Ares crossed his legs, one hand hugging the back of the sofa. He tilted his head, not saying a word, and Theo was overly intimidated.
It was just like that night at the club, that essence that chilled me to the bone—The lifeless look in his eyes and his blank expression. I can’t even recognize him anymore.
"Start talking, Theo Mercer, and fast," Nico uttered. "Explain everything."
Theo opened his mouth, but he shut them. After a beat, he parted his lips to form words. "A-At first, it was just that I watched her. Agatha told me it was harmless that she only needed to know more about her daughter-in-law through a friend."
"Was fucking Agatha King part of this harmless method?" Nico asked.
Theo’s mouth hung.
"Don’t lie, I saw you across the street, lips locked."
Theo looked to Ares, who didn’t react in any way. That must have tensed him further, and unable to handle the pressure of unpredictability, he confessed.
"It wasn’t supposed to be like that. I-It just happened and... look, I... I-I knew she was lying when she told me to keep an eye on—"
"Good thing your genius ass figured that out, but you still did it anyway."
Ares raised a finger, and Nico kept quiet.
"I-It wasn’t my intention for this to get this way, I-I tried to stop, but she wouldn’t... she wouldn’t let me—"
"What were you doing at the Masquerade Ball?" Ares questioned. "Agatha’s this sponsor of yours, but I know her. She wouldn’t allow you close to prevent suspicion."
That sponsor Theo told me about was Agatha! I’m not surprised anymore, given his relationship with her and the fact that he was meant to observe me. That explained why he kept approaching randomly and got my number.
God, I’m so stupid.
I should be relieved I told Nico about Theo; if I hadn’t, he would have tried harder, and I stupidly would have allowed it without the faintest idea.
Ares was handed a gun, and he twisted the silencer on the muzzle like it was the most normal thing in the world.
W-What’s happening right now? Why does Ares have a gun?!
I moved, and my heels stepped on a hanger. I pressed my hand against my mouth to keep from breathing too loudly. When I looked back at the crack, my heart dropped.
Ares was looking right at me.
My insides turned to ice; however, the passing second and his unchangeable blank expression told me he hadn’t noticed me yet.
When he flickered his eyes away, I wanted to release a breath of relief, but I couldn’t. I’m not sure I was even breathing right now.
Theo began hyperventilating when he saw the gun, and when he tried to move, Nico and Reed’s hands were braced on his shoulders to keep him down.
"I-I came to the ball anyway. I-I just knew she would want me there."
"You’re lying," Ares said calmly.
Tears streamed down Theo’s face. "I-I’m not..." he whispered. "You gotta believe me, I—"
I drew in sharply in my breath when Ares pressed the muzzle on Theo’s forehead.
"Think carefully what you’re about to say next."
In between cries and stutter, he said a word I couldn’t quite catch. "V-V-Vos—"
Ares pressed his finger on the trigger, and I burst out of the closet before I could register my own action.
All eyes fell on me, and because of the narrow view, I didn’t know this was a full room. My eyes swept everyone. Reed was surprised, and Nico had a frown.
I dipped my gaze to Theo, who had hope in his eyes as if I was here to save him. I’m not even sure if I’m safe!
Hesitantly, I shifted my gaze to Ares, eyes boring into mine, and by the second, my heart was pounding, and I grew lightheaded.
I backed away slowly, and the men moved.
"Touch her, and I’ll end you."
They all freeze in place, but my fright only grew when Ares rose from the sofa, and my chin lifted to hold his gaze.
One word zapped my brain. Run.
I moved, not slow but swift, pushing the door open. Because of my snappy steps, I tripped, knocking myself on the credenza against the wall.
My breath came heavy, blowing curls into my face before I brushed them aside with trembling hands.
My spine straightened when I heard footsteps. Slowly, I turned, bracing my hands on the edge of the wood, my nails digging into it as Ares emerged, standing at the end of the hallway like a being from hell.
He took his phone out of his pocket, doing a swift swipe, before positioning the cell to his ear. The familiar sound of my ringtone sealed my ears, and I looked to my purse on the floor beside me.
Ares is calling. He’s right there, yet he calls. What’s he playing at?
I shifted my eyes back to him, and he just stood there... waiting. Something told me he’s gonna keep doing this until I answered.
Gulping, I crouched to grab my purse, fingers not responding properly as I tried to take out my phone. I swiped the answer button and pressed the phone to my ear, a long beat passing.
"Baby..."
For once, instead of melting, I’m terrified, and my breath came out uneven, my eyes stinging.
"You shouldn’t be here."
Every image I had known about Ares King for years turned false as I played everything like I could finally put the pieces together. What I saw there wasn’t a businessman or a concerned husband asking questions.
Jenna’s words were starting to make sense, a sharp truth drilling into my soul. I don’t think she was making things up about the Kings.
"A-Are you gonna kill me?" I asked in a whisper, a tear sliding down my cheek as I eyed the gun still in his grasp.
A devilish smirk curled on his lips. "I could... if you give me a reason."