.
Ollie lets out a low chuckle. “What do you think they could do to him? They wouldn’t even be able to hold him.”
“This isn’t funny Oliver.” I pull my hand from his and push him to the side.
“If you understood how powerful he is, you’d know he’s not at risk,” Milo says. I hold my tongue. I want to tell them you should never tempt fate, that you should always assume there is always someone bigger, badder, and tougher than you, but I don’t. I probably just feel that way because my mother drilled those thoughts into my head.
I shake my head, pushing away the thoughts. “How is this still a secret? I mean your abilities, how have you’ve been able to keep the existence of the Infinity a secret?” I’ve often wondered this, but never really gotten around to asking the question.
Ares moves over toward the bed and takes a seat, his shoulders bunch as he props a pillow against the wall and sits. “We do less hiding than you’d think. If you’re reclusive, or super private, people will assume you have something to hide. So, welive our lives. You’dbe surprised how many people have seen something they can’t explain, but instead of questioning it, they rationalize it. Their brain tells them they didn’t see a guy disappear into the shadows, that theyjustcouldn’t see him walk away.” Ares settles on the bed, his back leaning against the pillow.
I guess I can understand that, but it seems like someone somewhere would have seen something that isn’t as easy to dismiss. I’ve gone off track again.
“When are you going?” I bite the corner of my lip. I don’t want Ares to go. I hate when I have to go all morning and afternoon without seeing him. What will it be like if he leaves for a few days? “How long are you going tobe gone?” The second question comes before hehas a chance to answer the first.
Ares lifts his arms and folds them behind his head, his gaze slides over to Dante. “We’re leaving tomorrow morning,prettyearly. And I don’t know how long we’llbe gone.”
“Wait.” I pull away from Dante so I can see him behind me, and I look back and forth between the two brothers. “You’re both going?”
Dante’s hand smooths over my thigh. “Hereallyshouldn’t go alone.”
I look down, feeling slightly guilty that I’d assumed he was. Dante’s right though, Ares shouldn’t go alone. As I process their plan, Iactuallyfeel better knowingthey will be together. But selfishly, I don’t want either of them of leave me.
“You guys are staying though, right?” I switch my gaze to Milo and Ollie.
Milo nods his head as Ollie answers, “We wouldn’t be able to go anyway, we’re not bonded to you yet. We wouldn’t be able to handle the separation.”
My face flushes. That’s something else I wanted to talk to them about. Patting Dante’s leg, I turn in his embrace so I can see Milo and Ollie better on the other side of the bed. “Should we do that now, bond I mean?”
Milo’s head jerks up like I’ve surprised him, and Ollie looks almost eager at the idea. “Are you sure you’re ready for that?” It’s Milo who speaks up. “You don’t really have a good grasp of your abilities yet…” He lets the sentence trail off like there’s more he’s not saying.
The sting of rejection hits hard and fast, and I hope my face doesn’t betray my emotions. “That makes sense,” I croak out, and before Milo can say anything, I turn away from him.
After abriefmoment of silence, Ares tells me, “Our flight is at nine, that way we’ll be there before lunch. I don’t want tobe gone any longer than I need to be.”
“What about school?”
I feel Dante shrug behind me. “It won’t be a big deal. I can always get an excuse if we’re gone more than a day or two, and we have Thanksgiving break coming up.”
“Is that all you think it’ll take, a day or two?” My voice is small, but hopeful. No one answers me, so I’m notveryconfidentthey’ll be back that soon.
“I’m going to shower,” Ollie grumbles. He shoves off the bed in a way that makes me think he’s mad about something. I peer over at Milo but his head is down, and I can’t see his face at all.
