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“He wanted them weak,” Asher posited.
Lance nodded. “So they wouldn’t be a threat, or in a position to come at him once he walked.”
“What do you want to do, Jonah?” Princess asked me as she sat between Asher and Kill.
Olivia was snuggled up close to Lance on the adjacent oversized armchair, rubbing his back as he sat forward, deliberating with us.
“Leave him be.”
“You’re sure?” Kill asked.
I nodded. “He’s no longer technically a Head Infidel. He said it himself and Lance has just confirmed… he’s retired. And he’s on our side.” I looked at Asher, worried that he wouldn’t accept that, that he’d just see the threat my father used to be, thinking he could someday become that again.
But then he surprised me, by saying, “He’s severed himself from his contacts, his army of enforcers by walking away. That takes away most of his power. So long as he enters into self-imposed exile when this is done, we won’t pursue him.”
“Fine,” Lance said. “But you and I will monitor him for the foreseeable future as a precaution. We also can’t take the risk of allowing his assistance with the upcoming op. I’ll get a communication to him, tell him to take off now and not to look back.”
“Agreed.”
Kill smiled up at me. “At least one of our parents didn’t turn out to be a completely irredeemable psychopath. Well, aside from my mom.”
“Debatable,” Asher said. “At least on the psychopath part.”
“She was just doing what she had to,” Killian argued. “I’m sorry it involved trying to hurt you, though, brother.”
Aurora rubbed both their shoulders. “It was actually my mom who created that shitshow.”
“I’m sorry, angel,” Lance said, pain in his eyes for her, that she’d had to find out the awful truth about Isobel. The only saving grace there was that she hadn’t been close to her, that Isobel hadn’t been much of a mother anyway, so the loss now wasn’t as devastating. But it sure as fuck was disturbing.
Killian wrapped his arm around her. “You’ve got your dad. He’s here now, we did it, you did what you set out to do.”
That had Aurora beaming at her dad.
“Debatable there too on the psychopath part,” Asher cut in.
“Coming from somebody who’s literal nickname is Psycho,” Killian said.
“No, he’s right,” Lance said, surprising us. “The things I’ve done… they’ve crossed a line, especially lately.”
“You were trying to fight the monsters by becoming one,” Olivia pointed out. “You got lost along the way.”
“I did, yeah.”
“Until Aurora gave you a wakeup call.”
“Until both of you did,” he told her, planting a kiss on her cheek. Who knew the guy actually had a soft side? Well, Olivia and Aurora did, but him displaying it to me, Kill, and Asher, was a whole other thing. “I’m sorry,” he said, looking at Asher. “I wouldn’t wish that slaughterhouse situation on anyone and I feel sick that I could’ve prevented it from befalling you, but I didn’t. I’m sorry I used you to protect Aurora, I should’ve found another way.” He drew in a breath, then even told him, “Manipulating you against her… that was wrong too. I apologize. Just the idea of history repeating itself through the sons… I couldn’t see beyond that.” He smiled out at each of us in turn. “Until I saw the four of you together, your dynamic.”
Asher didn’t outright accept his apology. After what had happened, it would take more than that for him. Time and a shit-ton of effort on Lance’s part.
But he did say, “I need to trust you on this mission. So, I’m gonna give you the benefit of the doubt. Don’t make me regret it.” He rubbed Aurora’s shoulder. “Don’t make her regret it.”
“You have my word.”
A contemplative silence fell over us as we all absorbed the heaviness.
And then Asher rose and fired up a smoke. Taking a drag, he said, “Aaron has briefed Bryce on the specs we sent along. They’re ready to go.”
“You’ve told them not to move in until the Heretics arrive?” Lance asked.
