Page 172 of Dance of Thorns

That’s a part of her past I still don’t know, and I’m not sure I will ever get out of her: who my grandfather was, and what hisconnection was to the Obsidian Syndicate—whoMom’s nephew Vaughnnow runs.

There’s way more to her relationship with that organization than she’s telling me, I'm sure of it.

“Oh?” Mom says, trying to keep her voice neutral.

“You two don’t have to have a relationship, you know,” I say. “It’s not something he’s pushing for. I think he’s just curious. I mean, I told you he grew up in foster care. He barely remembers your brother. So… You being around is kind of a novelty to him, I think.”

She smiles a little, nodding. “I… I’m not entirely opposed to meeting him.”

“Val's areallygreat guy, Mom. I think you’d like him.Greathugger.”

She laughs. “Well, inthatcase,” she grins. Then her brow furrows. “And his brother?”

“I, uh…don’t get the impression that Vaughn is much of a hugger," I laugh. "But honestly, I don’t know him very well at all.”

Maybe that’ll change, now that he’s my cousin.

Or not.

We'll see.

“How about, when you're ready, we'll start with Val,” I say gently. “He’s fun, andverycharming. You’ll love him.” I shrug. “We can wait on Vaughn. I don’t think he’s that invested either way.”

Mom nods. Just then, Bane walks back over with our coffees, and right afterthat, we hear the announcement that the plane is about to land.

It’s almost time.

I feel my heart quicken, rattling in my chest. I bring the coffee to my lips, then realize I’m so jittery that I havezeroneed for caffeine right now.

Bane laughs when I toss the cup into a trashcan as we walk past.

“I’m too nervous!” I squeak as I turn to him.

He smiles, pulling me close and cupping my face. “I know you are, baby. But it’s going to be fine. I bet she’s just as freaked out.”

I bet she is.

I mean, it’s been over seven years since we saw each other.

As it turns out, the story of Lorenzo Cielo taking Dove and I didn't actually end the way I thought it did.

I know now why my DNA was found on the handle of a knife that was used to cut Lorenzo’s throat.

It’s because that DNA belonged tomy mother.

For all intents and purposes, Lydia Marchetti,néeBancroft, is dead. And we’re going to keep it that way. But I’ve talked to Taylor and Fumi and given them enough information…in confidence, of course…that they’ll be challenging the DNA findings.

They’ve assured me it's too different from my own DNA and more to the point toosimilarto the DNA of a woman who's beendead for twenty-four years for any judge in the country to admit it as evidence.

And without it, the Cielo family’s crusade against me falls apart.

Mom finally told me the full story of that night.

When Lorenzo never showed up at the rendezvous with us, Mom started looking for him. She even tried to contact Agatha. But she was so deep into her Alzheimer’s by then that she didn’t even know who Mom was.

But eventually, Mom tracked Lorenzo down. The next night, she found him at his horror-house on Staten Island…

…With herdaughterschained up in separate bedrooms, their heads shaved.