“I’m ready for this to be over,” I answer him and we share a knowing look.
“I guess it’s good that I came then.” His answer is firm, but comes out in a way that makes me feel slightly relieved.
I give him as much of a genuine smile as I can as he walks over the spot Aria was in last night and then back to the door. It was only a dream. I have to remind myself.
Sebastian asks Declan as he leans against the closed door, “Are you all set?” My brother gives him a nod, and an arrogant smirk in return.
Declan stalks from the bookshelf and walks closer to the desk, his eyes on the telephone seated in the left corner as he says, “Tracers are on and these are new. Even if he’s bouncing his signal off multiple towers, or the call cuts off in seconds, I can find him.”
My back is stiff with tension… but also the creeping feeling of danger. We’re going to hunt down the grim reaper, one of the names Marcus goes by.
“Are you sure?” He nods at Daniel’s question and then all of us stare at the phone, preparing to get answers we’ve waited far too long for as it rings, as if daring Declan to be right.
Ring.
I can feel the desk vibrate and the small shaking movements of the phone as I reach for it.
Lifting the handset up and putting it on speaker, I let Marcus know we’re all here.
“The Cross brothers,” he speaks. Marcus, the grim reaper, the ghost… whatever name he goes by, he’s finally gracing us with a call. My teeth clench when I hear his voice, and my blood goes cold.
His voice has always reminded me of a snake. Not a snake you can easily kill by cutting off its head, but the kind of snake that myths make immortal.
It’s the way his words linger in the air and settle into your bones.
“It’s been a while,” Marcus comments and Daniel’s quick to reply, “Not because of our doing.”
My left hand raises silently in the air, quieting Daniel although I can see the anger rising inside of him as he’s barely grounded in the chair. He knows Marcus has answers, and he’s refusing to give them to us.
“I believe our desired outcomes may no longer be aligned, Marcus.” My heartbeat quickens, but I keep my voice even and remain calm and in control. “Is that why you’ve been quietly avoiding us?” I question him.
Silence. For one beat, and then another.
I can feel my brothers watching me, their eyes boring into me, but I stare at the phone, willing Marcus to answer.
And finally, I’m given a response. “Not necessarily,” he answers me and then adds, “You made a change that I didn’t necessarily agree with, Cross.”
“You’ll have to be more clear on which of us you’re referring to,” I tell him as I rest my elbow on the table and my chin on my fist. My thumb runs along my stubble as I glance at Declan, who’s watching the tablet in his hand with an unyielding stare.
“I suppose you’re right…” Marcus says and then pauses before adding, “Two of you have in fact, gone off course.”
Daniel’s eyes meet mine at the same time I look at him.
“What exactly changed that you decided we were no longer allies?” I ask Marcus, feeling hotter and growing irritated. Marcus is an unparalleled force, but he aggravates the fuck out of me with how cautious he is. When I can use him to my advantage, which I have in the past, I think highly of the man. I’ve both feared and admired him.
But to be on the other side of his temper is … enraging.
“I needed to make a deal with Nicholas Talvery.” Marcus surprises me with a straight answer.
I surmise, “And my interfering was…”
“Unappreciated.” Marcus finishes my sentence and I merely nod, my mouth set in a grim, straight line.
“What happened with Addison?” Daniel asks, and Marcus ignores him.
“I want Aria Talvery.” Marcus’s demand gets a reaction from me that he can’t see. My brow raises and a smile wavers against my lips.
“No.” I’m surprisingly calm as I answer, “That’s not going to happen.”
The ever-present ticking of the clock passes in the silence until Marcus responds, “I didn’t anticipate your response to be so…. shortsighted.”
“Daniel asked you a question,” I remind Marcus and watch my brother. “Why was she involved?” I’m not positive that Marcus is behind what happened, but I know that he knows the answer.
“Why did you try to take her?” Daniel’s question comes with a raised voice behind clenched teeth and barely contained anger. His inability to keep calm is understandable, but ineffective.
“I didn’t. You already know who did.”
I barely contain my irritation, watching Daniel come unhinged as Marcus continues to skirt around the one thing he needs to know.