Page 11 of Craving Vengeance

Rhys let out a soft sigh and that definitely cut me harder than the anger I was expecting. “It makes sense. They–Liam was supposed to protect me. He always asked questions but he never did anything. I can’t… I need to talk to my father. I need to know that Tia is safe. If nothing else works, I need to know that she makes it out of this. She was never supposed to be part of this.”

He was going to fall apart again, I just knew it. Nothing I or the others could say would make him understand that Tia’s safetywasn’t a result of the world he had unknowingly stepped into. That her parents’ choices were why her life had been uprooted.

“Alright, let me go grab your phone.”

Rhys slid off of Dmitri’s lap and sat in between them, allowing Dmitri and Gianni to keep hold of one of his hands as he sat there and waited for me to return. I wasn’t sure what we would be up against but it couldn’t be good.

Chapter eight

RHYS

Hearing the dial tone as it rang in the silence was nerve-wracking. The only thing keeping me from fingering Fibo again was the fact that one hand was occupied with my phone and the other was firmly gripped in Gianni’s. Dmitri had his arm around my waist, squeezing just enough to keep me present and out of my head.

Paval was miraculously still sleeping in his room even after I untangled myself from him a little while ago. The ringing continued, my heart in my throat, thinking that my father wasn’t going to pick up. Or maybe it wasn’t him at all. I just needed answers.

“Dad?” I asked when the dial tone ended.

Silence met my question for several seconds before scuffling could be heard and then a sigh of relief. “Rhys? Son, I’ve been calling for days. Where are you-” My father rambled on, askinghow I was and where I was located, all three of my men shaking their heads in response.

I wasn’t in any position to do otherwise, especially since I had no idea if my father could be trusted. “I’m safe, Dad. Where’s Tia? What’s going on?”

“She’s safe. Your sister… hell the both of them. I didn’t really know what was going on but the guns and the paperwork. I recognized the symbol and they aren’t good people.”

I snorted, relaxing a little now that I was hearing his voice. “So you just stole my niece? I can’t imagine Ada is very happy about that.” Knowing Ada and what she had done most recently, I knew for a fact that she would be pissed.

“Stole her? I’mprotectingher. Do you even know who her father is?”

I bit my tongue, wanting to argue with my father and yet not having the energy to. Finding out Owen was Tia’s father had been a bit of a blow. “Dad, you can’t just steal my niece. Where are you even going?” I had almost told him that he had to go through the proper channels if he thought that Tia wasn’t safe, but who was the right channel anymore?

All of this shit for a fucking project?

“It doesn’t matter. We’re taking a little vacation away from all of this craziness. When I couldn’t get a hold of you, I assumed your siblings had twisted you up into this mess as well. I’m right, aren’t I? Rhys, you need to get out. You’re not the first person they approached, son.”

My brows furrowed as I stared down at the phone. “Wait, what?” Was this shit a family affair? When my father didn’t answer, I realized I didn’t care. I just wanted to know that Tia was safe. “Let me talk to Tia.” In these circumstances, it was the best I could do. Surely, my father had his reasons, and no doubt my mother was right beside him. As long as Tia was safe, I could live with that for now.

More shuffling could be heard before there was a little squeal. “Uncle Rhys? Gran-ma and Gran-pa took me on vacation while Mom and Dad are busy! It’s pretty out here by the water. They said you could come too if you want. Gran-ma is taking me to the beach. Come soon, okay?” She blew me a little kiss before I assumed she handed the phone back to my father.

“I love you, Rhys. Stay safe.”

He hung up, leaving me even more baffled. What the fuck was I supposed to do with any of that information? Valentyn scooted a little closer, tilting his head to catch my attention. “Liam and Ada both think you might know where your niece is.” He slipped my phone from my hand and scrolled through a few messages to show me. “I have no idea how deep this goes, Rhys.”

Valentyn telling me that he was in the dark scared me a little. He was supposed to be our protector, our safe place–or at least that’s how Gianni had spoken about him the few times he had come up. The couple of days I had been around Valentyn had shown me I could trust him with my life but this shit was getting messier by the second.

“What’s going on in that head of yours?” Gianni whispered in my ear.

“I just keep thinking this is all my fault.” Not entirely. My father said that this hadn’t started with me. Dmitri tensed against my side, no doubt about to explain how it wasn’t but I needed to get these thoughts off my chest. Pushing off the couch, I maneuvered Valentyn to sit between them, heat building in the pit of my belly as they all leaned forward, legs spread, hands clasped over their knees. They looked like a force to be reckoned with, dark, hooded eyes glaring at me to continue.

A shiver ran down my spine and I swallowed the moan threatening to leave my lips.Not the fucking time, Rhys. Get it together.

It reminded me how hot and heavy we had started and then how much time it had taken me to wrap my head around a future that included three men who loved me and a kid who adored me. “I’m just saying that I kept thinking all of this shit happened because of me. Owen, and Tia who was now with my father. But it wasn’t my fault. Ada and Liamchoseme. That is the only thing that makes any fucking sense.”

I began pacing, running my hands through my hair. Every fucking choice I had made over the last six years had been influenced in some part by my family. My fucking program that I had fallen in love with? Liam had suggested that I apply for the internship. It wasn’t a sure thing but it was right up my alley. Ada’s constant digs that it would never work out spurred me on to attending that stupid French convention because I just had to prove her wrong.

And that’s where I met Owen, someone I could escape to when being around my family was too overwhelming. Like shattered pieces of glass finally revealing the entire picture. My hands fisted at my sides as I let out a little huff of annoyance. Did everyone just think I was stupid?

“Ada handed Owen to me on a silver platter, didn’t she? She knew I needed someone to run to and he was right there, saying all the right words. Telling me everything I needed to hear.” A disobedient tear traveled down my cheek and I smacked it away. “Liam was just as bad. Making me believe I was safe. That someone was looking out for me. He knew I’d enforce that fucking restraining order though. But now what? They were both just using me?”

Gianni tried to reach for me but I dodged his hand. “Babe, it’s alright to feel emotional.”

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