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Maybe he’d read it in her expression. The rage that begged her to slap him right across the face. The fuck. Anger was hot and easier to feel than the true pain tearing at her insides. Thank God she didn’t have a direct link to Daire in that second. He wanted a signal? She’d give it loud and clear. She’d summon him to her side and beg him to take down the smug bastard who knew exactly what was going on in her head.
Not exactly. No. She knew something he didn’t. The Ares he considered so precious was drifting further and further away from the cause because the damn principals couldn’t get their acts together. The particular one she was looking at anyway.
“Good,” she said, only because it was the exact opposite of what he expected her to say. “I have tickets for a matinee this week.”
Oh, she’d never known rage. Daire had said that in his first letter to her. He’d never known rage until he met her. She got it. Understood how someone, anyone, having the power to manipulate others could twist the knife and turn up the heat of anger.
She’d never been so tempted to give Styx the go. Assassination sounded good for the first time. After Byron and Hugo were gone, they might have a chance to end this.
One and Three were leaving the country. Although it was a disappointment to be staying behind, the change highlighted a new issue. One day she might have to walk out the door without warning. There wouldn’t be time to say goodbye or strategize with Styx. They needed a contingency plan.
“We didn’t intend to leave so abruptly,” Byron said. “An opportunity arose. One we can’t miss.”
“What kind of opportunity?” she asked.
“Our associates are in proximity,” Byron said. “We should be able to approach both. Negotiations may be difficult, so I apologize in advance if we take up too much of our host’s time.”
Zeus? Was that who he was talking about? From the smile the men exchanged, she figured so.
“It’s all for a good cause,” Tess said, restraining her impulse to be snide. “Olympus comes first, right?”
“It does,” Byron said, buying the act, though it wasn’t so clear if Zeus did. “It was a pleasure meeting you. It won’t be long until we see each other again.”
“It won’t?” she asked, recognizing the prospect of gathering intelligence. “When will we see each other again? Are you coming back here after your meeting?”
“It could take several days,” Byron said, his brow descending as he looked past her to Zeus. “Maybe a couple of weeks… I assume Beta will be the next time we see each other.”
Oh, she liked that. Beta meant the beta site. She’d been there before. That was where she’d met Harry.
As her mind worked, Zeus grabbed her arm to pull her across the room. “You should get ready for dinner.”
Ha! Now who was angry? Z swung her towards the hallway, throwing her out of the room. Obviously, he didn’t like the former president being so honest. Although it was difficult, she restrained her immature desire to laugh in triumph. Yes, she had something to go on. Finally. The beta site was in Oregon, USA, the coordinates were branded in her memory. She’d be going home… Sometime. Eventually. Which was more than she’d known a few minutes ago.
In her bedroom, she dropped back to close the door with her weight. What did they need to do at the beta site? Demo it, Daire had said that was in the cards. She wouldn’t need to be present for that. It was another piece of the puzzle. Intel was the key to survival. In that second, she felt just a little closer to her Heart.
Someone moved in the hallway beyond her room. She didn’t think anything of it, the uniformed grunts were always going here and there. Her mind was elsewhere until she heard a voice.
“Are we ready to go?” Hugo called out.
“Yes,” came Byron’s reply, his voice a little quieter.
“I should say goodbye to Tess. Is she back?”
“Leave her,” Zeus demanded, radiating irritation. “You need to go.”
“What’s wrong?” Hugo’s voice receded as he said the words.
She wouldn’t hear much with them in the foyer. Taking a risk, she rolled on the door and curled her fingers around the handle to open it, slow and silent.
“I’m sorry,” Byron’s quiet words were the first she heard. “Honesty is important for trust. We should tell her.”
“If she knows, then she has power,” Zeus hissed. “Her blood has to be living, I can’t just slit her throat. Ignorance means less resistance. The more she knows, the more she’ll demand. It’s a ridiculous situation.”
“Tess has strength, and her loyalty isn’t set,” Byron said. “She’s no victim. This is the chance to empower and educate her. She has taken this in stride… with grace. She’s smart enough to handle it.”
“That’s not your decision,” Zeus said, his confidence in full force. “And it’s time for you to leave. Both of you. Keep me apprised of your progress. Any difficulties, contact me immediately.”
Although they wouldn’t have to if Six was going to be there. Lowell would keep his bestest buddy in the loop. The front door opened as Zeus issued orders to the men taking the suitcases.
