Tiny Dark Deeds: Chapter 18

Sloane

I closed out my academy email account.

I’d been reading the messages too many times.

In a huff, I got up, then headed to Bru’s room. He was up and watching TV.

I could see why.

I stiffened where I stood upon seeing Callum, Dorian’s grandfather Callum. He stood at the front of a large home, wide with thick columns, and he had about a billion microphones in front of his face.

Still in his bed clothes, Bru angled around, waving me to sit with him. He must have heard me come in.

I joined him but was slow about it.

“He’s been making announcements all morning,” Bru said. “Ones about you.”

Ones about me.

I stayed completely still when the news people calmed down enough to let him talk.

“We’ve heard from representatives from the Mallick family,” he said, nodding. He wore a suit, but it was barely 7 AM. “And it’s true what you’ve heard. They tell us Pilar Mallick has been officially found, but other than that, we know no more than you. Thank you.”

Shocked, I sat back, watching as Callum retreated back up the steps and into that big home he’d stood in front of. My brother flicked off the news, then rested an arm on the back of the couch.

“Looks like they know,” he said, his eyebrows narrowed. “And he’s right, the press do too. The news stations have been talking about it all morning. I guess the family reached out to them all and told them you’ve been found.”

I leaned forward, breathing into my hands. This was news. Especially because last night Ares had come in and said he’d give me a night. He said the evening had already been enough, and since it’d been late, I should just stay put. We were supposed to talk about everything today, and what I’d ultimately decided. I wanted to meet his family.

I needed to see who I was.

Of course, no one had been shocked more than me that he’d wanted me to take that night, and if the family knew about me now, why weren’t they here? I feel like they would have been up here like they had the hospital.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Bru frowned, angling in my direction. He was swimming in his clothes, things Thatcher had gotten for him to wear. Thatcher had gotten me stuff to wear too, but they’d been Bow’s things and way too small. He said his mother wasn’t much different in size, so he ended up thrifting me some stuff after I told him my size. Bru’s head tilted. “Once all this starts, there is no putting it back in the bottle.”

All this was already starting. It had been for a while now, but I’d just been too scared and confused to be a part of it.

“I need to meet them,” I said. The words still foreign in my head, they felt even weirder coming out of my mouth. “It’s going to be fine. I’m going to be good.”

He looked at me for a while, and though he nodded, I knew my brother. He wasn’t okay if I wasn’t okay, and I hadn’t been a lot these days. He sat forward with the remote. “Did Callum reach out to you via email? I saw you on Thatcher’s laptop earlier.”

I had been on there and definitely not in a productive way.

If my brother saw what I’d been reading again, he didn’t say anything about it, and he did know about the emails. He’d caught me reading them before. It was something we didn’t talk about, and I definitely didn’t want to talk about it. Especially after last night.

Someone else hadn’t wanted to talk about them either.

Dorian hadn’t wanted to be vocal at all really, and that’d been okay with me. Knowing about who I was or not, he’d still lied to me. “No, I haven’t.”

“Figured.” Bru folded his hands. “He reached out to me. Said he was just checking up but he didn’t want to bother you. Sent me an email.”

“What did he say?” I asked the question with my breath unsteady, trying not to fidget but I couldn’t help it. We’d found out so many things about him, both of us. They’d been things he had told us himself, but still…

There was just so much darkness.

“Not much.” Bru rubbed his hands. “Sounded like he was just extending a hand, and that he was around for us. Also that he was sorry for, well, everything.” His head lowered. “He’s reached out a few times, but I haven’t responded. Probably should have told you about it, but I didn’t want to stress you out.”

It was funny how things had changed. Bru was always trying to take care of me these days.

“I just can’t believe he lied to us. Did all those things.” He shook his head. “I just don’t know how to feel. He was so cool and took care of us.”

I got what he was saying, and if I was being real, I was feeling conflicted too. He’d been the only one I could trust, and he had taken care of us.

But he’d just done so many dark things.

I didn’t know if those occurrences were of the past, a history of a man who’d done the wrong thing and, today, had tried to be different. He’d only been kind to my brother and me, and with my own family history I’d learned, I wasn’t so sure if it was fair to damn him.

I wasn’t sure if things were so black and white.

These were thoughts and things I’d have to deal with, and I added them to the laundry list I seemed to be compiling these days.

“I want to respond and at least tell him we’re okay.” Bru’s jaw moved. “Only if that’s okay with you, of course. I don’t know if we can trust him, but I at least want to thank him. He was just so cool with us.”

It seemed my brother was conflicted too, and he had been closer to Callum than I had. I rubbed his arm. “You don’t need my permission.”

“I don’t, but this is all fucking crazy, especially for you, and I need to know you’re okay.” He sighed. “I’ll only talk to him if it’s good with you.”

I appreciated him doing that, and I told him that right as someone knocked on the door. I got up to answer and definitely wasn’t prepared.

The dark prince had bags on his arms.

Two dark duffels hung off broad shoulders, his head snapping up. He pulled tendrils of his golden tresses out of his eyes, and though he’d knocked, he’d distanced from the door like he hadn’t expected it to open. “Hey.”

One word. One stupid freaking word, and my body ceased to function. I had thought I’d slam the door in his face the next time I saw him.

He’d been so cold.

The chill had physically emanated off him, and what few words he had said had come off completely passive aggressive. Like he was pissed at me when he had no right to be. I hadn’t been the one who’d lied and definitely shouldn’t be punished for it.

But I was being punished, consumed by him. I wanted to yell at him, but all I was doing was staring at him. His slouchy tee hit hard against his firm body, his denim jeans tapered at his waist and hugging thighs the size of about two boys his age. He had them cuffed and bunched above his military boots, but it never seemed to matter what he wore. He was still ridiculously beautiful, and here I was in shorts and an oversize tee, fully clothed but exposed.

Naked.

I felt bare in front of him, stripped down to nothing more than feelings and girly emotions. He kept doing that shit, and I hated I couldn’t breathe.

“I brought you some clothes.” He presented the bounty in front of me, one bag, then two when he lowered them to the floor. He righted to towering height. “They’re your own clothes. I had Thatcher run over to your house and get them this morning. Don’t know why he didn’t do that the first time.”

Probably because he didn’t want to get caught doing something that could connect him to anything having to do with me and where I was. I’d been thrown yesterday when he said he was going to get my own paints and other gear for me from my house. I’d been making do with the craft store stuff he’d picked out for me, but it hadn’t been ideal. He’d known that, but I’d never told him he had to get my stuff.

I had a feeling the gift was going to be his last-ditch effort to get me to come clean, and I did hate he had to keep my secret for me. I’d gone to see Bow about it first, but he caught me before I could find her.

I suppose I probably shouldn’t have gone to ask her in the first place. All this stuff and what I was going through was my burden, not theirs.

Bru cut in beside me, and when he witnessed me, the bags, and Dorian, he frowned.

“Morning, Prinze,” he said, cold himself. He definitely knew how Dorian was and the lies the dark prince had told me. I’d cleared up some of them last night before we’d gone to bed, but I couldn’t do them all. I mean, there were still lies he’d told me. Bru angled a look down. “What’s this?”

“Clothes.” Dorian’s attention didn’t leave me, and a wash of molten lava seared through my soul, my flesh. He glanced at Bru. “Your own clothes. Had Thatcher get them.”

“Hmm.” Bru didn’t leave my side. “Well, thank you.”

He was dismissing him and definitely being rude about it. Honestly, he was probably doing the job I should be doing.

Then why don’t you do it?

Probably for the same reason I couldn’t stop looking at him.

Dorian pushed his hands into his back pockets. “Well, breakfast is ready. We got it all set up downstairs on the first floor, and you don’t have to worry about anything. I had the house cleared so no one will be bombarding you or anything.”

He had?

“We’ll talk about stuff so, yeah.” Dark eyes eased in my direction. “Hope the clothes help.”

He walked away, but I wasn’t sure he would have had my brother not been standing there.

“Tool,” Bru muttered under his lips. He picked up the bags. “But at least he got us clothes.”

I suppose there was that.

I had a thought after Dorian left Bru and me to get dressed that maybe the dark prince had wanted to talk to me. I mean, he could have easily sent up Thatcher or Wells, and bringing my stuff actually sounded like something Ares would do. He’d been the last one to leave last night, but it hadn’t been him at the door today.

I wasn’t completely sure I was ready to talk to Dorian, but I wasn’t sure I would have much of a choice. We’d need to talk eventually and…

Ares waited outside the elevators when Bru and I eventually came down, and it was so freaking weird to see him and Bru today. They acknowledged each other politely, respectfully, but they both had this weird territorial dance about them when they tried to establish who would take which of my sides. Clearly, they were adjusting to whatever this new relationship was between us as well. I mean, they were technically both my siblings.

“Y’all sleep okay?” Ares asked, walking backward down the hall. “I see you got your clothes.”

I’d chosen jeans and a nice top, Bru something similar. I nodded. “Great, thanks.”

“Great.” He looked at Bru. “How about you? You good? Sleep well?”

He was trying here, and Bru shrugged.

“Fine,” Bru said before glancing at me. His look said it all about how weird this all was, and though I agreed, I gave him a reassuring nod. This would be weird.

Especially for me.

I could smell all the food before we even got into the large kitchen deep in the heart of Windsor House. I’d never really gotten to explore the large castle, so seeing the expansive kitchen ready and able to serve Maywood Heights’s elite definitely didn’t disappoint. It had large windows that let the sunlight in, marble countertops, and probably about six or seven fridges. I didn’t know much about Windsor House except that people in the Court got to use it. I assumed it was some kind of a country club.

Wells, Thatcher, and Dorian sat at a table with all the food by the windows, but they weren’t by themselves. Two women sat with them, one significantly smaller than the other. I recognized them both, but only the smaller one leaped out of her chair.

“Sloane!” Bow Reed’s chair actually toppled over she left it so quickly. She rushed at me, and when she grabbed me, I grabbed her right back.

She was shaking.

“Oh my God.” She hooked her little arms around my neck, and I realized I was shaking too. I was and, for some reason, couldn’t stop it. Bow braced me tight. “Are you okay? Are you okay?”

I hugged her back, hugged her hard, and I had my eyes closed. It was like realizing you were missing someone once you had them back, or maybe it was just the connection.

Maybe I just needed the hug.

I felt myself seep into it, squeezing her. “Hey, little rabbit.”

“Hey.” Again, she was shaking when she let go, but she didn’t release my hands. She had her academy uniform on, and that was something I hadn’t missed. School. She shook my hands. “Oh my God. Your face.”

She touched it, and I raised a hand.

“It’s fine,” I said. “I’m okay.”

“You swear?” She squeezed my hands, her round cheeks flushed. “How can you be okay? You’re not okay.”

I wasn’t, but I was trying. “I’m fine.”

Whether she believed me or not, I didn’t know, but right away her arms came around me once more.

“I can’t believe Thatcher didn’t tell me about you.” She let go, looking at me. “He said you came to look for me first.”

I had because, out of everyone, I didn’t know who to trust. Bow and I had our history, but she’d never lied to me.

She’d always been a friend.

“You’re my friend,” I said, trying not to fucking cry, but Bow already was. She wiped away her tears, and when I helped her, she laughed.

“I am your friend.” She pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket, and this girl would have one of those. She had another one of her shiny broaches on where a tie might go, her hair up in a little brown bun. She wiped her face. “I’ll always be your friend. You’re my friend too.”

Oh my fucking God.

I blew out a breath to keep away the tears, and it took me a second to realize we had an audience. The boys at the table had all gotten to their feet, and the woman who was with them was behind Bow. She waited patiently, and I’d only seen her on a television screen. She’d been with her husband, son, and the rest of the Legacy families. She’d been at the hospital and come for me too.

Dorian’s mom.

Even if I hadn’t seen her with him on the television, I would have known. Especially when he came to stand beside her. He completely dwarfed her in size, but they had the same eyes, a dark and alluring ebony that sucked you inside them.

And in my case, never let go.

I tried not to pay attention to her son, as he approached with his mother, and besides the eyes, he did have similar features to her. They were subtle and not quite like how Dorian resembled his dad, who I’d also seen through the TV and previously. His softer features came from her, the woman fairer in complexion and with hair nearly as dark as mine and Ares’s. She wore a pair of bib overalls, and sported a messy bun, Converses on her feet. Honestly, if I didn’t know this was his mom, I might have thought she was a young hip aunt or older cousin.

“Mom, this is Sloane,” Dorian introduced, and suddenly, our circle opened. Ares and Bru, who’d stood behind me, came forward and immediately found places at my sides again.

Ares took hold of the right. “My twin,” he said, and I glanced at Bru. He had his hands folded, seemingly unaffected by what Ares said, but I could imagine this was different for him. I mean, it had always been him and me.

Dorian’s mom took inventory of the three of us standing there, her attention bouncing back between Ares and me on the last rotation.

“I can tell,” she stated, her smile quaint, kind. I’d seen glimmers of it within Dorian’s own features, but it was like he fought it more often than not. When he was kind, it was always through action, and he never made a big declaration about it, like when he’d brought my brother’s and my clothes this morning. Dorian’s mom glanced back at Dorian. “Pregnancy test?”

I blinked, having forgotten about the trick I’d played when I’d first arrived. I’d sent Dorian’s mom a pregnancy test to fuck with him.

Dorian’s lips parted, as well as the rest of the room’s. News of the pregnancy test scandal had definitely gotten around the halls of Windsor Prep. Dorian rubbed his neck. “Uh, yeah.”

So, she knew about me and, well, us. Or at least that.

Honestly, I didn’t know what the dark prince and I had anymore. There’d been so many lies, and I could imagine he’d never had to tell his mom we’d been something. Dorian himself had introduced me to Ares’s mom once.

My mom.

My brain was still trying not to reject things, and I swallowed in front of Dorian’s mom. “I’m sorry about that.”

Her smile widened, her head shaking. “You know, it never ceases to amaze me how much my son is like his father.” She adjusted the bag on her arm. “Or I guess like his parents. His dad and I didn’t get along either. At least not at first.”

The pair of us eyed each other long enough I ended up severing the connection. It was just too much.

Mom shouldered her son before facing me. “And don’t apologize, honey. It’s okay. Really.”

I nearly felt things were okay upon standing in front of her. There was something so soft and pleasant about her.

She placed a hand on her chest. “My name’s December, and I guess I’m here because all of us adults decided to listen to our children. At least, well, on this issue.” She glanced at all the kids in the room. “This is a delicate situation, and I’m here on behalf of all our families, I suppose.” Her head tilted. “Your father, Sloane, is my best friend, and he and his wife are two of my dearest.”

Ares gripped his wrist, his attention falling on me. I wasn’t quite sure if I remembered being informed that Dorian’s family and, well, ours had such close ties. I knew they were friends, but all the Legacy families were friends.

I suppose all the kids couldn’t help but be so close to each other then, their parents close.

“I’m here as a neutral party because we all do understand how delicate all of this is. Delicate for you, Sloane, and your brother Bru.” She smiled at him, obviously already having been told about him. “The parents were very quick to take things into our own hands in the beginning of all this and honestly hadn’t thought about how that would affect either of you. I’m sure it’s scary, so I’m here. Like I said, a neutral party.”

The boys had all braced their arms, and Bow had the biggest smile on her face. She rubbed my shoulder, squeezing, and I could have cried.

I can’t believe they did this.

They’d all managed to speak to their parents, and I didn’t realize how much that would make all this easier. Easier for me.

Beside his mother, Dorian had his hands in his pockets, but as soon as our gazes clashed, his averted a little. I wondered if he disagreed with all this.

Stop focusing on him.

I couldn’t focus on him, not now. I might break if I did. I couldn’t think about another damn thing.

“And if you don’t mind, I’d like to speak with you in private, Sloane.” December gestured toward Bru. “Your brother can come too if he likes. I just have a few questions for your sister.”

Bru directed his focus to me, and I lifted a hand. “I’m okay. You can go.”

“We won’t go far.” December waved toward the table filled with all that food. There was quite a spread there, pancakes. Bacon.

I had to cross in front of Dorian to get to it, and he opened his mouth like he was going to say something but stopped.

He directed the others out of the room in the end. They headed to a connecting room that had couches and a few TVs from what I could see. The majority of them ended up sitting on the couches, and I noticed Ares angle around, Bru too.

Dorian stayed by the archway, but when his mom tilted her head at him, he nodded. He left too and eventually, joined the others on the couch.

I didn’t know what that meant. Especially when she smiled after.

“I suppose I first want to start with an apology.” December laced her hands. “The adults really didn’t think about how our abrasive measures would affect you. It took our kids to see it, and though we didn’t want to listen, we realized they were right about that.”

She didn’t have to apologize. I understood.

“And I want to lead with no one wants to make you do anything that you don’t want to do or would otherwise make you feel uncomfortable. You’re eighteen, and you’re completely in control of what happens from here. Even if you weren’t, no one’s going to force anything on you.” She frowned. “All Ramses and Brielle want is for you to feel safe. That’s priority, and we all feel that way.”

My heart squeezed, my nod firm.

“And with that being said, I have some more difficult questions.” She braced her hands. “As you know, Dorian’s grandfather has been involved with your care and the well-being of you and your brother.”

My lips parted, hers too.

“So I have to ask if he ever hurt you. You or Bru. We’ve talked to the kids, and they said that you explained he hadn’t, but…” Taking her purse off, she placed it on the table. “I have to ask. He’s been helping with everything surrounding the searches. Appears to be helping and claims he’s always had your and your brother’s best interest in mind, but we have to ask. The kids also explained you know the history there, so I’m sure you get why I’m asking.”

I was sure this was difficult for her, asking me this. He’d hurt her family, her sister. I played with my hands. “He’s only been kind to me. Never hurt Bru or me.”

She acknowledged that, her head bobbing twice. “He was informed you were found this morning and has agreed to distance himself now that you and Bru have been safely found. He stated he was going to offer this to you both anyway after he helped you get back to Ramses and Brielle.”

“He was. He tried.” I ran though. “None of this… any of this was him. Everything was all Godfrey…” I swallowed. “Marilyn.”

“And did they ever hurt you?” The question was even, her attention focused. “And if you can’t answer that… if you don’t feel comfortable speaking to me about that, it’s okay. We can find someone appropriate to talk to you about anything delicate.”

That wasn’t necessary. I could talk about them.

“They were my parents.” My voice strained a bit. I looked up at her. “I loved them.”

I had, and I felt sick about it. I mean, I loved my kidnappers. What the fuck?

“That’s okay, you know.” December placed her hand on the table. “That’s all right.”

It’s all right.

“They didn’t hurt me,” I forced out. “They did nothing like that. I had a normal childhood. My dad had a lot of depression but—” I shook my head. “Godfrey had a lot of depression and anxiety, but he was fine. Just sad. Sad a lot.”

I guess I got that now.

“Okay.” December laced her fingers. “Well, I guess I just have one more question, and that’s if you’ve ever been here before. To Maywood Heights? There’s obviously a proper investigation going on as far as your kidnapping, but I’m asking for Ramses and Brielle. Ares explained how he knew it was you with that charm. I think we’re all wondering.”

“I’ve never been here before.” At least, that I knew of.

December’s smile was sad, the only tell that any of this might have been difficult for her too. I wondered if we ourselves had met before, when I was a baby and all that. Odds were, she had if she was so close with, well, my dad. Mom too. “I suppose what happens next is up to you. You don’t have to meet Ramses and Brielle. You can continue to live here, but we will have a team of security coming through. The press are monsters, and though my husband’s father appears genuine, we’d like him to not have access to you or Bru. He’s explained he’s Bru’s guardian with him being underage, but again, he’s agreed to step back and allow us to take care of you both. He says it was always supposed to be that way anyway.”

My heart squeezed, a tight twinge. He’d never been overbearing and always helpful. He’d always given us freedom, but I got the need for security too.

God, this was all so fucked.

The families didn’t trust him, and I did get that. There was a history there, one beyond me and my understanding, and I got it.

Like my brother and his conflict, mine was there too, but I wouldn’t disagree with the Legacy families’ decision. I needed the distance as well. If anything to think about all this.

“Like I said, Ramses and Brielle just want you safe. Happy.” Her smile lifted higher. “They’re willing to wait as long as you need. We all are.”

I had a feeling they were.

My heart ached again. “I want to meet them. I think Godfrey and Marilyn have stolen enough time.” They had. They’d taken everything from me, and they weren’t going to get any more.

“Okay then.” December’s voice was soft again and so kind. It made me feel like I was staring into a looking glass of what her son could be.

That was if he let himself.

I glanced up to see him easing into the archway again, and when I did, his mom angled around.

“Hey.” He lifted a hand and was almost awkward about it. He rubbed his hands, one palm running over the other. “Everything okay? Guess I’m just making sure.”

Because he needed control, didn’t he? Always, because that was who he was. He didn’t need for me to be okay, but himself. I looked away, but December smiled.

“Almost done, baby,” she said, making him nod. He left, and another smile tugged at his mom’s lips. “I tell you my son has me wrapped around his finger. All of us.” She slid her purse into her lap. “He and the other boys were somehow able to convince the parents not to come here last night and hold off until morning to do anything.”

So, the dark prince had been a part of the decision?

“But it was my son who suggested clearing this place out and letting you live here.” Her eyes warmed. “Said it’d be a good middle ground. A compromise for all of us and would give you more options that we all felt comfortable with.”

I didn’t know what to say about that. I mean, what could I say? I studied my hands. “Thank you for the option.” And I really did appreciate it.

I more than appreciated it.