Page 103 of Vicious Hearts

“I’m doubling security on the house. Eilish, sorry, I know you hate them, but you’ve got a detail now when you need to go out.”

She nods, hugging herself.

“We’ll do the same on our end,” Ares mutters.

“Good. And despite what we all heard coming from that speaker,” I growl, glancing at Neve, “I don’t fucking believe in ghosts. So let’s find the asshole who’s trying to play one.”

I move back to the couch and squat down again in front of Una. I take her hands in mine as her wide eyes drag up to me.

“Come.”

She swallows, wetting her lips. “Where are we going?”

“Home.”

22

UNA

“Doyou know why I am in here, little bird?”

I nod. “Yes, Papa.”

But he’s going to tell me again, anyway.

“I’m here,” he growls, shoving his fingers through his long silver hair, “because the world is full of sinners and monsters, Una. And to kill monsters, you have to embrace the darkness. To kill monsters, little bird, you have to be one, too.”

Across the room, Dr. Thompson sits with two of her assistants. I like Dr. Thompson. She’s always so nice to us—to Finn and me.

It makes me happy when people are nice to Finn.

Currently, she’s watching Finn draw a picture of the minor league baseball game our group home went to see the other day.

“Look at me, Una.”

I start, pulling my eyes back to my father. He gazes at me steadily.

“Somehow, in that shared womb, you took all of it, my girl.”

I frown. “All of—”

I cry out, wincing when he smacks the top of my hand.

“Do not interrupt me when I am speaking.”

I nod, pulling my hand back and rubbing it with my other one.

“Power, Una. The ability and drive to be brutal. That is what you took all of. Your brother?” He scoffs. “He has none of that. Finn will never be a monster.”

I resist the urge to smile.

Good.

“But you, my daughter. You have that monster inside of you. You will be an avenging angel for God when the time is right.”

When he sees the question in my eyes, he smiles.

“You may speak.”

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