ATTICUS
Anxiety filled me as I scanned the crowd, waiting for Dayton’s next strike. I thought I was past this, but it seemed just as we started to relax and be happy in our lives, he struck, reminding us he was still there, waiting.
Even in prison, my father still managed to get at us.
I couldn’t live like this. I had to do something—even if it meant tarnishing myself a little more in the process. And perhaps that was my father’s end goal. I’d worked so hard to change our family and make it something other than underhanded and feared.
But the truth was, I’d sacrifice my soul to keep them all safe, and the world wouldn’t be safe with Dayton still in it. He’d shown us that.
Dead or alive, he was a virus, and we needed to eradicate him before he spread too far, infecting all the areas of our lives. I had too much to care about now to let him try to take it away.
So, after tonight, I’d make a choice I’d thought I’d made already, and rid the world of Dayton Mascro. It was time.
“Boss, there’s someone at the entrance asking to speak with you,” one of the guards said into the comms.
Sighing, I stepped out from the shadows and made my way toward the front. The fact that I was missing out on this joyous occasion with my loved ones was one more thing my father had stolen.
No more. Life was too short to live it stressed and watching over our shoulders for him to figure out a way to attack us. Decision made, my steps felt a little lighter as I made my way to the front.
Mitzi smiled at me as I passed, but I nodded, not wanting to stop and talk with her at the moment. Several guards stood at the front, and when I neared, they parted, allowing me to see our visitor. I wasn’t expecting it to be an older woman. Stopping, I took her in.
There was something vaguely familiar about her. She stood tall, her head high in a regal fashion as I observed all the details I could. She was dressed to impress in an elegant gown with jewels glittering on her ears. It was subtle, and yet I knew they were worth a lot.
“Can I help you?”
She smiled coyly, the corner of her lip hitching up a smidge. “You sure have grown to be a handsome man.”
Her voice hit my ears, and I immediately knew who it was. “Aunt Phea.” I smiled, but the anxiety didn’t lessen. What did her visit mean? When Pixel had returned, she hadn’t told me anything, stating she was on a leave of absence from the Sirens. She’d been sullen and withdrawn, keeping to the lab I’d made her instead of interacting with everyone else. The night out at Climax had been the first time I’d seen her interact with the others since she’d returned. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t realize you were visiting.”
At my acknowledgment of the woman, the guards stepped back, giving us some space. She observed me, a curious look on her face, and I couldn’t decide if it was respect or glee.
“I thought it was time I pay my nephew a visit, and this seemed like the best opportunity as any. We have some things to discuss.”
Watching her, I gauged her answer, weighing her words. “Of course, but as you can see, we’re a little busy tonight. Perhaps, you could come and join the festivities, and we could chat tomorrow?”
“Thank you for that welcoming invitation.” She stepped forward, patting my cheek. “But I’m afraid the chat cannot wait until tomorrow. First, let’s have dinner, shall we? I’m dying to meet the youngins responsible for this.”
She walked off, headed toward the center, and I stood there watching her back. My face gave nothing away, while inside, the pit of anxiety felt like it was opening to cavernous levels. Swallowing, I took a step, following the elusive woman, praying she wasn’t about to drop a bomb on us. I was about over information being delivered at a function.
When we stepped into the atrium, I spotted Loren and held her eyes for a second. It was enough for her to stop her conversation and walk toward us.
“Attie?” she asked, looking from me to the woman who’d stopped when she’d noticed Loren.
“Bellezza, this is my Aunt Phea. She has some news to share with us after dinner.”
Loren peered into my eyes, searching for everything I wasn’t saying. Like the amazing woman she was, she seemed to pick up on what I couldn’t say and nodded, squeezing my hand. I looked at her dressed in her red gown and knew how lucky of a man I was to have her as my wife. She smiled, turning toward my aunt.
“It’s so lovely to meet you, Phoebe. We’re honored to have you here tonight to celebrate the opening of the new youth center. Thank you so much for letting us borrow Pixel. She’s been an integral part of our team.”
I couldn’t help but smile fondly at my wife as she welcomed our uninvited guest like she was royalty. Loren might think at times she didn’t belong with us or have what it took for this life, but she proved to me that she was perfect for us each day. Wrapping my arm around her waist, I pulled her closer, the anxiety ebbing as she neared.
Looking back at my aunt, I noticed she watched us with an all too observing eye. Whatever she was up to, I hoped it wouldn’t destroy us. I was at my limit.
Leading her to our table, I decided to stay with my family this time instead of retreating to the shadows to lurk. I had every inch of this place covered digitally and humanly. Everyone here was vetted, and I trusted them. In short, there was no way that Dayton was ruining this party tonight.
“Aunt Phea,” Pixel said, standing and walking over to her. “I wasn’t expecting you.” She clasped the older woman’s arm, helping her to a chair. I didn’t know if that was expected of the younger generation or if Aunt Phea played more feeble around others to catch them off guard. It seemed like the latter to me. There was nothing weak about Phoebe Costa.
Loren introduced the rest of the table, falling into her hostess role perfectly. Everyone looked at her when she was done, curious about her presence.