I'm okay.
"Where is Ace?"
"I need you to speak to Hunter and ask him to speak directly to me. No one else in my family."
I open my eyes and look at her. A man stands by the window, watching us with his hands clasped. I recognize him from the gala, Dom.
“I didn’t ask that. I asked where Ace is. Where is he?”
She chews on her lip, glancing over to her brother. “All I have is an idea of where he is. I need you to call Hunter.”
"Did you get my purse out of the wreck?"
Dom grabs something and walks over, handing me my phone.
"I'm on your side, Harper. I need you to trust me. Can you do that? I'm the only one who can play this game and get Ace back."
I look at her. Really look at her this time. The red eyes. The hair pulled back in a ponytail. The gun sitting on the side table next to a cup of coffee she hasn't touched. A woman at war on two fronts, against her enemies and against her own blood.
"Fine."
I dial Hunter's number. It rings twice.
"Harper, what happened? Are you okay?" His voice sounds wrecked.
"I-I've been better."
"Ace is alive, Harper. We’re coming to get you both. Tell me everything you remember and where you are."
The sob escapes before I can stop it.
"I don't know, Hunter. There was a crash. They took him. And Gianna took me."
"I got sent a picture of him," he hisses.
I swallow the bile in my throat. Hunter sounds both furious and devastated.
"She wants to speak to you, Hunter. Please. She's our only chance at getting him back."
"Do not trust that woman, Harper."
"Speak to her. Please, Hunter.”
I hand her the phone. She smiles, and the transformation is instant. The red-eyed woman by my bed vanishes. The queen takes her place.
"Mr. Sterling. It's Gianna." She stands.
Hunter lays into her. I can't make out the words, just the fury. Her face stays neutral. She lets him burn through it. She even checks her nails.
"I believe someone in my family went against my no-kill order on Ace. I have an idea who it is and where Ace may be. However, I'm going to need reinforcements to move against my own family. I need reassurances. I need protection."
I can tell this is hurting her to ask. Every word costs her something. Or perhaps this was her plan the entire time. She told me to call Ace. She told me he was safe here to get me.
“Thomas Graves doesn’t matter to me. Because now I know who the real mastermind is, and I plan to deal with him appropriately.” She tells him.
Was everything a lie so she could take the power in her family? Or did her brother really screw her over, have Max murdered, and go behind her back to take it from her?
"I will get your brother back. But you are going to let me into your family, Hunter. That's my deal. Otherwise, I leave Ace with them. It's up to you. I can make this easy. I can lead you right there. No one knows my brother like I do. Do you want to meet your niece or nephew, Hunter?"
