Page 94 of Raine
Gabe does the same, leaning on the timber-top counter with his feet crossed over his ankles. “It’s not what you think.”
“Oh really? Tell me exactly how it is, then.”
“I assume you found out more about my involvement with the Tartarus Mafia than I divulged. I want you to know I was planning on telling you everything; I just didn’t want to shatter the little bubble we had around us at the beach house.”
I scoff, “Famous last words. The only reason you’re saying that is because I found out. Acheron told me everything.”
“Of course he did. That boy has always been a pain in my fucking ass, but he doesn’t know everything, Raine. Please let me explain.”
“You worked with my father, and you didn’t tell me!”
“Your father was dead before I entered the picture,” he said, sounding genuinely confused. “What are you talking about?”
“You really didn’t know?”
“Know what?”
“That Avernus is my father?”
“What the fuck?” he growls, kicking off the bench and stalking toward me.
Unwanted emotions spiral within as I remember the words written in my mama’s diary and I reveal all I’d learned so far. Gabe stands by my side, his calming aura somehow assuaging the rage, sadness and pain that I initially came here with. It pisses me off because I want to stay angry with him for lying to me.
“So Avernus raped your mother, and no one knew?”
“Not until I read it at the beach house bungalow. Gabe, I’m finding it difficult to accept all this and to trust that you knew nothing about it. I saw the picture in the hallway, and if you want to ever speak to me again, you better start throwing some truths my way because I’m seconds away from stalking out and never laying sight on you again.”
Nodding his head, he steps back and leans on the bench again, taking another swig of beer. “I was an informant while I was working for Avernus. We were trying to take down the Tartarus Mafia over the rumors of the sex rings they were working in.”
My blood runs cold in my veins; the images of those young boys and girls, of those four teenagers that are currently holed up at Justyce’s safe house, hiding away from the world.
“I’m not working for them anymore. I haven’t for years, Raine,” he rushes out, and I analyze his features to see if he’s lying.
“Alright, so why lie to me? Why not come out with it? You were halfway there when you confirmed your past involvement with the Tartarus Mafia.”
“I told you, I didn’t want to shatter what we had going on. It was selfish of me, but I wanted you all to myself before having to come back to the real world and dig up rotting bones.”
I mull over that for a little longer, searching his face and unfortunately believing him. “Is that why Acheron hates you?”
“For working with Avernus?”
“Yeah.”
He hesitates for a moment, and I lean forward, unease whirling in my belly. “I saw things he probably wishes I hadn’t.”
“What things?”
“Wait, that means he’s your brother?”
“Half.”
“Right,” he says, nodding his head. “I’m sorry, Raine, it’s not my story to tell.”
A pitcher of anger burns in the pit of my stomach, but I throw water over it, realizing he’s right; it’s not his story to tell. There are things about Acheron that none of us know, and I think he prefers it that way.
For the next half hour, Gabe tells me about his time with Avernus, avoiding the subject of Acheron at all costs and focusing on the task at hand - explaining himself and trying to placate me.
When he’s finished, I see the hopeful spark in his eyes, but I can’t shake the wariness in the pit of my stomach. I attempt to steer our conversation to smoother waters, but it takes us down rocky rapids.
