It wasn’t basic either. It was his project when he and Colt found an underground type cave. He harvested it and made it into a full room where she could live in if all hell broke loose. Unfortunately, he didn’t realize that time would come so soon; he didn’t get to warn her, teach her, or prepare her for a life without him.
But he knew she’d somehow not fight.
Whether that be her mind being tampered with like when we were kids or something far worse, a mental collapse.
Neither of us expected the effect of his death to bring her to the point of doing something stupid. I haven’t inspected her wrists, but I’m sure they’re healing up well. She covers her scars and memories with ink, blackening them with lies, it’s almost painful to watch.
“We had a plan,” he grumbles, and grumpy Cass never existed before spring break of last year. “So, I’ll reiterate. What the fuck are you doing here?”
I let out a loud breath, only coming here for advice.
“I don’t know what to do.”
He waves his hand. “Might as well come in while you’re here. Don’t need any random-ass people knowing I’m not dead.”
His voice has deepened over the last few months, becoming huskier and more gravelly. I’m not sure if that has to do with its lack of use or what, but it’s different.
“Colt is here,” I let out as soon as I sit. His eyes bug out wildly.
“And you let me leave the door open that long, are you insane?”
“She’s inside with Lux, Ten, and Jordan.” His agitation grows. Since going to the Edgington Estate and being undercover, I couldn’t communicate with him and he knew that. But it seems like the time hasn’t done him any good. Being out here, only visiting with his father, it isn’t the best for anyone’s mental health.
“What the fuck happened at the Estate?” His expression is one of curiosity and fear. He’s not going to like this little catch up.
“First of all, don’t be mad at me.”
Nice Cass disappears immediately. “What did you do?”
“Not exactly me,” I argue. Trust issues stem from experience, but Cass could love you to death and still not trust you. Even if experience showed you never lied, he would definitely doubt you.
“Well, spit it out.”
I stand, unable to sit and begin pacing. “I did what you recommended. Kissed Elijah’s ass, made Midas think I was against Lux and Jordan. I made everyone believe I was the bad guy but, then again, I kinda am.”
He nods but doesn’t say a thing, he’s not one for small talk. These last eight months have not been kind to him.
“Elijah designated me as the errand boy for the Council. In a way, it got me a lot of information, but it also distracted me.”
He stares at me, conflict nestling in his eyes. The want for more info is there, but there’s an underlying anxiety too, he’s hiding beneath it.
“While I was busy, Midas went behind the Council’s back and plotted Lux and Colt’s wedding.”
That gets Cass standing. His back rigid as he stalks toward me. Placing hands on my shoulders, he keeps me in place and it takes everything to not worry about it.
I’m not afraid of him, nor am I worried I’ve disappointed him. It’s more selfish than that. I don’t want to lose Colt yet I’ve single-handedly delivered her to Lux when I never fought for her.
“Their what?” His voice is low, the tone deadly, but it’s the way his barely blue eyes rip into my chest like a cadaver knife slicing me.
“Their wedding. They got married, old style.”
“Old style?” he hisses, knowing exactly what that insinuates. After all, they wanted him to marry the traditional way, but he didn’t make it that far and fought too hard.
“Let me guess, you and your fucking freakshow friends watched with enjoyment?” He’s heated now, pacing like I once was. I can only shrug and grimace. It’s not like I enjoyed it and wanted to be there.
“It’s not like that,” I stumble over the words. “I didn’t have a choice.”
“You could have fucking ran, Ridge!”
My stomach clenches. You know that feeling of getting caught and your body cramps from the guilt? That’s me and I’m not sure why. Emotions usually never eat at me, or exist really, but right now, I feel like I’m being attacked.
“Tell me, Ridge, is Colt happy?”
I shake my head, knowing she’s not. “She misses you,” I say, knowing it’s one of his weaknesses. After all, saving her is why he’s here. He shouldn’t have survived the fall. He should have died.
That’s what they wanted.
Him surviving wasn’t in their plan.
If they discover him before we destroy the Council, we’re all dead. Colt included. Times like these make me wish I’d let Cass bomb the Estate.
“Have you at least kept her from Melissa?”
I shake my head again. “Melissa did that all on her own.” He nods, accepting that. When Mel pushed herself onto me, not ever telling me her agenda and then deciding she wanted Jordan, it makes me wonder what she’s really trying to accomplish.
“Do the twins know Mel’s lineage yet?”
Shaking my head, I think back to all our conversations. Cassidy told me that upon his search of how to dismantle the Vestige, he’d stumbled upon a secret.
The Edgingtons, their lineage, and how it was a lie. When the Grims and Marchettis disappeared, the Edgingtons had to battle it out with the Hudsons and DeLeons. The Hudsons only had one male, Cassidy. Reid was too old and he wasn’t in good enough health, plus having someone as old and sterile as Reid would backtrack the entire reasoning for the Council.
Then you had the DeLeons and Edgingtons. The DeLeons and Edgingtons weren’t older than Cassidy, so they already didn’t have a chance. Cassidy, by the age rule, got to be the sole president when he turned twenty-five.
Until then, he’d have to train.
Along the way, greed happened.
The Edgingtons and DeLeons wanted more power. They didn’t expect the Grim lineage to exist after being erased. There are so many Grims in the world, the bloodline would never actually dry up. If any of the Grim family wanted to attempt a coup, they’d win. They were the founding family, after all. The Kranes wanted back in too… and a family that was long thought to be dead, they were involved too.
Which brings in Melissa.
She wasn’t a Krane, but Roderick made her a Krane and raised her that way. She, like Noah, lived at the Edgington Estate until Roderick adopted her.