13. Chapter Thirteen #2
“You’re leaving tonight.”
He speaks as though the decision has already been discussed, debated, and finalized.
“Somewhere private. Secure. Far enough away that you’ll disappear from public view while we investigate these attacks.”
A laugh escapes me.
It sounds slightly hysterical.
“You cannot be serious.”
“I am entirely serious.”
His voice contains no softness now.
“You were nearly killed today.”
“It’s a graze.”
I lift my bandaged arm and immediately wince.
“I still have all my limbs. I’m fine.”
“Nothing about this is fine.”
His expression hardens.
“You performed at a venue disclosed only to vetted staff, security personnel, and invited guests. Someone still entered with a rifle and found a position above the stage.”
He takes one step closer.
“This person knew where you would be, how to reach you, and how to escape.”
My pulse quickens.
“You are leaving until we know who is responsible.”
“No.”
The refusal comes automatically.
“Simone—”
“I said no.”
I push myself higher against the pillows.
“I’m not abandoning my home, my work, and my entire life because you’ve made another enemy.”
Bran shifts beside me.
Dad’s eyes narrow.
“Another enemy?”
Anger surges through the medication clouding my head.
I’ve spent days being ordered around.
Days pretending I don’t understand why our family keeps attracting violence.
“This is your fault.”
The room goes still.
“All of it.”
“Simone,” Bran warns.
I shake off the hand he places against my uninjured arm.
“No. We’re not children anymore.”
My gaze locks with Dad’s.
“I don’t know what business deal you made or what political alliance you broke this time, but people don’t launch coordinated attacks against a family for no reason.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Then tell me.”
His silence feeds my anger.
“You have enemies because you’re never satisfied. You always need more power, more influence, more control.”
My eyes burn.
“And every time you reach for it, the rest of us pay the price.”
Dad’s face becomes unreadable.
“Be careful.”
“Why? Because I might say something true?”
Bran rises from his chair.
“Simone, stop.”
But I’ve already opened the door.
Years of suspicion and resentment rush through it.
“Mom died because of your enemies.”
Dad goes perfectly still.
Bran curses under his breath.
I continue because stopping would require me to feel the pain behind the words.
“You told us her death was unavoidable. That there was nothing anyone could have done.”
My voice shakes.
“But I heard enough conversations afterward to know there was more to it.”
“You heard fragments,” Dad says.
His voice is dangerously low.
“You built a story around things you never understood.”
“Then explain them.”
“This is not the time.”
“It’s never the time.”
Tears sting my eyes.
“You’ve spent years hiding behind that excuse.”
His jaw tightens.
“You have no idea what I sacrificed to protect this family.”
“Was Mom one of the sacrifices?”
The question lands like a strike.
Dad’s face changes.
Not anger.
Pain.
For one second, I see it clearly.
Then he locks it away.
I know I’ve gone too far.
But I can’t pull the words back.
“I’m lying in a hospital bed because of you.”
My voice breaks.
“My show is ruined. My tour is gone. Someone fired a rifle at me because of something you did.”
“That is enough,” Bran says.
Dad steps closer.
“You will not speak to me that way.”
“And you will not keep pretending this is solely about protecting me.”
My body trembles.
“You can’t stand the guilt. You can’t stand watching everything you built collapse around you.”
Dad opens his mouth.
Then closes it again.
Whatever he almost says remains trapped behind his teeth.
When he speaks again, his voice is ice.
“You’re leaving tonight.”
I stare at him.
“The aircraft is being prepared. Luca is collecting your clothing and anything else you’ll need.”
“Luca?”
“He’s going with you.”
The words strike somewhere beneath my ribs.
“He will remain with you every hour of the day until the threat is eliminated.”
Dad turns toward Bran.
“Talk some sense into your sister.”
Then he walks out.
The door closes behind him with a sharp, final sound.
Bran looks at me.
I turn away before he can see the tears gathering in my eyes.
“Don’t.”
“Sim—”
“If you’re going to repeat everything he said, follow him.”
“I’m not.”
He sits again.
“I’m sorry.”
I close my eyes.
“I wish this were different. But after today, hiding you is probably the safest option.”
“I’m sure it is.”
The anger is already draining, leaving something hollow behind.
I know Dad loves us.
I know Mom’s death destroyed him.
And I know using her as a weapon was cruel.
But I also know he’s hiding something.
He always has been.
Now I’m being sent away because the secrets surrounding him have finally placed a bullet close enough to touch me.
Tonight, I’m leaving my career, my home, and whatever illusion of independence I had left.
I don’t know where I’m going.
I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.
The only thing I know for certain is that Luca Moreau is coming with me.
Off the radar.
Alone.
With the one man I can’t seem to escape.