“What’s so important then, West?” I ask, straight to the point as ever.
I don’t want to waste time dancing for no reason, especially when it’s not with one of my guys.
“Rafe is on his way, about thirty minutes out,” he says in my ear.
“What? Why?”
“The Ring weren’t supposed to be here tonight. They showed up about an hour before this thing started, surprising everyone.”
“Okay, and what does that have to do with Rafe being on his way?”
“Because Luna, they’re likely here to look you over in person. You can’t let them catch you alone, do you understand me?”
“What on earth is going on West?”
He won’t meet my eyes and it’s driving me crazy.
“I need you to not keep secrets if it’s putting me in danger West, how am I supposed to defend myself?”
He finally looks at me.
“Fuck. Okay, when you went to live with Rafe, it was because an agreement was always in place that if anything ever happened to your father, Rafe would get you off the grid,” he says slowly, as if I’m going to freak out.
“Off the grid?” I ask, confused.
“A lot of shit was going down at the time, and you aren’t ready for all of that and we both know it. It was everyone’s priority that you were to be kept safe. Again, a lot you have locked away and now isn’t the time but Rafe got you and ran. No one found you for a long time, not even your mother, until you were twelve.”
He checks my reactions, and proceeds when he sees I’m not having a breakdown at his words. Simply because I can’t yet process them.
“Rafe broke a lot of rules to do what he did, and a lot of manipulation and blackmailing on his side kept them at bay. Until now.”
He’s right, now isn’t the time to try and make me remember things. Rafe ran with me? What did he sacrifice to honor his agreement with my father? I feel a little sick. West must see it on my face.
“I swear Luna, he would have done it again in a heartbeat,” he declares as he cups my cheek.
“A lot of things would be very different if your father was still with us, and I’m sorry that he’s not. When you are ready, I will talk to you about anything you wish, but right now I need you to trust me. Rafe will be here soon to distract them, but they can’t know that I have contact with him.”
I nod understanding the seriousness in his eyes.
“What about them seeing us right now?”
“They wouldn’t be surprised Luna, and that’s also for another time okay?”
“Okay,” I breathe, confused with all of this.
“Who exactly is sitting at that table West? I feel unprepared and I need to know who’s who.”
He contemplates what I’m asking for a moment before he sighs and nods in agreement.
“Okay. Dietrichson’s father, John, is the oldest with the moustache and blue suit, place him and I’ll go clockwise from there.”
He turns us slightly so I’m looking in their direction as discreetly as possible. I nod once I have who he described, who is still grilling Wren from the looks of it.
“From there it’s Patrick O’Shay, Travis Fuse, Reggie Rivera, Juliana Gibbs, Maria Steele, Betty Morgan and Rico,” he whispers.
My heart is pounding in my chest. There is a Steele here, someone with my blood and I can’t even bring myself to look at them, for fear of it crushing me.
“Who is she to me?” I ask quietly, he knows what I’m asking.
“She is your grandmother. To be completely honest with you Luna, there are three others up there that were also very fond of you too.”
He doesn’t say who or why and I don’t know if I want to know, but I’ve left myself at a disadvantage refusing to acknowledge my life before the disaster.
Trying to push past all this emotion I focus on the fact that Parker’s father is here. Even West doesn’t give his surname to me. Looking at him, I want to tear his throat out for what he’s done to his son. That soon has me under control again, just filled with rage instead.
“Thank you West,” I say as I step back and make my way to the table.
Taking a seat everyone’s eyes are on me checking me over.
“I’m fine guys, he just wanted to apologize,” I say as I smile, but no one is convinced.
I’m ready to leave now, done with the tense atmosphere. I can’t stop glancing at the door watching for Rafe, when the same man who approached earlier stands beside me.
“Miss Steele, Rico has requested you for a moment,” huh, still no surname? Asshole. He definitely doesn’t deserve the privilege of being an Acehole.
I glance at Parker whose face is white while Roman’s is red with fury.
“Thank you for letting me know, but if you could be so kind as to pass on my decline, I would be grateful,” I reply sweetly.
“Miss, please, I don’t believe that’ll be in your best interest,” whispers the guy frantically.
“I’m not going, now unless something will happen to you for passing on that message, that is all,” I respond determined, but the guy is shaking.
“Will something happen to you?” I ask quietly, and he nods with fear.
Fuck.
I glance around the table again, and nobody knows what to say or do. Nobody wants me to go, but everyone seems to know it’ll not go down well if I don’t do as I am told.
When will these guys learn?
I make my own rules.
Raising my hand to make the guy wait, I pull my phone out and dial Rafe.
“Luna? Luna are you okay?” he answers instantly.
“Yeah, West told me you're near. How far out? I’ve got Rico the
