CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
TOREN
She sits there with her mouth slightly ajar and her gaze focused directly at me. “What did you tell him?” I push in a clipped tone.
She shakes her head. “Nothing. I told you, I gave him updates on how you were doing and that’s it, I swear.” She implores me with her eyes to believe her. “I had no idea he was crooked, Toren. I swear on my life. When he came to me he offered to get me out and I jumped at the chance, but the night he took me to the beach, he told me he wanted updates about you but never directly said about what.”
I mull over her words for a minute before I nod. “Over a year ago, there was an accident as you all know. Everything started from there. I just didn’t know it until I was released from Walter House after my year of banishment so my father could keep his reputation intact. Once I got home, I was dropped into enemy territory and Xaden took me in. He may not have lied to me but he sure as fuck manipulated me.” I subconsciously place my hand over my stomach, which makes Harper squawk drawing my attention to her.
“Are you pregnant?” she yells, making me cringe.
I spy Carnage stiffening out of the corner of my eye. “I guess there isn’t any point in hiding anymore,” I mutter. Harper squeals and claps her hands like a damn sea lion.
“I’ve always wanted to be an aunt!”
I stare at her like she’s crazy. “I’m nineteen, Harper, and pregnant to the guy who wants to murder me and eradicate my family. Please save the applause until after I survive the impending war!” The happiness vanishes from her face and I feel a pang of guilt, but I can’t get caught up in the feeling of new life growing inside me when my future is so uncertain.
I wish I could have confided in her about the pregnancy sooner but I never had the chance. She was with Cas and I was trying to gather the help I needed to fight this war. I didn’t want anyone to know. The more people that know, the greater the chance that Xaden would find out. Too late for that now.
“You’re having his kid?” Carn’s tone is tense.
I look over at him and nod. “Yeah,” I whisper.
He purses his lips and nods. “He know?”
A whoosh of air escapes. “Yeah, he found out at the rink before he… before… he…” I clamp my mouth closed, unable to finish the sentence. Pain lances through me. When I close my eyes, all I can see is Kellan’s face and the vacant look in his eyes as he stared up at me. I shiver and shake away the feeling, forcing those horrible images out of my mind as I focus back on the task at hand. “He knows,” I state.
“And?” Vat hedges.
I shrug. “He denied it as his and doesn’t care.” I hate that I can hear the hurt in my own voice.
“What else?” Omen barks, bringing me back on track.
“The night I escaped… well, I actually had help,” I admit.
“Caspian,” Harper breathes out.
“Yes,” I answer, feeling guilty for betraying him by telling these guys. “He got me out. Before I could escape Kellan wasthere. He knocked me out. Long story short, I woke up on the ride to Walter House. We fought and he told me the truth.” Tears burn the backs of my eyes as I fight to keep my emotions in check. “I thought the worst of him. Don’t get me wrong, he behaved like a total asshole and hurt me but he was… good. In his own way he was trying to help me and I had no fucking idea. I treated him so badly.” Tears roll down my cheeks as guilt consumes me. Carnage wraps an arm around my shoulders and draws me into his side, offering me comfort. I melt into him.
“I got you, Tor.” His reassurance means more than he will ever know.
“He told me what he was up to and it all made sense.”
“What did he tell you exactly?” Halo presses.
I swallow and force myself to breathe as what I’m about to tell them is going to shake the foundation of their worlds. I’m going to make them rethink their trust in me and question if they should even be here helping me.
“Kellan gave me files on all of you the night he dropped me at Walter House.” The four brothers in front of me stiffen. Carnage remains relaxed beside me but I can see the pinched expression on his face and know he is trying to remain calm. I know that these guys have worked their asses off to keep their identity a secret and even their boss flies under the radar. There is not a single picture of them or Alex on the internet and I learned from Halo’s file that it’s because of him. He makes sure their faces are never seen or pictures of them that were taken are wiped. I can see it in their expression that they are wondering how the fuck he got files on them to begin with.
“Why?” Pope pushes in a clipped tone.
“He also gave me files on Xaden, Lorenzo, Caspian, his own father as well as my own, and my brother. He wanted me to know exactly who I was dealing with before I made my decision.”
“And what decision is that exactly?” Omen grits out in a cold tone.
I brace myself for their outrage as I answer. “To help take down the Devlin Cosa Nostra and Kellar Cartel by garnering intel the CIA needed to take them down and grant him and someone else immunity.” Carnage grows tense beside me and the four in front of me look murderous. I don’t blame them, I knew if they learned the truth they would be furious.
“Toren!” I ignore Harper as I push on.
