Page 101 of Cruel Secrets

I should leave right now instead of standing here and giving her the opportunity to have backup show up.

But I don’t think she called anyone.

I wouldn’t still be standing here if she did. There would be men slamming through the house with guns and I would either be brought before Noah or killed on sight.

Which means that there’s more she does want to talk about.

Finally, she sighs and leans back in her chair. “Are you the one my sister has been so wrapped up in for the last two years?”

“I wouldn’t say that she’s been wrapped up in me.”

Zoe scoffs. “I would. She’s been damn near moping since she found out she was pregnant with Bianca. I assumed the father was a loser and that was the problem, but maybe it’s the fact that Bianca’s father is nothing but a man who seeks to kill others.”

“Funny, coming from you.” I stand up straight, not wanting to be within arm’s reach of her any longer. “The last I heard, you were off on a merry little killing mission for your brother.”

“Half brother,” she says, making the distinction without hesitation. “But he has a vision. He knows what he wants, and he’s going to get it. You all are idiots to think you stand a chance against him.”

“Well then, maybe you would care to share what he’s been planning since your sister has obviously picked another side in this war.”

Zoe rolls her eyes, standing up and nodding to the back door. “Your brother is here. I suggest you both leave before I change my mind and kill you for breaking into my mother’s house. And if you don’t protect Gia with your life, I’ll make sure your death is as painful as possible.”

“The door was unlocked.”

The corner of her mouth twitches. “I don’t think that matters, do you?”

“Probably not.”

I head for the door, shutting it behind me. As I walk to Aiden’s car, I keep glancing over my shoulder, making sure that Zoe isn’t about to rush through the door and plunge a knife in my back.

Aiden rolls down the window, glaring at the house. “I didn’t know that this is where you were coming to get information.”

“Where else was I supposed to go?” I round the front of the car and slide into the passenger seat. “Zoe never would’ve agreed to meet me, and Martina is too spineless to kill me herself. It was the only way to get information out of Zoe.”

“Maybe I don’t give you enough credit for being clever.” Aiden hits the accelerator as soon as I’m in, zipping away from the house and out onto the road.

“You never have.”

He chuckles, weaving through the traffic, trying to get to the green light before it changes and we get stuck for who knows how long. “Well, remind me to start coming to you more with my problems in the future.”

“You did, and now it’s got me a state away from my girlfriend and my child while some deranged asshole is going after them.” The words are sharp, cutting through the air like a whip.

Aiden’s jaw clenches. “I did what I thought was best. You told me that it would be fine to run into New York since the others were with Gia. Don’t try to put the blame entirely on me.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, taking a deep breath. “You’re right. I agreed to come with you. I thought that this was going to be an in and out trip.”

He drives faster, the engine revving as he loops into another lane of traffic going faster. “I didn’t think the guns were going to take as long as they did to get, but you know these things don’t always move fast.”

“They move fast when you want them to.”

“Are you accusing me of risking our siblings’ lives?”

I cross my arms, legs stretched out in front of me. My hands curl into tight fists, nails biting into the skin. “No, but I do think you’re interested in getting Gia out of our lives, and delaying the time it takes to get back to Vermont is one way to do that.”

“I’m doing double the speed limit right now so we can catch up to him!” Aiden gestures at the speedometer.

“I know you’re not happy about my being with her, but you’re going to have to learn to accept it. She and Bianca aren’t going anywhere.”

Aiden’s knuckles turn white where he grips the wheel. “You know what, you’re right. I don’t have to like it. In fact, I don’t, but believe me when I say that I’m doing everything I can to get back to the safe house before Noah gets there.”

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