Page 41 of Embracing Darkness

God, this man was selling it. Ada, however, couldn’t let things lie. “No, Owen-”

Gianni’s brows furrowed and I could feel the anger welling up in his expression. I carefully laid a hand on his arm to remind him that he couldn’t do anything…toher. He let out a deep breath and clasped my hand in his. “Owen is no longer allowed in the house. He broke in a few days ago and is intent on trying to worm his way back in here. I don’t know what lies he’s told you but he is not welcome here. I’d rather you stop speaking about him as if he knows what’s going on and if you’re not here for any other reason thanOwencalled you, I’d suggest you leave.”

“He swore to me-”

Gianni squeezed my hand a little tighter but this was for his comfort, not mine. “And I don’t really care because he’s not important.”

I watched my sister’s facial features, trying to understand why Owen had such a hold on her. The way she spoke his name, the way she believed that Owen was a fucking god among men. She always had so many goddamn stories about him, ones that didn’t always include me. Granted, my brother sometimes hung out with Ernest but Ada and Owen didn’t run in the same circles.

At all.

However, it was always ‘Owen this’ and ‘Owen that’ when we were together.

“Please tell me you didn’t,” I asked, wondering if Ada would take the bait. She was still staring at Gianni, sizing him up before she looked at me, her eyes wide like a deer in headlights. “Youdid, didn’t you? That’s fucking disgusting. Ada, no wonder you always listened to him. I have no idea how you don’t see what a manipulative bastard he is but please leave.”

“You can’t say anything. It was just one time.”

And now the roles had reversed. “I doubt it was just the once. The infatuation is too strong, but I do know that I don’t want you in my house. Ada, don’t make me fucking say it again.” I was falling apart inside, my world crumbling in on itself but I couldn’t break now. Not in front of her. I clutched Paval a little tighter, the kid squirming in my arms but not asking to be put down. His little taps became more insistent in response.

Ada sighed. “I guess I just-”

“No explanations. Just go home. Please. If he tells you anything else, believe it or don’t but don’t show back up at my house.” Ada slipped back out the front door and I locked it the moment I closed it, letting Paval go so I could finally take that breath that I had been holding. Gianni was immediately by my side, pressing a hand to my stomach.

“Deep breaths. There you go. In, yep. Just like that. And out. One more time. Good. Okay, so clue me in here because I missed something.” He stared at me, genuine confusion etched into his expression.

“Um, she’s sleeping with Owen?” Saying it out loud made me cringe, just thinking of the way Owen had played and manipulated me and was now doing the same to my sister. The worst part was that Ada seemed to like the things about him that I hated. Worst still, Ada wasmarriedand the only reason I assumed Owen was with her was to get to my research. And if by some miracle Owen was actually in love with her? That was just… twisted.

Gianni let out an anxious laugh as he pressed himself against the wall, running his hands through his hair. “No fucking way. Val, D, you won’t believe what the fuck-”

Both of my men exited the kitchen, strange tools in their hands. Their expressions were hardened, dark, and terrifying as I stared at them from the foyer. “What-”

Gianni cut me off as he slapped a hand across my mouth and then nodded to the other two. They walked through the house for several minutes, Gianni’s hand still there as I relaxed against his chest. Paval was standing beside us, rocking back and forth to his own little tune with his hands over his mouth as if this was a regular occurrence. I still didn’t know what was going on until Valentyn and Dmitri resurfaced with what looked like three circular devices the size of a coin.

Dmitri disappeared and returned with a glass of water before Valentyn smashed each one and then dropped them inside.

“Something we should have checked out earlier, Rhys. Your ex isn’t playing games, but it didn’t dawn on me how tangled he was until your sister said something about us. There are things he can’t possibly have known unless he had access to your house, either by video or with these bugs.” I just stared at them, Gianni lowering his hand. “This ups the stakes a little bit but don’t worry, we got you.”

“Why are you here? Dmitri wouldn’t tell me this morning.”

The air seemed to shift as Valentyn just sighed. “Sweetheart, we’re not the only ones that Owen’s trying to hire. If we don’t take the job, any one of those groups is going to come to your door and I guarantee they aren’t going to ask questions first. Now, to make this work, I’m going to ask you to do something, alright?”

I nodded, not sure what was going on. I trusted them, even if I knew that I probably shouldn’t.

“When you get the chance, move whatever you have locked up somewhere else. Owen knows where it is and he’s going to let everyone know. On the off chance someone gets in here, I don’t want them to be able to find it.” That was easy enough. I nodded as he continued. “And whatever you do, don’t fucking talk about it outside of wherever you’re allowed to. Don’t say its name. Don’t mention anything about it. Hell, don’t even tell anyone that you’re in school. No one needs that information and officially, as of now, I have no idea who’s been hired versus who is just some random person on the street.”

“So, treat everyone like they’re out to get me? That doesn’t seem healthy.”

Valentyn snorted, shaking his head. “It’s not. But it’s how we survive.”

Chapter thirty

RHYS

The air was tense in my house as I tried to relax against Dmitri’s wide chest, trying to understand the thoughts running through my head. Owen wanted the program I was working on and he was doing anything he could to get it—going so far as creating a romantic meeting in France and making me believe that he loved me. Making me believe that I loved him.

And then roping my goddamn sister into all this.

All for a fucking program.

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