Chapter 154: From Sir Aldric, with love
HAZEL
"What exactly do you know about Fia?"
The question caught
off guard. I turned to look at Aldric fully, my broken hands throbbing with each heartbeat.
"What would I know about her?" The irritation in my voice was sharp. Raw. "She’s been nothing but a thorn in my side since she was born."
"You’re her family." Aldric’s tone was patient. Almost condescending. "An opposition to her as well. So wouldn’t it be smart to know your enemy inside and out?"
I wanted to argue but my mouth stayed shut. The truth was I hadn’t thought much about Fia beyond how to get rid of her. How to make her disappear from my life. I’d never considered actually understanding her.
"I just got her in my life," Aldric continued, moving closer. "And I find it’s good policy to know soone to the root. Which is why I am doing what I am doing. Are you telling
you know nothing about your sister?"
"All I know about her is insignificant." I shifted my weight, wincing as pain shot through my hands. "If there’s sothing you’re sniffing for, you need to be more specific."
Aldric studied
for a long mont. His dark eyes were calculating. Weighing sothing I couldn’t see.
"Her mother." The words ca out deliberately. "Who exactly was her mother? I know she wasn’t originally from your pack. So what pack was she from?"
The question felt strange. Out of place. What did Fia’s dead mother have to do with anything?
"Her mother was an Oga." I frowned at him. "A rogue, I believe. I don’t know the specifics of how she t my father. But I’m aware she was on the run."
"From who?"
"I don’t know." My patience was wearing thin. "What does this even have to do with helping ?"
Aldric sighed. The sound was heavy with sothing I couldn’t quite na.
"Can I tell you sothing?" He moved closer still. Close enough that I could sll his cologne. Sothing expensive and sharp. "Sothing that should motivate you to be more receptive to my questions."
"I’m not sure I like your tone very much." I t his gaze head-on. "It seems like you’re looking down at
because you believe I’m desperate."
"You are."
The words hit like another slap. My face still burned from where Father had struck . Now this stranger was throwing the truth at
like stones.
I opened my mouth to protest but Aldric’s smile stopped
cold.
"I’m never going to tell it differently." His expression didn’t change. "You are desperate. That’s why I’m here after all."
My throat tightened. I wanted to deny it. Wanted to throw his words back in his face. But I couldn’t. Because he was right.
"Do you want to know what’s at the forefront of your father’s mind right now?" Aldric tilted his head. "Saving you from the fate that’s ant to befall you. You killed soone. If he still has any love for you and doesn’t want you to suffer repercussions, he’ll practically whore you out to a stronger pack."
The word hit
like ice water. Whore
out. Trade
like property to save his own reputation.
"By then, you will be soone else’s business and if your pack stronghold has an issue with it, they have to take it up with your would be Alpha."
"It would save your life," Aldric continued. His voice was matter-of-fact. Clinical. "But you look like the kind of girl who would hate being chosen for. So if you want my help, a safer fence and salvation from even your father, give
sothing I can work with."
I swallowed hard. My pride wanted to tell him to go to hell. To walk away from this stranger and his invasive questions. But my survival instinct was stronger.
Father’s words still echoed in my head. She is no daughter of mine.
He’d already disowned
in his heart. What would stop him from selling
off to the highest bidder? From using
to repair the damage I’d done to his reputation even if it was going to be sold as saving ?
Nothing.
Nothing would stop him.
"Alright." The word ca out quieter than I intended.
Aldric leaned in slightly. Waiting.
"Fia’s mother escaped a sick sex trafficking ring."
The words felt heavy on my tongue. I’d never spoken them aloud before. Mother had told
years ago in hushed whispers. A secret she’d used to justify her hatred of the woman who’d stolen her husband’s heart.
Aldric’s smile widened. It was the smile of soone who’d just found exactly what they were looking for.
"Interesting." He drew the word out. Savored it. "Was it busted?"
"From what I know..." I paused, trying to rember the fragnts of information I’d overheard. "No."
"Did she reunite with family after she was saved?"
"No." I shook my head. My hair fell across my face and I didn’t bother pushing it back. "She carried the moniker Sterling. She claid it was her family na. But they couldn’t be found. My mother believed it was a lie. A lie she refused to let go of."
The information felt small. Insignificant. Just pieces of a dead woman’s past that had nothing to do with
or my current situation.
"But she’s dead now," I added. "There’s nothing more I know."
"That was good." Aldric’s expression shifted. Brightened. "More than good."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. It was a plain white with simple black text. He held it out to .
I stared at it without moving. "I don’t need this. I need salvation. How do you save ?"
The look Aldric gave
made my stomach drop. It was the look of soone who held all the cards. Soone who knew I had no choice but to play by his rules.
His hand stayed outstretched. Offering the card. Waiting.
I hated how pathetic I looked. But there was no changing this. I took it.
My broken fingers scread in protest as I gripped the small rectangle. I couldn’t even read what it said through the pain and the blood sared across my hands.
"You’re part Strati, are you not?" Aldric’s question ca out of nowhere.
I blinked at him. "My maternal grandparents don’t talk to my mother much anymore. Or ."
"Well, they will now."
The certainty in his voice made
look up sharply. But Aldric was already turning away. Already walking toward the door like our conversation was finished.
"Wait." The word burst out of . "What does that an? What are you going to do?"
He paused in the doorway. Looked back over his shoulder at . The light from the hallway cast his face in shadow.
"Save the number as Gabriel."
Then he was gone.
I stood there in the wreckage of the bathroom. Blood dripping from both hands onto the tiles. My father’s rejection still burning in my chest. My sister’s victory still fresh as a wound.
I looked down at the business card. The letters swam in front of my eyes. I couldn’t tell if it was from the tears or the pain or both.
Gabriel? Why?
The na ant nothing to . But Aldric had said my grandparents would talk to
now. The Strati family I’d been kept away from my entire life because of so old family drama I’d never fully understood.
Mother had always been tight-lipped about why her parents had cut her off. Why they’d refused to acknowledge
as their granddaughter. Until I was old enough to learn myself that it was because she decided to marry father.
But now this stranger was telling
they’d talk to . That sohow this Gabriel person would make it happen.
I wondered. What sort of new enemy did Fia make?
Well... As long as I benefited from this. Who gave a fuck.
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