Fuck.
“Jesus!” Emerie threw her present back into the box and turned to Marshall, pressing her wrist against her forehead. “You too?” she asked him.
He nodded, frowning down at the piece of paper in his hand.
Owen stepped closer to look. “A plane ticket to the Bahamas?” he frowned. “Why do the two of you have tickets to the Bahamas?
“I said I’d take her,” Marshall answered, looking worriedly at Emerie.
Owen gave a confused chuckle. “You? I don’t understand. Why would you—”
“He was saying it while we were alone in my room, Becket. While he wasfuckingme. Discussing honeymoon destinations. Do you understandnow?” Emerie lashed out, anger starting to replace the fear in her eyes.
“Oh my God,” Syntax breathed, shaking her head in shock.
“Owen,” I whispered nervously.
“Yeah,” he sighed heavily before taking a steadying breath. He pulled the lid off his box and quickly reached into his pocket, ripping out his cell phone.
“What’s wrong, O?” I was almost too scared to ask. His face was contorted in panic.
He dialled a number, breathing heavily as he waited for whoever to pick up.
I couldn’t see what inside his box had him so panicked. It was a dusty old dog collar and a bottle of flea powder. Which made sense. Grayson had called Owen a dog before.
“Owen, dear! What a nice surprise!” came a voice on the other line.
“Mom? Oh, thank God! Are you okay? Where’s Dad?”
I clasped a hand over my mouth. Would he do that? Would Grayson hurt innocent people?
I already knew the answer to that. He would doanythingto protect his own.
“Slow down, boy. We’re fine. What is going on?”
Owen was panting, relief washing through him. “Nothing. Just stay inside and lock the doors. I’ll have agents over there to come watch you. They’ll explain everything. I have to go. I’ll talk to you soon, okay? Just stay inside.” He quickly ended the call before his mother could protest.
He dialled Director Devereux and asked for a protection detail for his parents. The director didn’t ask any questions and while on the phone with Owen, ordered four agents to his parents’ house.
When he finally dropped the phone, he was pale. I took his hand and squeezed it hard. “They’re threatening your parents?”
He nodded.
“To me this looks like Varon is calling you a dog, nothing more. So please enlighten us, Becket,” Emerie demanded, clearly rattled.
“This was my childhood dog’s collar. I buried him in it when I was seventeen. In my parents’ back yard.”
Ice prickled my fingers. “Bastard,” I muttered, wanting to rip Grayson to shreds. Nothing was too low for him, it seemed.
“Your turn, Ava,” Syntax coaxed quietly.
I stared at the box, my hands trembling.Gods, I was fucking scared. My box was the biggest. Did I really want to find out what was in it?
I grinded my teeth together.Fuck you, Grayson. I’m not letting you win. I willnotfear you.
My name wasn’t on the box like the others. Instead, it readto my Ved’ma.
I swiped the lid from the box, letting it slide across the floor.
