“You’re right, I did.” I nod and agree with him. “But I didn’t know about any of this shit, so your bringing it up now is a low blow,Gunnar.” I spit his name, and he jerks his head back like I’ve slapped him.
“I—” He starts, but I lift my hand, cutting him off.
“It doesn’t even matter right now.” I shake my head. It’s not like I didn’t expect any of them to have a past, but something about knowing he was with Vanessa makes my blood boil.
“So how do we ‘follow the money,’” I question, mocking his words.
“I have a Pixie looking deeper into her financials and trying to figure out where the money went to,” Gunnar admits, sounding a little defeated.
“Fine, whatever. Aeson should be here soon.” I scoot off the stool and head up to my bedroom, since that’s always where Aeson pops up.
* * *
I’m sulking.I didn’t even know I sulked until I met these three. I don’t like it.
The tiny tap of heels alerts me to her presence, and it’s only because she wanted me to know she was coming that I do.
“Hey, Dami.” Aeson saunters in looking none the worse for the wear, except her eyes—she can’t hide the shadows in her eyes.
“Glad to see you showed up.” I give her a little jab.
“What can I say? People needed killing.” She hops up onto the edge of my bed after scaling my footboard. “A girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do.” She shrugs her small shoulders, not really giving an explanation why she was late.
“Everything okay?” I ask in a quiet voice. Aeson’s not one to tell me too much about what’s going on in her life, but I want her to know she can. Especially now.
“Fine, thanks to you and those three downstairs.” Aeson sits on my bed with her legs out in front of her, crossed at the ankles, and lets out a heavy sigh.
I give her a few minutes to relax. Eventually, Aeson draws in a heavy breath and turns to face me. “Thanks for coming for me, Damiana.” When I go to tell her it’s not a big deal, she cuts me off by lifting her hand. “Whatever you’re about to say, don’t. If it weren’t for you guys…” She pinches in her lips. “I probably would have rotted on that table, Dami, no shit. No one would have found me. So, thank you. I owe you a debt.”
“You don’t owe me anything, Aeson, you’re my friend, my family,” I tell her with sincerity.
A moment passes between us, two women both so different, but not at all unsimilar. She comes here to escape, to not have to be the toughest or the bravest. I cling to our friendship because she doesn’t treat me like I’m crazy, and because she’s my escape—escape from the loneliness that eats away at me.
“Want to help us find the guy that taught Vanessa the ritual?” I offer when the conversation feels like it’s getting too heavy.
“You have no idea how badly I want to.” Aeson’s dark eyes harden.
“We got this. As long as it takes,” I promise and lift my knuckles to her. Aeson knocks her little fist into mine and agrees.
“As long as it takes.”
Chapter 29
Aeson and I are giggling as we head back to the kitchen. This room is getting more use than it ever has.
“Brownie.” Gunnar tips his chin at Aeson.
“Berserker,” she responds coolly.
“Where’s everyone else?” I swallow my pride and force my tone to be even. Being angry at him isn’t helpful, especially right now. I don’t know why his being with Vanessa feels like such a betrayal, but it does. Maybe it’s because it was so easy to believe that he didn’t like her; I truly believed he hated her. Perhaps that’s just it: they say the line between love and hate is nonexistent, and I worry the line was blurred for him.
“Death and the Nemean are in the other room. Can I talk to you for a minute?” Gunnar requests, pushing his hands into his pockets.
“For?” I plant my hands on my hips.
“I’ll go find them, Dami.” Aeson abandons me. Traitor.
Once Aeson clears the room, Gunnar steps a little closer to me, but I hold my ground. “I thought you might give me a chance to explain.” He peers down at me, his face not giving away his emotions, so I can’t read him.
