Burned Hearts (Burned 3)

My brow furrowed.

“What?” Dane asked.

My lips pressed together as I contemplated that last little item—the secret society. I said, “The Illuminati faction he recruited you into was supposed to be a generational thing. No outsiders. And considering Bryn Hilliard is pushing eighty and his son, Vale, was never inducted in to take his place—”

“Because he proved to be a colossal idiot.”

“Right. Anyway, if there’s no Hilliard to step in, Bryn remains a member. Unless Vale were to have a son who had some sense in his head. Then he could succeed Bryn. Is that all correct?”

Hypothetically, of course, since Vale was no longer alive to proffer an heir.

Dane said, “Yes.”

“So the rules of the society are finite? The exception being you?”

“The exception being me.”

“Hmm.” I mulled this over a bit further, then suggested, “Or not?”

His gaze narrowed. “You’re not saying…?”

With a small shrug, I offered, “Is it possible that your dad was part of the society thirty years ago—and any of the members who knew kept it quiet and those who came into the society later, such as Qadir and Nikolai, never even met him? Never knew anything about him? Because, let’s face it, the secrecy pretty much remained intact until I came along last year.”

“That’s one hell of a conspiracy theory.”

I nodded. “Question is, why go to all of the trouble to hide your father’s involvement? Why would Ethan and the others not want you to know your dad was one of them?”

“Ari, this is impossible. I trust Ethan. I’ve always trusted him.”

Unfortunately, I detected the broken conviction in Dane’s voice.

“This is risky territory for us both, Dane. I understand that. But is it really so impossible to believe that he might know more than he’s ever shared with you?” I challenged. “’Cause, honestly, a secret society is a pretty crazy notion unto itself. One that’s turned corrupt—and that corruption is rooted deep … Well. I’d say there are no inconceivable theories.”

“I’m having troubl

e denying it myself.” The angst flashing in his eyes backed up his statement.

I opted to tread lightly with a tentative tone as I suggested, “Who’s to say your father didn’t know these guys were doing wrong and tried to stop them? Instead, they cut him out, as you did to them later on with 10,000 Lux? Vicious cycle to the extreme, sure. But nothing is impossible with these people. We’ve learned that the hard way.” I gave him a firm look. One that screamed, They conspired to blow up a megaresort!

Dane whirled on his heels and stalked toward the fireplace, taking up his pacing with his hands on his waist. Tension and frustration permeated the room. My heart ached for him.

This was a monumental betrayal we might have happened upon. Not just another deception from the society members, but from Ethan Evans. Of all people.

And for that matter … “What if Qadir and Nikolai aren’t on the up-and-up, either?”

He spun back around to face me. “Ari, Ethan is not a criminal.”

I didn’t shrink away from his silent fury, understanding it wasn’t directed at me. “You don’t really know that for sure. Do you?”

His jaw clenched. I remembered the first time I’d met him I’d found that small gesture intriguing, desperately wanting to know the source of all his dismay. I was now wholly aware of that internal strife—and it deeply pained me.

Dane was a strategic sort, calculating when it came to risks and whom he could trust. There were very, very few people he’d let into his life. Very few he’d relied on or considered solid. He’d been a part of Ethan, Qadir, and Nikolai’s pack since he was nineteen years old, when he’d been recruited. To learn twelve years later that those friendships and that tight camaraderie could be false, an intentional setup—that had to rip the rug from underneath him.

Once again.

So of course he’d be reticent to believe the worse.

Yet Dane was neither naive nor easily snowed. Therefore, I knew he’d evaluate every nuance and work it from every angle in his mind.