Apollo (Luna Lodge #5)(28)

"Our mother was a part of a program," she said quietly. "It started when she found out she was pregnant. A poor junkie on the street, just hoping for her next fix and easy ride. And that's just what they were counting on."



Apollo's stomach rolled. He should have expected as much, but the truth of it stung. His throat burned as he watched Val continue. Her eyes were glassed over. This was a story she had told herself many times.

"When we were born, they didn't get the right results from me. Our mother died during birth, so I was quickly placed into the system by kind Sally," she said, sneering. "Well, for a hefty fee."

Anger burned inside for her. For all of them, but he quickly pushed it down. It wouldn't do anyone any good.

"They were looking for results," Rachel said and started pacing the room. "But why didn't they keep you? It's obvious that you developed something."

Val looked to him. She kept doing that, and the looks were eating him up inside. He didn't have the answers. What was he supposed to do? Apollo looked away. He could hear her sigh.

"None of this came until I was eighteen. Up until that day, I was totally normal."

He cringed at the word normal. Like he even knew what that was. From the start they had all been different, and she had been able to skirt under the radar. Jealousy was a nasty thing, and yet there it was.

"So you said you were in the system before?" Rachel prodded.

He looked back to her when she didn't answer. Val's cheeks had grown paler than they already were, and she looked like she was going to be sick.

"Yes," she said. Her tone was clipped, and it was clear she didn't want to talk about it. 

"And when Sally was found dead, that was the end?" Titus asked this time.

Everyone hung on her words. It was more than any of them had heard. Any lead that helped explained the how of their existence was one more step in the right direction.

Val gave a laugh. "Hardly. Not that I got much further," she said bitterly. "I had the doctor. I knew he went back to Italy, but the tracks ran cold. Everything that I could dig up just seemed to get more muddled than before. These people … " She found his eyes again. "The Horatius Group, they were good at hiding. And I had to be careful. I was fully aware at this point that people who dug too deeply were only digging a grave."

Something pulled at his heart. A panic rose in him as he thought of the danger she put herself in.

"I had nearly given up when I saw him on my TV." She pointed to Sol. "I knew."

The two stared at one another. The air shifted, and a sweet smell filled the room.

The rumble in his chest was out before he could even stop it. That smell was pissing him off. What was worse was the growl Sol replied with. It set the hairs on the back of his neck on end and made him ball his fists. Apollo was out of his chair before he even knew what was happening.

He breathed in deeply. Small warm arms wrapped around him, holding him as tight as they could.

"It's not like that. He's my brother," Val whispered. "Please."

He looked down at her pale blue eyes. They were so clear he nearly lost himself in them. It was like staring into an endless lake.

"Fuck this," Sol growled and stomped out of the room.

Whatever had happened, the moment was gone as he watched the other males leave.

Erica stared at the two of them for a moment and then followed after her angry man.

"Well," Rachel said after a moment. "Didn't see that coming."





Chapter Eleven





Apollo stepped out of the car in front of Jenna's little house. Just like yesterday, Val sat on the porch, drinking her coffee. She stayed where she was as he made his way up. They hadn't stuck around long after Sol left. Actually, he'd left about as soon as he could. His reaction had been weird. They had all been weird.

But he didn't want to think about that. They still had a damn job to do, and until they could confirm the truth, she was on constant watch.

Apollo didn't know if he could just believe what she'd said. The Horatius Group had altered their tactics before.

"Doctor Miller wants to see us both this morning," he said without much ceremony.

She frowned and took a large drink off the steaming mug, not bothering to look at him. The slight pissed him off.

"Why?" she asked.

He stared at her there in the morning sun, and he was struck by just how beautiful she was. Her cheeks and lips were flushed from the heat of the mug. Her eyes were like pretty blue crystals as they stared out at the forest line.

"She wants to do a few tests." He stumbled and said the first thing that came to mind. "Why are you out here so early? Aren't you cold?"

Val turned her face toward the sun and closed her eyes. The mist rose from the trees, and he turned back to her.