Page 143 of Unravelling The Beast

In confusion, I pull my head back.

"What fucking investor?"

She stares at me with hesitation, as if she doesn't trust me enough.

"Just tell me, mom. We're on the same side!"

After a little pause, she gives a slight nod.

"Ghost."

My pupils dilate as I fix my eyes on her. Ghost is the most powerful silent investor in the elite underworld of the United States. He controls every aspect of this shit, yet no one has ever met him or knows who he is; he is literally a ghost, which is why we call him that. His decision is final, and there is nothing more to be said.

"How the fuck have you managed to connect with Ghost? It's not possible."

She suddenly pulls her sleeves up her arms, revealing her wrists. I take a slow step nearer, seeing two deep, healed slices across both of her wrists, and my gaze swiftly meets hers.

"I had to sacrifice Arlo in order to see him. When I woke up, he was there, and I told him everything about your father's betrayal and everything he's done outside of written vowels."

As I react, I just stare at her blankly.

"How the fuck do you even know it was him?"

She slants her head to one side before stepping toward me.

"Don't you think I asked that? He showed me his charred logo on his high inner thigh, Arlo."

This surprises me, so I give a suspicious nod. My mother is the only person on this planet who has met the Ghost of the Elite Underworld before me or my father, which makes me question why. Why her? What is it about her that prompted this person to expose their true identity to her out of all people?

"We're almost done with your father, Arlo, but you have to wait for things to be finalized on Ghost's end. You understand that you can't betray him or he'll turn on you as well, don’t you?"

I raise my chin and narrow my eyes.

"How can I put my trust in you? How do I know you're not secretly on his fucking side? I mean, it's always been that way."

She suddenly cups my face with her frail palms, and my body stiffens beneath her touch because she's never handled me like this before.

She looks deep into my eyes and speaks with sincerity.

"I know I haven't been the best mother, but trust me when I say that you, Sara, and Cree mean the world to me.I'll always choose you over that bastard. I will move heaven and earth for you, son."

When I look into her eyes, it's as if I'm staring into the eyes of my mother for the first time in my life, rather than a total stranger I grew up around.

"You must stick to the plan and prove that you can be trusted just as much as I can, okay? You can't allow your rage to get the best of you like it has for the past few years. You have to show that you can be both fierce and calm in times like this."

She drops her hands from my face as I give a brief, silent nod.

"Do whatever you need to do to protect Wren, but leave your father to me until I tell you otherwise."

She walks towards her desk and takes a seat, exhaling a defeated sigh.

"So he's in Mexico right now?"

She nods, and I nod back before going towards the door, but her voice stops me.

"Arlo!"

I give her the side eye and wait for her to continue.

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