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“He was honest with me,” I said, nodding. “And from how it sounds maybe the only one?”
My words surprised him, Ares’s mouth parting, and they surprised me too. I’d had a lot of time to myself at Windsor House, the Court’s headquarters, with Bru. At lot of time to find truths and discover what were the lies. Thatcher had given my brother and me a laptop to use as well as a room with a TV, and I used it to decipher what was real. Callum had told me many things before I’d left, many dark and disturbing things, and I went to the computer to flesh it out.
The internet only confirmed what he’d said.
He hadn’t told me a lie about who he was, not one.
I wished he had.
“I know about it all, Ares,” I said. “The murder cover-up, the cruelty…” I held onto his jacket, needing the warmth so bad. I glanced his way. “How he helped our family?”
Our family…
I was suddenly in a world where people hurt each other, and families protected each other to the point of madness. Where terror and horrible acts reigned supreme and darkness flapped its ugly wings. This was my legacy.
This was my family.
It was Ares’s too, and though the Mallicks weren’t the only parties involved, we’d started this. The news articles said the Mallicks were at the helm.
Ares put his hands together. “Our great-uncle and grandfather,” he said. “Yes.”
And that was all he had to say, that truth out there too. Our great-uncle had murdered someone, and our grandfather helped cover it up. He’d gone to someone to help him, and that someone hit real close to home.
He’d been taking care of Bru and me.
“Great-Uncle Leo is still serving time.” Ares adjusted against the wall. “I’ve never met him, and he’ll die in that place.” His expression cut. “For what he did, he’ll die in there.”
For what he did…
I knew about that too, of course, all of it.
“As far as Grandpa, I’ve never met him either. Though, he’s out of prison now.” Ares’s head lowered. “He stayed away my whole life. Like D’s…”
My eyes shut tight, the tears blinking down.
“He’s his grandpa,” I gasped, rubbing my nose. “Callum is Dorian’s grandfather.” It’d been the first time I’d spoken the words aloud and since they’d been originally spoken to me. “Callum Montgomery is Callum Prinze.” It was like I needed to hear the words again to believe them. “And he covered up the murder of Dorian’s aunt.”
His aunt Paige, his mother’s sister.
Holy fuck.
Nausea surfaced and not the first time. I’d thrown up many times since I had gone out on my own. During restless nights.
After nightmares.
Sickness threatened to grapple hold again, and I hoped I could hold it down.
“Yes,” Ares whispered, his gaze pointed, focused on me. “He really did tell you everything.”
Callum had told my brother and me the truth, told us all of it, and each gritty detail was only confirmed by those internet searches. My guardian had told us facts, and though he’d spared us the specifics, that hadn’t mattered.
I’d still asked for the trash can.
I’d thrown up literally everything to the point of stomach bile that day, and Callum had rushed everyone inside the room. Doctors had come, nurses. It’d only proved to smother me even more. I’d needed out.
And he’d given that to me.
Callum had given us the room after I’d thrown up, and my brother and I had taken the first opportunity we could to leave it. It was all too much. It was…
