Page 158 of Terror Tuesday
“My father texted. He’s worried,” Olivia says, glancing at her phone.
Dad clears his throat and nods. “I think we all are.”
“What does she mean?Moreregulation?”
“I’m going down there to pay her a visit,” Mom spits out with vitriol, then grabs a shotgun from the back of the radio cabinet nearby. “This is it, Cal. Let’s go. Down thereright now.”
Dad rushes to her and gives me a sharp look. “I’ll go to more meetings. We’ll figure this out. But you understand the best way to take this type of situation down is…”
“From the inside,” I say, swallowing roughly.
He gets her to set down the gun and snaps his finger at me to go out to the hall. I pull Olivia with me as she studies her family’s group text.
As soon as we’re out of earshot, Dad scolds me. “She’s pregnant—with twins. Let her calm down, and I’ll talk to you later. Without her there.” He straightens my shoulders and looks me square in the eyes. “We… I can’t be involved. Not this time, my son. This is on you all. This is your battle to win.”
I nod, just as he embraces me tightly. Then, I grab Olivia’s hand and head toward the back doors.
He’s right, though. This isourfight. Our parents can help, but ultimately, we need to take control of our future.
Olivia grabs our coats, and we bundle up, heading out into the misty afternoon. We walk in silence for a long while until we reach our mansion’s ruined back wall. Olivia pauses for a moment and glances up at the turrets crumbling over while chewing on her bottom lip.
“Did we just make things a lot worse with what we did?” she whispers, the sound almost blending with the wind.
To be honest, I don’t know how to answer her.
But the heavy pit in my stomach already has.
forty-six
XAVIER
For three years,I kept one eye on Calum Von Dovish’s son. Just as the head of West Tech Industries did with my family. We orbited each other at board events, exchanging an occasional glance. Never a word. Just a nod of subtle acknowledgement. But something in his stare told me what I needed to know.
Calum Von Dovishknewthe truth. Just as I did.
The kids think the problems stop at Northview University. But it goes way deeper than that. Higher. To every level of government and across the country. Probably the world.
And that’s what I’m trying to fix. For them. For everyone.
Two years ago, at a political rally, I watched another society puppet ascend into office. I was there to play nice. Shake hands, make pledges, all while gathering intel to gut the campaign from the inside.
“Mr. Cardell, good to see you,” Governor Walker said with a plastic smile.
He pitched meThe Viridis Initiative—a green movement meant to save the planet. I knew better. It was a front for trafficking.
The next weekend was another function. An unrelated party. And that was the day that Calum approached me with two words. A simple brush-off, coupled with that knowing look.
“NonViridis.”
That evening? The entire office was raided. Governor Walker had distanced himself from the mess, stating the directors led it in a horrid direction without his understanding.
And me? I got an anonymous text.
Unknown Number
Ire hyacintho. Familia vulpes.
Blue foxes… There’s only one family that wears that name.
