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Kai… He told me he couldn’t tell me something, that he would understand if I hated him for it. He wanted to keep me safe, but this… This is different. Right? No. What he did was different. If Gen is telling the truth, then she is right. I have no right to judge her, not after what all of us have been through, what we have had to do.

“Ben…” I say, my voice a whisper.

“Don’t say his name,” she snaps, turning her head away as she balls up into herself. Her curls fall over her face.

“You really did love him.” I look up at her.

“The fact that you believed a poisonous bitch over me…” Tears begin to stream down Gen’s face. “Of course I did, I loved him so much.” Her voice cracks.

“Is that why you wouldn’t tell me about how you guys fell in love before?”

“It started as a lie, but it became real to me.” She bows her head, her chest heaving. “I wanted to tell him when we got out, when it was all over. On my terms.”

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

Her jaw tightens and she looks over at me. “No, I’m sorry.”

I look at her, confused. “It was wrong of me; I took that choice from Kai, just like Rosa did for me. I was angry, and—I was scared.”

My stomach turns as I fight back tears. I may not even get the chance for him to explain, to tell me how it all started. I hadn’t even gotten an opportunity to process it. He is their God, the cause for every sacrifice they have made for over a hundred years. My stomach twists into knots.

I refuse to believe that’s the man I fell in love with. I hate him and love him in equal measure. I despise what he has done, and I love who he became for me. There was no way I could have known that the villain of my story was the one sleeping next to me. But right now, all I know is that there isn’t anything I wouldn’t give for him to burst through that door and take me away from here.

In that moment we hear the door click open; our heads turn to see Rosa walk in.

She claps her hands together and smiles.

“All right, ladies, it’s time! Gen, my dear, you stay here and be a good girl. Callisto, darling, you’re coming with me.”

CHAPTER 36 CADE

We approach the property from the tree line, and I stare at the grandiose home with large white pillars, standing at about three stories high. There looks to be only two entrances: one in front, and one in back—this is good for us. Though the lack of security is surprising. Knowing Darian, he would never leave the exterior so exposed. No guards patrolling in the woods; either he’s getting sloppy, or he is drawing us in.

Stay with us, little ghost. I might need you.

I prepare myself, pulling my pistol out. I look over to Alok.

“Jack, what’s security looking like?” I say into the earpiece.

“Four in the front, three in the back, and two rotating on either side of the building. I would recommend taking out the one rotating closest to you on the west side of the building, then taking out security in the front while Kai gets the back.”

“All right, before we go in, listen up,” I say, putting spare ammo in my pouch on my thigh.

“Darian Steel is head of security here, massive facial scars and graying hair. He will not be an easy target, and we most likely won’t see him coming. So keep an eye out.”

They both give me a look like they couldn’t be less interested.

“Anyway… keep a low profile, and do not engage unless I say so.” At this point, they are looking at me like I’m an idiot. “Just do what I fucking say. Got it?”

“Will that make you feel better?” Kai cocks his head to the side.

“You realize nothing here can kill us, right?” Alok asks with clear sarcasm.

“And if Gregor shows?” I cross my arms.

“We’ll incapacitate him, two against one,” Kai says.

“All right, we need to clear the exterior, as quietly as possible.”