Page 120 of A Chance at Redemption for the Alpha
“I apologize,” Cassian says shortly. “But with all due respect, I have no reason to trust any high-ranking vampire but Silas and Lucian.”
“Alex is the only one I truly trust,” Silas says.
“You say that, but you never told me about the child,” Alex argues.
“It’s not like you didn’t notice yourself.”
I stare at the brothers, realization setting in. “Wait, you knew?”
Alex shrugs. “I had a feeling when I saw her. But seeing how Silas pretended she wasn’t a vampire hybrid, I thought he had reasons for it.” He pauses. “Anyone notified Durant? I am worried he might be in danger.”
“I did,” Silas reassures him. “But I was only able to talk to him briefly. He sounded stressed. Hopefully, he will call back.”
“Can someone fill me in?” Lori begs. “I don’t want to overstep, but… Benji…”
“You are not overstepping,” I reassure her, before glancing towards Silas.
“Maddie,” Silas starts. “Maddie is actually my niece. When I met Marcellus, she was just a baby. I’d saved her from Aloysius.”
“Wait…what?” Cassian blinks. “That’s some details I didn’t know either.”
“Wait a moment,” Julianus’ eyes widen. “Is she the child that Aloysius supposedly killed?”
“Yes, and hedidkill her,” Silas says. “He finished her mother first, then killed the newborn baby. However, he left immediately afterward, and Lucian and I managed to reanimate her. We decided to keep her hidden, and when we left the coven, I obviously took her with me.”
“That’s why Silas couldn’t raise her himself,” I point out. “Or the connection would have been too obvious. Sheila was alreadywith me when I met Silas and his people. She offered to adopt Maddie and keep her heritage a secret.”
“Have you ever seen the lifeless body of a baby?” Silas says into the silence. When none of us answers, he continues. “Nothing is more frightening and traumatizing. Maddie’s safety was more important than anything else, so I hope you don’t hold it against me that I didn’t share this knowledge with anyone.”
“Well, if you put it like that, I can’t really argue with you,” Alex mutters.
Before we can discuss the issue any further, Silas’ phone rings. “That’s Durant,” he says. “Finally.” He answers his phone swiftly before putting it on speaker. “Took you a while, little brother. Please tell me you aren’t in danger?”
I am fine,Durant hurries to explain.I managed to sneak away for a bit. Fuck, Silas! I should have seen it coming!
“It’s not your fault,” Silas reassures him. “Aloysius is unpredictable.”
Still, I promised to keep an eye on him… and I swear I did
“Aloysius is a genius, Durant. Don’t beat yourself up over it,” Silas says. “Do you know where he is?”
I think he is in his second hideout
Alex and Silas exchange a gaze. “He has a second hideout?”
That’s what I heard,Durant explains.I believe I can try to get one of his entrusted men to talk.
“Be careful, please,” Silas says. “I don’t want you to get hurt, and I don’t want the kids to get hurt either.”
Kids? I thought he abducted one child.
“Actually, he also took Benjamin,” Silas explains. “And Nova. You met them both, didn’t you?”
What!? Fuck, you didn’t mention that earlier! We have three innocents in his hands now.
“Yes, it’s a worst-case scenario,” Silas confesses.
Leave it to me, I will try to find out where he is hiding,Durant says.He doesn’t suspect me at all, and doesn’t know we are talking.
