31 Second Thoughts
Lucian
“Do you have a moment?” Jace’s head peeks around my door.
I close my laptop, gesturing for him to come in. I sit back in my seat, folding my hands. It’s about all I can do to keep from punching this kid in the face.
Idiot.
He settles in the seat in front of my desk, mirroring my posture.
“What’s on your mind, Jace?”
“I’ve been thinking about tonight’s op. If Gideon sees through what we’re doing, which is a high possibility, we need to let him take me. We can’t make it too obvious that it’s what we want him to do.”
“Did you talk to the others about this plan?”
“No.”
I rub a hand down my face. Gracie isn’t going to like this.
But who am I to stop him from wanting to get kidnapped?
“We need it to be as realistic as possible. He needs to feel smart. As if he outmaneuvered us, the others need to be focused on the prototype.”
“The others should be apprised of the situation.” I clench and unclench my fist.
“No, they can’t handle it.”
“But you can?” I raise an eyebrow.
Jace’s gaze scans over my face. He looks older than nineteen, almost twenty. But his eyes are different than Gideon’s, which is the only reason I’m letting him stay in my house. The only reason he’s still breathing.
“No, but I’m the only one who needs to,” he answers simply.
The hurt I saw on Gracie’s face from his last plan fills my mind.
“You don’t get to make that call unilaterally. This isn’t a game of sacrifice where you volunteer yourself and expect the rest of us to adapt. You may have been a team lead before due to your upbringing and discipline but I won’t be making that mistake again.”
“It’s not a sacrifice, it's a strategy.” Jace’s jaw works.
“Semantics.”
“It’s not,” he snaps, a crack finally breaking through that composed exterior. “You said it yourself. Gideon’s already inside our systems. He’s anticipating our movements. If we don’t give him something to win, he’s going to keep pushing until he finds it.”
I lean back slightly, observing him. He believes this. That’s the dangerous part.
“You think offering yourself up is the solution.”
“He’s furious I ruined his plans. Better me than Iz.”
“And what happens if Gideon decides you’re better off dead before we can find you?”
“He won’t, he enjoys prolonged torture.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“I know him. I grew up in his house.”
“You were a child.”
His lips press into a thin line. Indecisiveness warring in his eyes.
“I still know more than you,” he says as he lifts his chin.
I lean across the table and grab his shirt, pulling him to me.
“Don’t forget who you’re talking to, Ravencourt,” I growl into his face.
“No, you don’t know who you’re talking to.” His eyes narrow. “You’re the one with blind spots.”
I throw him back into the chair. I stay standing, glaring down at him.
“What are you talking about?” I slowly move around my desk, keeping my eyes on him.
“Gideon, you failed at every turn.” Jace straightens in his seat, no fear in his body. “Anytime there was a lead on Isobel, he made sure those operatives never got the chance to tell you. If they did somehow make it back to you, he made sure Isobel was moved.”
“I suspected as such,” I mumble.
“How about Adrienne?” Jace stands.
“What about her?”
“Did you know she was fucking my father?”
His words don’t register. For a moment, all I hear is the echo of them, like my mind refuses to process what he just said.
“What did you just say?” My voice is quieter now, more contained.
“Adrienne,” he repeats, not softening, “was sleeping with my father.”
“Since when?”
“Since before you agreed to her arrangement. You fell for her sad sob story for Dakota, when in reality, she was there to keep tabs on you.”
My mind starts moving faster than I can track. Adrienne. The access she had to my house, to me. The information she could have heard.
“You’re sure.” It’s not a question, just a demand.
“I’ve watched him fuck her over his desk.” Jace makes a face.
I turn away from him, forcing air into my lungs. It doesn’t hurt. I never had feelings for Adrienne. When Adrienne had filed for divorce, it didn’t even cross my mind. We had our arrangement, and it was complete. I always knew she’d leave
When I found out about Dakota’s betrayal. That hurt. I treated her like a daughter. Maybe I should’ve made it clear that she never would’ve been able to step into my place. Checked in with her more. Done more to make sure she knew I didn’t forget about her.
The fact of the matter is, they betrayed me, and that won’t stand. I roll my shoulders, attempting to loosen some of the tension.
“Fine.” I clench my teeth so hard I’m already apologizing to my dentist. “What’s your idea?”