I looked up at him. “Well? Any other bombs you want to drop before you leave? Any more fake directions you want to steer me in?”
Jeb hesitated. “Do you remember in New York, when you killed Ari, and I yelled that you had killed your brother?”
I looked over warily and saw Ari tense, staring at Jeb.
“Yeah. Lucky for you he’s hard to kill.”
Ari shot me a brief smile.
“He is your brother, Max,” said Jeb. “At least, your half brother.”
I couldn’t breathe. What did...what...
“I’m your father, Max,” said Jeb simply.
106
Everything faded away except Jeb’s face.
I couldn’t even hear the propaganda blaring from the speakers anymore. I felt the damp heat of Nudge’s hand tighten in mine, felt my feathers brushing the cold stone floor, but all I could do was stare at Jeb while his words rattled senselessly inside my brain.
My eyes flicked back to Ari. He didn’t look upset—just stunned.
“What are you talking about?” I said, unwilling to have the rug pulled out from under me, which, face it, seems to be these guys’ main source of yuks.
“I’m your father, Max,” Jeb repeated. “I wasn’t married to your mother, but we decided together to create you.”
I couldn’t even look at him. For years and years I had wished that he was my dad. In my mind, without telling anyone, I’d pretended he was. It was what I’d wanted more than anything in the world. Then he’d disappeared and I’d grieved for him with a broken heart.
Then he’d turned up again—surprise!—evil. Which had broken my heart even worse than the first time.
Now Jeb was saying that he really was my dad. That my wishes had come true. Except I no longer trusted him, no longer admired him, no longer loved him.
“Hmm,” I said.
He reached out and patted my knee briefly. “I know it’s an awful lot to take in, especially given the past six months. All I can say is that one day I hope to be able to explain it all to you, Max. You deserve that, and so much more. But know that I’m your father. And I know this sounds impossible, but I’m asking you to trust me as your dad.”
“That really can’t happen at this point,” I said slowly.
He nodded. “I understand. But I’m asking you to try.”
“Hmm.”
“Half brother?” Ari asked.
Jeb turned to him. “Yes. You had different mothers. Your mother was my wife, who died shortly after you were born.”
Ari was absorbing this when I asked, “But I was born before Ari. Who was my mother?”
“Your mother and I had no personal relationship,” said Jeb slowly. “But we agreed on what to do; we agreed that we wanted to be part of your beginning, part of your heritage. It was a monumental, stunning idea, that we—”
“I don’t want to hear this!” I cried, folding in my wings. I was ready to kill him, drawing out this moment like torture. “I don’t care about all the ‘beautiful science,’ la la la! You tell me who my mother is before I yank your eyes out!”
Jeb looked at me, unperturbed. “She’s a good woman, and you remind me of her.”
I stood up, trembling with rage and tension. “You...better...tell...me.”
My hands were clenched into fists. Angel and Nudge stood up too, behind me. Total was growling low in his throat. For such a small dog, he could sound like a rottweiler when he wanted to.