She raises her eyebrows. “Do you know what it was like living in the faction under your father? I’m not talking Old Town or those in his immediate circle. I’m talking about the rest of us.”
Guilt bites at me, but I shove it down. “Yeah, I know. I would have moved on him within the year. I was just getting things into place.” And, if Eli is to be believed, he moved first so I wouldn’t have to.
The fucked up thing is that I do believe him.
I just don’t know if it changes anything.
“Eli’s father was just as much a monster as yours,” she says quietly. “Things didn’t get better right away, but once he died and Eli took over… He’s done a lot to help the people who most need it. Not just funneling resources their way and enforcing the laws. He’s set up programs and funding and all sorts of things.”
The programs she mentioned this morning. The same ones that Eli and I spoke about all those years ago. Eli fulfilled the promises we made in a way I wasn’t able to once my brothers and I were driven out of Sabine Valley. It’s a strange sort of relief to realize that the people have benefited even if I wasn’t here to see it. The only ones who bore scars from that coup are me and my brothers. And, I’m now beginning to understand, Eli.
Some would say it’s a small price to pay, that the benefit of the faction outweighs any pain we experienced.
I can’t quite argue that they’re wrong.
“Harlow,” I finally say. “If I told you to simply forgive Eli for all the shit he’s pulled in the last five years, for all the times he’s pushed you back to safety instead of letting you stand on your own, you’d shove those words right back down my throat.”
She opens her mouth, seems to reconsider, and finally sighs. “Probably. I still care about him, but that doesn’t change the fact things are complicated.”
“Things are complicated with me and Eli, too. I talked to him. I’ll think about it. That’s all I’ve got right now.”
She looks like she wants to keep arguing but finally nods. “I guess that’s fair.”
“So kind of you to realize it.” I take her hand and pull her to her feet. “Let’s go find something to eat and go to bed.”
“Abel, it’s like six.”
“Yeah, I know.” I tug her against me and slide my free hand down her spine to cup her ass. “I haven’t had you naked in twelve hours. I’m going through withdrawals.”
“You poor thing.” She slides her hand up my chest and loops her arms around my neck. Harlow goes up onto her toes and presses her body against mine. “If you’re that deprived, I suppose we could have a little appetizer before dinner.”
“How thoughtful of you.”
“Mm-hmm.” She brushes her lips against mine, and then she’s sliding down my body until she perches on her knees. I hold still as she undoes my jeans and pushes them down enough to free my cock. She gives me a slow smile, and then she’s sucking my cock down, my length disappearing between her red lips as the wet warmth of her mouth encloses me.
In this moment, I can admit what I really want. Harlow as a full partner. Eli as a full partner. The three of us together in a carefully balanced trio that is all the stronger for the fact that it’s not particularly traditional. From a purely analytical point of view, our strengths balance one another’s perfectly. My brutality to Eli’s twisty brain to Harlow’s moral center. We could bring this faction to new heights.
We will do it.
Together.
28
Eli
It’s been so long since I felt guilty that I barely recognize the sinking sensation in my chest as I move soundlessly through the passageways to the meeting place. All I can think about is Harlow’s plea for me to work with Abel instead of against him, of how fucking much of a relief it was to finally air the truth between us.
Abel might be different than the man I grew up with, but I was wrong before—he’s not his father. He hasn’t lost his soul. If there’s even a sliver of the man I used to know, we might have a chance to build the future we always dreamed.
But if I’m wrong, the people of this faction will pay the price.
I press my ear to the door, listening closely. It’s late enough that most people aren’t wandering the halls, and even if they are, they have no reason to be in the north wing. It was previously used by staff that we kept here, but it’s been empty since the Paines took over. Still, it pays to be cautious.
Silence greets me.
I wait another thirty seconds, but when I hear nothing concerning, I flip the latch that sends the door swinging soundlessly open. I step into the dark room and ease the door shut behind me. Nothing moves except me, which is how it should be, but I can’t shake the feeling of being watched as I pad across the room and slip out the door and onto the balcony.