Page 20 of Faithless
“All of it,” I said. “The present god, the past gods. I told him everything you all told me.”
We were in the kitchen, the two of us having come back just as my parents were having lunch.
“So you’re just accepting this?” Shadow leaned back in his seat, his arm draped over the back of my mother’s chair. “Both of you?”
“It doesn’t seem like I have a choice,” I said.
“It’s true. You don’t.” Jandro was stone-faced, all the humor gone as he regarded us from across the table. “And I fucking hate that.” He brought a fist down on the table, startling everyone. “I hate thatwegave up so much, and it wasn’t enough. Westillcouldn’t keep you safe from this. I’m sorry, mijita.”
“Papi,” I breathed, using the name I called him as a little girl. “It’s okay. It’s not your fault.”
“She’s right.” Reaper leaned over and squeezed his shoulder. “We can’t blame ourselves. We had no way of knowing this would happen.”
“But the gods probably did,” Gunner pointed out. “And they couldn’t have warned us? I hate this too. It’s fucking bullshit.”
“Weallhate it,” my mom said, raising a hand. “None of us wanted this for our kids. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s happening. And,” she hesitated, lowering her palm, “Astarte is probably right in the sense that Rori is better equipped to handle such a threat than anyone else of her generation.”
“Because she was raised by us,” Reaper said, his chin lifting with pride.
“Yes, exactly.”
I swallowed heavily, hoping no one noticed. I didn’t feel like I was equipped with a goddamn thing. For all I knew, I was going against a tank with a slingshot.
“We’ve taught Torr well too,” Gunner said, eyes falling to the man at my side. “You still shooting at the range?”
Torr nodded. “Couple times a week.”
“Still lifting?” Shadow asked with a small smile. Anyone could tell Torr was ripped just by looking at him. He and Daren hit the gym together every morning.
“Shit, I gotta beat your deadlift one of these days,” Torr answered.
“Hm. Not likely, kid,” Shadow said coolly.
“If there’s one thing I can feel comfort in, it’s that he’ll be with you,” my mom said to me before turning a grateful glance to Torr. “Thank you for doing this. We love you like one of our kids, so my mothering side is in pieces over this, but at the end of the day, I’m glad it’s you with her, Torr.”
I noticed Torr standing a little straighter, his chest puffing out slightly. “You’re all the closest thing to a family I’ve ever had, so when Rori told me about this, it was a no-brainer. I know you’d never ask this of me, but she also shouldn’t be out there alone. I promise she’ll be safe and back home in one piece.”
“If it was any other kid giving me that speech, I’d send him out the front door with my foot up his ass.” Reaper glowered. “But you’re not just any other kid, Torr. Youareour family too.” My father stood, extending his hand. When Torr went to take it, Reaper grabbed his forearm and pulled him into his chest, clasping his other arm around Torr’s back in a rough hug. “I know you’ll take care of Rori. But get yourself home safe too. You hear me, kid?”
“Yes, sir.”
They released each other and Torr glanced back at me, his expression a little dazed. That often happened when someone got close to Reaper. Bryce once joked that he never knew if Reaper was going to hug him or stab him.
I met Torr’s gaze and nodded with another hard swallow. The inevitable couldn’t be delayed any longer. “Guess we should start packing.”
* * *
I managedto go a whole half hour of picking out the lightest, but most usable items from my wardrobe for the trip before my fathers started hovering. One of them barely knocked at my bedroom door before all four of them crowded their way in.
“Jesus, you guys can still knock!” I shoved the underwear I’d laid out into a side pocket of my saddle bag.
Jandro paid no mind to my panty selection and immediately assaulted me with a bear hug. Unsurprising, since he was easily the clingiest of my dads. He’d be happy to have me live under his roof until I was well into my forties.
“We’re not gonna see you for shit knows how long,” he murmured into my hair. “So don’t get mad that we want to spend every last second we can with you.”
A painful twinge pulled at my chest, and I melted, returning his hug. “I don’t know what I’m doing, Papi,” I whispered into his chest.
He let out a shuddering breath as he rubbed my back. “You don’t know yet, but you will. I promise you will. Trust in your god. Astarte won’t lead you astray.”
