“No, they stay. I want witnesses.” I hold my hand out.
Lucian sighs and walks around his desk to stand in front of me.
“It’s complicated.”
“I have time. I’m not going anywhere,” I fire back.
He dips his chin, and his shoulders drop.
“It was late, I’d come home and you were already asleep. So I kissed your head and went to my study.”
“Glad to knowthatwasn’t a lie,” I grumble.
Lucian ignores my comment. “I was working in the study when there was a knock. It was Celia’s parents. They lived here, at Ashthorne Hall at the time, so that wasn’t enough to raise an alarm, even if it was pretty late. They wanted to discuss the future of the Guild, or so they said. Celia had opted out of participating in the Guild, but when we got married, they were inducted as a new legacy house, a part of the Guild and all that being a part of it came with.” He turns away from me and walks toward his desk.
“How did they end up dead in your office?” I ask through gritted teeth. The email from Gideon Ravencourt was very clear. I hate it. I hate that he had something on my dad that he could hurt me with. Part of me still hopes it’s not true, even though I just saw undeniable evidence.
“They wanted me to step down and hand the power over to Gideon. They thought the Guild should take on more assassination contracts. But I told them no, I wouldn’t be stepping down. Celia’s father tried to pull a gun to shoot me.” He closes his eyes as I suck in a breath.
It tracks, but it doesn’t make it any better that he kept it from me, that Gideon had leverage to prove everyone here keeps secrets. Even my dad.
“Then Mark walked in,” Lucian continues, “Your uncle. He saw them bleeding on the floor and tried to charge me. I tried to get him to stop, so I could explain, but he didn’t want to hear it. All he saw was his parents bleeding out on the floor. So I did what I had to do.”
“The files showed my mom left the next day. Did she know?” My voice is small; it sounds detached from myself. Like the words aren’t mine.
“I worked late into the night getting everything cleaned up. I didn’t think she knew, but I was so tired that when she left with you that morning, I didn’t even think twice about it.”
“You lied to me. Again.” My fists clench at my sides.
“This is exactly what Gideon wants. That’s why he sent it. Gracie?—”
“No.” I take a step back as he reaches for me. “This wasn’t protection. It was a flat-out lie.”
“How was I supposed to tell you? I'd just finally found you again... after years. We were virtually strangers. Would you have come with me if I just dumped everything on you that first week?”
“That’s not the point?—”
“It is.” Lucian throws his hands up. “You’re my daughter, Gracie. I looked for you and at every turn, Daniel was one step ahead. I couldn’t risk losing you again.”
“That doesn’t matter, you should have told me as soon as I knew about the Guild.” I turn and push through the guys.
I can’t breathe.I need to get away.
“Iz—” Maeve starts.
“Let her go.” I hear Jace say as my steps carry me away.
Lucian’s voicecuts through the room like a blade. “We have a confirmed sighting.”
The map on the projection screen flickers, honing in on a port city afew hours out. Somewhere industrial and sprawling. Crates. Shipyards. Fewer eyes.
I almost didn’t come when I got the message. I refuse to look at Lucian. I haven’t said a word.
“Daniel?” Jace asks, his voice low. His arm is in a sling.
He claims he slipped while training and landed wrong. But the chill wafting off of him is colder than it’s been in weeks.
Lucian nods once. “Surveillance confirms he met with two known smugglers tied to black-market arms deals. There was an exchange—brief. We believe he’s trying to secure weapons for his operation.”
