Total pages in book: 187
Estimated words: 184867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 924(@200wpm)___ 739(@250wpm)___ 616(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 184867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 924(@200wpm)___ 739(@250wpm)___ 616(@300wpm)
“Darling, you have that all wrong,” Blaine says, and he chucks me a knife in a way that could’ve stabbed me, but I manage to catch it. He winks. “See?”
Sighing, I tuck it into my pocket. “Isn’t there a side entrance we can take to get in without getting in danger? There has to be an easier way than this.”
“Nope,” Caleb replies, throwing even more in a box. “Torres has every exit guarded, and he probably knows we’re coming because he’ll force Ares to talk.”
“And then he’ll tell those Bonesmen all about us,” Blaine adds.
I shiver in place. Ares saved me and then killed those people for me.
I have to save him.
I push Caleb aside and steal more knives from his box, as well as a gun, loading it up. He looks at me like he can’t believe his eyes.
“What?”
“You’re serious?” he asks.
“Dead serious. He’s in there suffering because of me, so I’m gonna be the one to pull him out, and if I have to kill a bunch of people to do it, then so be it.”
A grin slowly spreads on his cheeks. “Now you’re talking my love-language.”
“I’m already in love!” Blaine professes, running up to me to hug me so tightly I can barely breathe. “Oh, I trained you so well, darling. I’m proud.”
I physically have to pry my own body out of his hands, and I pull out my phone. “I’m not done yet.” I dial the number of one of my best friends. “Penelope, I need your help.”
“What’s up?”
“Ares got taken by his father who's probably going to kill him.”
“What?” She sounds shocked. “Wait, but you and Ares—”
“Exactly. I don’t want to ask too much, but since you helped free Lana … please.”
“Don’t. I don’t need a please. You don’t even need to ask. I’m coming. Give me five.”
She hangs up before I can even reply. Well, guess that’s settled.
“Hey.”
I turn around to see Kai Torres from the Phantom Society standing behind us, peering into the car.
What is he doing here?
“Well, hello there,” Blaine muses, winking at Kai, who is unimpressed. “What brings you to the Tartarus House?”
“Where’s Ares? He’s not picking up his phone. I’m worried.”
“Ask your goddamn father,” Caleb growls back.
“Father?” Kai frowns. “What does he have to do with this?”
“We killed a bunch of those Bonesmen fuckers to free Crystal.”
“So what? So have I,” Kai responds, shrugging.
“Yeah, well you’re not the one getting punished now, are you?” Caleb retorts, grinding his teeth. “Since your father has a favorite son and one he wants to murder.”
Kai’s eyes widen. “What?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know,” Caleb growls, clutching a knife, ready to fight.
“Wait,” I say, stepping between them. “Maybe he doesn’t.”
“Bullshit,” Caleb quips.
“Calm down, Caleb, we might need him,” Blaine says.
“Caleb, please,” I say.
Caleb takes in a deep breath through his nose, then retracts his blade. “Fine.”
“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” Kai says. “All I know is that my father sometimes summons him after he’s done some shit.”
“Do you know what his father does to him?” I ask.
“He scolds him,” Kai says. “It’s not like they’re on good standing. Ares hasn’t exactly been … willing to live by the Torres rules.”
“Rules,” I scoff. “Your father hasn’t just been scolding him every time he makes him come to his office.” I don’t know if I’m the one who should be telling him this, but I feel like I have no choice. “He hurts him. Physically.”
Kai’s face contorts. “What?”
“He never told you?” Caleb asks, frowning.
“No.” Kai shakes his head. “My father woul—”
“Believe me, he would,” Caleb responds. “Every fucking time Ares makes a decision that doesn’t benefit his screwed-up vision.”
Slowly but surely, the anger begins to take over every inch of Kai’s face. “No. I don’t want to believe it. If that’s true, then …” His fist balls. “I need to see this for myself.”
Blaine snorts. “Good luck getting in.”
“I’m a Torres,” he says.
“You think your father will let you see what he does to Ares?” Blaine asks. “There’s no way any of us are getting in there quietly.”
Kai’s eye twitches. “Who says I’ll come quietly?”
He pulls out his phone and walks off to make a call, and I don’t know if this is going to go well, but maybe he’ll assist us. We can use every bit of help.
“Guess that’s it,” Caleb growls.
“Can’t we bring more Tartarus guys?” I ask Blaine.
He shakes his head. “I don’t want their deaths on our hands. We can do this. I have faith.”
“Faith won’t stop your head from rolling,” Caleb growls back.
“You think I’ll let them get close to me?” Blaine flashes his katana from the umbrella he always brings with him wherever he goes. “No one touches this delicious body.”
“Gag,” Caleb says, making me chuckle.
“Hey!” Penelope’s voice in the distance makes me turn my head.
“You’re here!” I yell, but then my eyes widen when I see three familiar faces behind her; Felix, Dylan, and Alistair have all shown up too.