Page 88 of Pretty Lethal
His grandfather scoffs. “We’re your family. The Elites are your family.”
Tension lies thick in the air as Wilder takes a menacing step toward his grandfather so he’s towering over him. His entire body shakes with the extent of his fury, and when he speaks, his words are half rasp-half growl. “If that’s the case, why was I thrown out alongside my father twenty-odd years ago? A fucking baby who hadn’t done anything wrong. Tossed aside by my so-calledfamilybecause of my father’s actions.”
I watch as his grandfather’s brows furrow, and confusion flashes across his amber eyes. “I—I…”
“What? Nothing to say now, old man?” Wilder taunts with a sneer.
“Wilder.” I place a hand on his arm to grab his attention as the color drains from his grandfather’s face, and he sways on his feet. “I think something is wrong.”
Before he can go down, Kai gets an arm under him and directs him over to a nearby seat. Edward slumps in the chair, worn and haggard looking—nothing like the dictatorial patriarch of the Clearwater family that I’d been expecting.
“What’s wrong with him?” Wilder asks, frowning at his grandfather as though he’s never seen him before.
Despite the man dismissing me a moment ago, I step past Wilder to crouch in front of him. “Are you okay?” I ask in a soft, concerned tone.
“I—” He glances around his surroundings, seeming disorientated. His confusion only heightens when his gaze lands on Wilder. “Benjamin?”
Wilder blinks at him. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so insulted in my life.”
Ignoring Wilder’s remark, I focus back on his grandfather. “That’s Wilder. Your grandson. Do you remember him?”
Edward blinks at his grandson for a full minute as the fog gradually clears from his mind. “Oh. Y-yes. Yes, of course I do. Why wouldn’t I?” His stern expression slides back into place, his moment of befuddlement forgotten.
I shift my gaze to Kai, standing beside us. He looks concerned but shrugs, telling me he doesn’t know what that was about either.
“I-I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m tired today,” Edward explains, staring at the ground with a complex expression. “I apologize for wasting your time, but we must reschedule.”
“You—”
“That’s perfectly fine, Mr. Clearwater,” Kai cuts across Wilder’s protest, giving him a stern look. “We will reschedule for when you are better rested.”
Saying our goodbyes, we drag Wilder out of the house.
“What the hell was that all about?” Wilder demands, spinning on us the second we’re outside and the front door slams shut behind us.
“Did you not just see your grandfather in there?” Hawk questions, staring at Wilder in bewilderment. “He’s clearly losing his marbles.”
“So? He could be faking to stop us from asking the questions we need answers to.”
“I dunno, Wilder. I don’t think he was faking that. He seemed genuinely confused. He didn’t even know who you were,” I say, keeping my voice soft so as not to rile him up further.
“I agree with Em. That looked like an old man in the early stages of dementia or something. Not a criminal mastermind behind an elitist society.”
Wilder’s turbulent gaze bounces over the three of us before he asks the question we’re no doubt all thinking. “But if it’s not him pulling the strings of the Elite, then who?”
* * *
“There must besomeone else you’re not thinking of,” Kai argues as we drive back to the brownstone.
“There’s no one,” Wilder snarls, growing more and more frustrated with each passing mile.
“What about Robbie?” I question.
Wilder shakes his head, but he does give it some consideration. “I mean, maybe. I don’t know.” He sighs wearily.
“It wouldn’t be your dad behind the whole thing, would it?” Hawk proposes.
“Fuck, I hope not. Although, again, maybe. I don’t even know where the bastard is.”
