AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Even though I know I’m taunting the beast in his own home, I no longer give a shit. I can take him. I know I can. For her, I’ll fight to the fucking death, as long as she doesn’t know it.
I’m not a hero. I’m not Etienne.
I’m not a bad boy. I’m not Ares.
I’m a monster. Just like my uncle.
“And you want me to believe your cold heart feels nothing for the pretty girl you’ve been traipsing around Italy with.”
Thane shakes his head as he shoves past me and pushes open the door that leads to his office. With its modern, clean lines, accented with silver and glass, the room is nothing like I expect. My younger self would have been most disappointed.
“What game are you playing, Thane?” I ask as I settle in a chair on the opposite side of the desk from where he’s now seated.
I’ve deliberately left the office door open. I’m not sure where Grecia is in the house, but in the event that she needs me, I want to be able to make it out of here and get to her as quickly as possible.
“I want you to know a few things that may not have come to light previously,” he tells me as he picks up a black file from his desk, and flipping it open, he hands me a USB drive from inside.
“What’s this?”
He watches me for a moment, his expression serious as he looks directly into my eyes and utters two words, “The truth.”
Then he sits back in his seat and laces his fingers under his chin.
I want nothing more than to read whatever he’s given me, but first things first.
“Where is Grecia?” I’m tense without her close by, not knowing where she is.
Thane sighs before pushing off his chair and stalking toward a bar that’s positioned behind him. He silently pours two glasses of whiskey, then turning around, he sets one glass down on the desk in front of me and takes a long gulp of the amber liquid from the other.
“Thane, I’m not fucking around. Where is she?”
“Upstairs. She said she felt tired, so I suggested she could lie down in the guest room I’ve had prepared for her.” His words make sense, but also, they confuse me.
“What do you mean you had a room prepared for her?” I question as I get to my feet, picking up the glass and shoving it into his chest. “I don’t drink with fucking liars. Either you tell me what game you’re playing here, or we leave.”
“Do you really want to go before you’ve gotten the answers you’re so desperately seeking, Nephew?”
That query is on point. He’s right, and he knows it. The bastard.
I haven’t always hated my uncle. That came after I was left parentless and he was named my legal guardian. He told me he didn’t want to be burdened with a child and I’d have to fend for myself. Right then and there, I knew he was an asshole.
“Give me the answers I need and let us leave.”
Chuckling, Thane shakes his head, and then finishing his drink, he saunters over to a pair of patio doors and opens them. He steps out onto the paved area beyond, and I follow him, determined to get the answers to my questions.
“Be careful what you wish for, Tarian,” he addresses me while looking out at the garden that I know is several acres in size. “When I was younger, I learned that not all truths should be known. Have you ever considered that it might be better to remain ignorant, rather than learn all the dark and treacherous secrets that lie hidden in Tynewood?”
Ignoring him, I respond, “I want to know why you killed my father.”
Thane is silent for so long I’m almost certain he’s going to ignore me, but then he turns to me and shakes his head.
“Your mother used to beg for death because your father was so cruel and had a heavy hand when he got angry. She didn’t want anyone to know about his abuse, so to stop her friends asking questions, she made everyone believe she was cold, heartless, and selfish, but she’s none of those things.”
He grows quiet, but I don’t say anything. I’m far too enthralled by what he’s telling me to speak.
“It finally got too much for her,” he continues. “She turned to me for support and so began our affair. Eventually, she wanted to be with me, but when she asked for a divorce, he refused. I believe it was then that she decided she wanted my brother out of the way.”
“Why didn’t she just leave. She could’ve run away with you.” I’m guessing it wasn’t that simple. Nothing is ever that cut and dry, but I have to ask anyway.
