Page 98 of Ghost
It was scary, but he was distracted from our previous topic. For that I was grateful. I took the opportunity to find something to do with my hands, it was the most effective way to keep calm. After a short search, I located a skein of yarn tucked into a basket. Finally, I was able to move forward with my plan.
“How is Julian handling it?” I ventured, measuring out what I’d need.
Damn if Maria was going to beat me. Damen might not care, but someone had to fight for our honor.
Besides, I was concerned. I hadn’t spoken to Julian yet.
“Well enough.” Damen responded, slightly rolling his eyes at my antics. “You know that Julian doesn’t take well to betrayal. And he’s always been protective of his family.”
My hands froze, and my mind automatically jumped to the worst.
What was Damen implying? That Julian was going to stand against us? That he’d support his mother’s actions? It was true we hardly knew Bianca. But I couldn’t imagine he would overlook…
“Where is she?” Julian stormed into the room, startling both Damen and myself.
Damen gave Julian a wary gaze. “Bianca is upstairs with Maria. Why?”
“My mother knows something.” Julian reached into the pocket and pulled out the familiar bottle. He barely spared it a glance before he threw it at Damen, who caught it in surprise.
Even so, he didn’t bother to look at it, or read what it said. We had already become too familiar since last night.
“And?” Damen asked, getting up to put the bottle back in his bag. “What did she say? What are you going to do?”
Julian, who had begun pacing, paused and shot Damen a sardonic look. “What do you mean, ‘What am I going to do’?”
Damen opened his mouth to respond, but Julian had already continued. “I’m going to track down Finn. I’m going to find out what he’s got on my mother that makes her go along with his scheme.”
Damen pursed his lips, holding himself back. He wanted to state the obvious. Which was, of course, that Julian’s assumption was illogical. Bianca had been on that medication for a long time, probably around ten years. There was no way Trinity would have acted under the orders of an eleven year old boy.
There were others involved. What they were hiding exactly, I wasn’t sure. But they were up to something. Trinity was definitely one, but if Finn was involved… The likelihood was high that Damen and Finn’s mother—Rhea Abernathy—had a part to play as well.
Damen was nowhere near as loyal to his own mother. Not since Rhea took Finn and abandoned her husband and oldest son. I wasn’t even sure when Damen had seen her last, but it had been a long time.
Julian, in the meantime, was still muttering about Finn. Perhaps I should enlighten him?
“Julian…” I began slowly. “Did you ever stop to think that—”
“We’re back.” Maria burst through the living room entrance, cutting off our conversation. “It’s time to kick your ass, Montrone.” She pointed at me dramatically as she took a seat.
I glanced at Maria, but all thoughts of a response died as I spotted Bianca standing in the doorway.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Bianca
Status
I could hear the mutterings of several voices as Maria and I drew closer to the living room. Even so, it was a surprise to see Julian present, wearing the most peculiar expression. It almost made me hesitant to announce myself.
But Maria had no such qualms. “We’re back!”
The boys jumped as she bounded into the room ahead of me and returned to her cushion. “Time to kick your ass, Montrone!”
I felt stupid suddenly and silently cursed her for leaving me alone after the pep talk she had given me. Where was our sisterhood? Wasn’t she supposed to help me?
I expected someone to reply. But Damen glanced in my direction. “What do you…” His voice trailed off, and self-consciousness reared its ugly head.
This was so stupid.So bad.Why else would Miles look ill? Julian, in the meantime, was unable to tear his eyes away from me. As if he was witnessing a train wreck.
