Page 32 of Fatal Vengeance

I shrug a little awkwardly, shuffling forward and sitting between my sister and Griffin. Creed and Asher are taking up the two armchairs directly across from us. Asher stares at me like he wants to ask a million questions about my well-being and Creed’s hands are fidgeting like he’s forcing himself not to jump across the coffee table to hand feed me.

“Missed you, little flame,” Griffin murmurs beside me, leaning down to speak close to my ear so nobody else hears him. His words set my soul on fire. It’s not like he hasn’t seen me every single day, slept in bed beside me every night, but I know what he means. He’s missed me being me. Not hiding away in bed, worrying them all.

I turn to him, stealing a kiss before he can back up. It’s not as chaste as I was planning, Griffin quickly taking over and sweeping his tongue into my mouth, but instead of feeling embarrassed with an audience, I let myself enjoy it.

Because I won’t have this for much longer.

While I stewed in bed the last few days, I plotted. I have a plan to sneak out of the cabin, steal Genevieve’s car, and haul ass back to Blackwood. A good plan too, one I know will work. The only reason I haven’t done so already is because, well, I’ll miss my guys. Is it selfish of me to linger for another couple of days and soak in each of them? Even Asher.

Pulling away from Griffin, I clear my throat, holding Asher’s and then Creed’s gaze. “The security is in place, yes?” They all nod. “And the journalist ex? How’s that coming along?” I ask my sister, shifting to face her.

Her cheeks get a little pink. “Um, yeah. That’s coming together. Actually, she’s just waiting on your statement. The guys all spoke to her already.”

“My statement? I didn’t realize I—“

“It’ll be anonymous,” she rushes to assure me, setting her plate down on the coffee table. Genevieve shifts until her legs are tucked underneath her, her red hair pulled up into a messy bun that flops around while she gets comfy. “None of your names are attached to it, but having the stories to back up her exposé still helps,” she explains, putting her hand on my knee like she’s worried I might flee. “You’ll be safe, I swear.”

I swallow roughly, but I don’t let the panic overwhelm me. If anything, this will make things better. This report will make The Celestials scramble to cover their asses and keep their skeletons hidden. I have to do everything I can to make it hit them as hard as possible, so that when I do work up the nerve to leave and face off with them, maybe they’ll be so distracted that I actually win… Maybe I’ll get the chance to come back to my guys and have the life with them that Griffin promised.

As unlikely as that is, it’s a nice thought.

Nodding, I mumble, “Alright, then. Sure, yeah.” Genevieve smiles, but there’s a glimmer of worry in her eyes that tells me she’s just as concerned about this blowing up as I am. “Can I do it now and get it over with?” I ask.

My sister shrugs. “Sure, let me grab my—“

“Wait, Prudence?” Asher says softly, grabbing my attention. He’s frowning deeply, his fingers tapping along his thigh in a nervous tic I’ve not seen from him before.

“Yeah?” I ask hesitantly.

He takes a deep breath, looks at Griffin and Creed, and then says, “There’s something I need to talk to you about. You and Creed.” He pauses, glancing at his cousin again with caution. Creed’s brows furrow, but he dips his head in a silent reassurance to keep going, so Asher does. “I should have brought this up sooner, I just didn’t know how, but I mentioned it in my statement, so… Fuck. Please don’t hate me for keeping this a secret until now,” he rambles, avoiding my eyes while he bounces his knee like all his nervous energy is begging to burst free.

My stomach sinks, a sensation you’d think I’d be used to by now, but nope. I stiffen on the couch, and Griffin, being the teddy bear protector that he is, pulls me into his side with a whispered, “It’ll be okay. Just hear him out. And try to remember who’s really at fault. The Celestials, not Asher.” I can’t even manage a nod to show I hear him, but he just squeezes me tighter and offers me his comfort.

“What is it now?” I croak out. The weakness of my voice sets Creed on edge, his warm whiskey eyes flicking all over me, his jaw tensing, and his hands fisting. I know he wants to bundle me up in his arms, but he’d have to tell Genevieve to move, so he’s forcing himself to stay put. I try to offer him a smile to let him know I'm fine, but it feels too tight and forced.

Asher pushes a hand through his hair, leaving it messy as he grits out, “Prudence, I’m sorry, I— It’s about your mom. What they did to her years ago. And everything else The Celestials have done too. To Griffin and Creed…” He trails off like he can’t find the right words, his knee bouncing even faster.

“Should I give you guys privacy?” Genevieve asks hesitantly. She bites her lip as she gazes at me, and before any of the guys can tell her to get lost, I grab her hand and hold it tight. That’s all the confirmation she needs from me, nodding and settling back into the couch to hear whatever new horror Asher is about to unleash.

“Spit it out, man,” Creed demands roughly, looking seconds away from lunging for his cousin if Asher keeps us waiting. “It doesn’t matter how hard it is for you, Prudence deserves the truth.”

Asher looks over at his cousin, searching his expression, and a moment later, he sighs. Looking at me once more, he does as Creed ordered. Gives me the whole ugly truth. Asher explains how he found these files about each of us in his dad’s office, which he’d already mentioned before because that’s how he knew about my sister. But then he goes on to tell us about what was in those files. Proof that Griffin’s attack was no accident and the police chief covered it up. Evidence of Creed’s parents’ death being foul play and detailed notes of his time in the psych ward when he was younger. The horrors he faced in there, the abuse from the doctors and staff at the order of The Celestials. It's honestly a wonder he got out of there with his mind intact. It seems more like the goal of having him put in that hospital was to break him further.

“Creed, I-I’m so sorry,” Asher breathes out shakily, scrubbing a hand down his pale face. “What they did to you… I knew it was bad, you’ve alluded to as much, but actually knowing the horrid details… You’re the strongest fucking person I know to have survived in that place and come out in one piece. They tortured you… at my father's request. I'm fucking sick knowing I came from that man. And your parents? He was behind that too, just silently pulling the strings in your life from before you could even form memories. I'm so fucking sorry.”

Creed’s eyes shudder closed, his hands balling into fists so tight that his knuckles turn white. “I’m not— I’m not strong, Ash. I’m fucking damaged... I suspected… about my parents, but fuck, to know for sure?" he croaks out, his voice breaking. When he opens his gorgeous eyes and looks at me, there’s something wild and terrified in the amber depths. “I’m not okay. I’m slipping, and now this? What if— I don’t want to get stuck in that colorless hellscape again. I don't want to be lost there.” A tear slips free and rolls down his smooth cheek, but he holds my gaze without batting it away, and I almost feel like he’s begging me to keep him together. Like he needs me so desperately, but he can’t make himself say the words.

That’s my breaking point. I was doing so well up until now. Angry, yes. Uneasy, of course. But this is too much. With tears threatening to fall, I extract myself from Griffin’s comforting touch and cross the living room, settling into Creed’s lap instead, answering his silent call. Nobody speaks while I move, which I’m thankful for. Creed curls around me the second I’m with him, burying his face in my neck with his arms wrapped so tight around my body that I worry I might stop breathing. But as I feel his anguished tears land on my skin, I realize that he needs this, needs me, far more than I need oxygen.

I lift my hand and run my fingers through his raven hair, trying to be strong for him even as my own tears finally breach. Biting my lip, I meet Asher’s gaze and nod for him to move on. As bad as Creed’s revelation is and his heartbreak right now, I know this wasn’t the worst news Asher has for us. Steeling myself with a deep, shaking breath, I focus on the silky strands of Creed’s hair and wait.

And then I kind of want to fucking die.

Asher spends the next several minutes telling me about the horrors my mom suffered at The Celestials’ hands. How she was raped by my father, locked in a room to starve, and fell pregnant against her wishes, all because she learned their dirty secrets.

No wonder her mind broke.

I think mine is almost at its breaking point too.

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