After a breath, Giselle scoffs. “That’s it? This is what you wanted to say?”
Titus shrugs. “Sounds more like bad luck than betrayal.” He spins to face Echo. “Do you haveproofAthena knew what Nostra wanted?”
“Cipher,” Kane hisses. “They werethere.”
Charles looks between them. “Who is this Cipher? One of you?”
Echo frowns. “No, they’re—”
“Then how do we know they exist? And if they do, why hide?” Giselle questions.
A snort escapes Titus. “Yeah, why not show up and speak for themselves?”
“City records can confirm Cipher’s identity. Employment logs, prior contracts…” Coda reaches for holotable controls.
“Do those records prove what Echo’s saying happened that night?” Charles interrupts, quieter than the others.
Coda’s hand slowly retreats. Athena sits up with a smile, tugging her sleeve down with care.
Kane’s gaze never leaves hers. “Cipher exists. They werethere. They remembereverything.”
Athena’s followers exchange uneasy glances. Giselle locks her arms across her chest. Even Titus frowns.
Athena sends a sharp look at Kane, then pivots to her crew. “I’ll acknowledge the switch happened, yes. But I didn’t do it for profit. I did it to keep us afloat when everything was falling apart.”
She lowers her head before lifting it. “Nostra had their own agenda—one I didn’t know about. No matter what Kane or the old hag claim.”
Echo scoffs. “Bullshit…”
“I’ve seen groups crumble under leaders too sentimental to make hard calls,” Athena goes on, tone sharper. “I wasn’t going to be a victim again. Not for Duke. Not for anyone. That’s why I left that night. And when I returned, I learned from my mistakes.”
Her hand sweeps across the table. “And look at where I have taken this group. Meanwhile, Kane and his team try to punish me for my past while failing to do what he never could—succeed.”
Titus and Giselle murmur their agreement. Athena flashes a proud smile as she gestures to them. “They follow me because they believe in my vision—not my past.”
Kane squares his shoulders.
Same posture. Same need for an audience. Cipher was right.
Except Charles wrings his hands. Nora avoids his gaze.
The cracks are still there.
“So”—Athena casually adjusts the robe around her neck—“if we’re finished with ghost stories and—”
“You’re correct about one thing, Athena,” Kane cuts her off. “The past is behind us. But your betrayals? They’re still happening. Right now.”
43
Chapter 43 - Kane
Nora and Charles share an unreadable look.
Titus sneers. “What kind of proof?”
“More hearsay?” Giselle flicks a hand.
Kane doesn’t bother answering. “I’ll let Pixie and Wren explain.”