Page 42 of Montana Falls
The moment we entered, all of their heads snapped toward us, and the palpable anxiety in the room spiked as I glanced around.
The main living area had a soft, grey carpet that muffled the sound of our footsteps. Large, floor-to-ceiling windows gave a sweeping view of the London skyline, though the curtains were half-drawn. There was a modern sofa set against the wall with a few throw blankets draped over the back and mussed, as if the people inside the room had been huddled there, waiting for something to happen. A television mounted on the wall was muted, flashing images of an animated show none of them had probably been watching.
Hades and Ares were sitting together on the couch, their dad standing behind them with his arms crossed, his face pale as he glared my way the second I walked into the room. It got my back up, but seeing as we were on a time crunch – and I had inadvertently killed his wife – I let it slide for now.
And by letting it slide, I meant I grabbed Kody’s hand when he took a step forward, pre-emptively stopping whatever he was about to do.
“Hi.” I coughed to clear my throat.
“Hey.” Maddox paced back and forth in front of the windows, a nervous ball of energy. “What do you need us to do, then?”
Ares jumped to his feet first at the same time. “I’m ready for whatever.”
“Both of you sit down.” David ordered, his voice rough. “You’re not doing anything.”
“I’m helping.” Hades brow was furrowed, lips pressed together in that worried way that reminded me how young all the kids present really were, even if they tried to act tough. “I want to help.”
Her father turned his glare on her, and she met it unflinchingly. Almost apathetic.
“It’s not safe. You could get hurt.” He was angry, but he was also concerned and clearly grieving, and that was the only reason I refused to let his glaring at me bother me.
“I’m already hurting.” She breathed, voice lowering as she switched to Russian and muttered,“And you know exactly why.”
For a single second, I wondered why she felt the need to change language for a sentence that meant little. But it quickly slipped out of my mind, when Maddox shifted on the chair, fiddling with her fingers until he grabbed her hand and squeezed it, and Misha’s phone beeped again.
“He’s on the move again.” Misha snapped. “He’s bringing the car closer to the front of the hotel. We have to do this now.”
Ares’ face was hard, but I could see the flicker of fear behind his eyes as he too, ignored his dad, and got back up to his feet.
“My sister can stay here. I’ll do the plan alone.”
She opened her mouth. “But-”
“But nothing.” He grinned at her. “Madd’s is gonna keep you company whilst Beni and dad get something to eat.”
“We can watch that new nature documentary.” Maddox reached for the TV remote on the table. “That one with the bird things you like.”
“And I think we should eat pizza. Everybody loves pizza.” Beni added, his voice just as happy as it had been when he’d been on the phone to me and told the guys yesterday, that he hadn’t seen a damn thing to help us, as he was smacked in the back of the head and chucked out of the car before he could be useful as a witness.
Ares’ dad huffed but didn’t stop his son as he stepped towards us, eager to help out. Honestly, I was kind of glad he’d stopped his sister from doing anything. It made it easier if we only had to worry about one kid outside, not two.
With a few mumbled good lucks and be safe’s, my guys headed back out of the room, spreading out over the other two elevators and disappearing like we’d planned, leaving me alone for a second with David, as Ares shoved his shoes on and the older man stomped over to me.
“When this is done, I suggest you never contact my family again.” He whispered in Russian. “We don’t need more of your drama.”
My brows rose, temper flaring again.“My drama?”
“Your Montana bullshit. The stuff we left behind when Shan and I ran away and started a new life.” He hissed.
I did my best to reign in my anger, but a tiny bit came out to play. It wasn’t my fault, though. I refused to be whisper yelled at by a stranger.
“You never had a new life. It was a lie until Cassie got bored and found you. We both know she would never have let you spend the rest of your lives being happy together.” My jaw clenched.
“Can you blame her? Your family ruined her and turned her crazy.” He replied.
“But I didn’t do it. I wasn’t even born then, and neither was my Beau. So your attitude needs to cut out right now because I won’t keep tolerating it.” If there hadn’t been children present, Iwould have thrown my weight around more, but I was trying to keep them out of it. “I’m sorry about Shannon. I didn’t want her to die, and I didn’t want any of this to happen. But it did, and it wasn’t my fault.”
David hurried to get one last remark in as Ares grabbed a jacket off the hangers on the opposite wall. “No, you didn’t. But if anything happens to my kids tonight, then I’ll be the one pulling the trigger next, and I sure as hell won’t be aiming at myself.”
