Chapter 23 The Truth About Family
KAEL'S POV
The punch came out of nowhere, snapping my head to the side.
Blood filled my mouth. I spat it onto the floor of the medical facility's interrogation room and glared at Cross.
"Wrong answer," he said calmly, like he was grading a test instead of beating me. "Let's try again. Where is Aria hiding?"
"I don't know." It was the truth. I'd sent her coordinates to the safe house but she was smart enough not to go there directly. She'd circle back, make sure she wasn't followed. I had no idea where she actually was right now.
And even if I did, I'd die before telling Cross.
"You're lying." Cross nodded to one of his enhanced subjects. "Again."
This time the hit came to my ribs. Pain exploded through my chest. Something cracked. Breathing suddenly hurt worse than anything I'd ever felt.
But I didn't scream. Wouldn't give Cross the satisfaction.
"Your loyalty is admirable," Cross said, pulling up a chair. "But ultimately pointless. We'll find Aria with or without your help. I'm simply offering you a chance to make this easier on yourself."
"Go to hell," I wheezed.
Cross smiled. "You Ashfords always were stubborn. Your father is exactly the same way. Refuses to admit when he's beaten."
I went still. "My father? What does he have to do with this?"
"Oh, Kael." Cross's smile widened. "You really don't know, do you? How delightfully tragic."
Ice formed in my stomach. "Know what?"
"Your parents have been funding the Legacy Program for fifteen years." Cross pulled out a tablet, showing me financial records. Bank transfers. Millions of dollars. From Ashford Dynasty accounts. To Cross's research. "They're not just supporters. They're founding members."
"You're lying." But the documents looked real. Official. Undeniable.
"Am I?" Cross scrolled through more files. "Your father approached me after your sister Emily tested positive for Omega genetics. Said she was an embarrassment to the family bloodline. Asked me to eliminate her quietly."
My world tilted. "No. That's not—my father loved Emily—"
"Your father loved the Ashford reputation more." Cross showed me an email. From my father. Dated three years ago. The subject line read: Solution to the Emily Problem.
I read the email three times, each word cutting deeper than any physical wound.
My father had ordered Emily's death.
Had paid Cross to make it look like an accident.
Had lied to me for three years about how my sister died.
"You're sick," I whispered. "Both of you. You're monsters."
"We're visionaries," Cross corrected. "Your parents understand that genetic purity requires sacrifice. Your sister was that sacrifice. Just as you might become one, if you continue refusing to cooperate."
"I'll never help you." Rage burned through my pain. "I'll die first."
"Death would be a mercy." Cross stood up. "No, I have something much better planned for you. Dr. Kane?"
A door opened. A woman in a white coat entered—Dr. Kane, the scientist who'd enhanced all those students. Who'd turned victims into weapons.
She looked at me like I was an interesting science project instead of a person.
"Subject shows significant Alpha genetics," she said clinically. "Enhanced strength already present from previous serum exposure. Psychological profile indicates strong emotional attachments—exploitable weakness. Recommended procedure: full enhancement with behavioral modification. Eliminate emotional responses. Reprogram loyalty exclusively to the Legacy Program."
"No," I said. "No, you can't—"
"We can," Cross interrupted. "And we will. Unless you tell me where Aria is hiding."
I stayed silent.
Cross sighed. "Very well. Dr. Kane, prepare the enhancement chamber."
"Wait!" The word burst out before I could stop it. Not because I'd changed my mind. But because I needed time. Every minute they spent here was another minute Aria had to escape. "I'll tell you. Just... give me a moment."
Cross studied me. "You're stalling."
"I'm thinking," I lied. "The safe house location. Let me remember the exact coordinates."
"You have thirty seconds."
My mind raced. I couldn't tell him the real location. But if I gave him false coordinates, he'd know immediately. I needed something believable. Somewhere that would send his people in the wrong direction for as long as possible.
"She went north," I said slowly. "Toward the old mining town. There's an abandoned church there. We used it as a backup meeting point."
It was partially true—we'd discussed that church as an option. But Aria would never actually go there. Too obvious.
Cross pulled out his phone and sent coordinates to someone. "If you're lying, the consequences will be severe."
"I'm not lying." I met his eyes. "I'm just not as loyal as you thought."
"Clearly." Cross nodded to Dr. Kane. "Begin preparation. If my team doesn't find Aria at that location within one hour, proceed with full enhancement and behavioral modification."
Dr. Kane smiled. "Excellent. I've been wanting to work with Ashford genetics. This will be fascinating."
She left. Enhanced subjects grabbed me and dragged me from the interrogation room. Through sterile white hallways. Past rooms where other victims had been transformed into monsters.
They strapped me to a metal table in a room filled with machines and surgical equipment. My wrists and ankles locked into restraints. I couldn't move. Could barely breathe.
This was where they'd enhanced Asher. Where they'd destroyed Maya. Where dozens of students had lost themselves.
Now it was my turn.
Dr. Kane entered, preparing syringes filled with strange colored liquids. "The process takes approximately six hours," she explained like she was teaching a class. "First, we inject the enhancement serum directly into your spine. You'll experience significant pain as your body restructures. Bones will strengthen. Muscles will develop. Healing abilities will accelerate."
"And my mind?" I asked. "What happens to that?"
"Phase two involves behavioral modification." She tapped a machine beside the table. "We use a combination of drugs and psychological conditioning to erase problematic emotions. Love. Guilt. Fear. Compassion. All the weaknesses that make humans vulnerable."
"Those aren't weaknesses," I said. "They're what make us human."
"Exactly." Dr. Kane picked up the first syringe. "And humanity is the flaw we're correcting."
The door burst open.
My father walked in.
I couldn't believe it. Couldn't process what I was seeing. My father—the man who'd raised me, trained me, claimed to love me—standing in the enhancement facility like he belonged here.
"Father?" My voice broke.
He looked at me with cold eyes. "I told Cross this was a mistake. Capturing you. You should have been left alone."
"You knew?" I stared at him. "About all of this? The experiments? The murders? Emily?"
"Of course I knew." He stepped closer. "I funded it. And yes, I ordered Emily's elimination. She was Omega. She would have weakened our bloodline. Her death was necessary."
Something shattered inside me. "She was your daughter."
"She was a liability." His voice held no emotion. "Just as you're becoming one. Mating with an Omega. Choosing love over duty. Betraying your family for some girl."
"Aria is more family than you ever were," I said. "She cares about people. About doing what's right. While you're just a monster in an expensive suit."
My father's hand cracked across my face. "You ungrateful child. Everything I've done was to protect the Ashford legacy. To ensure our family remains powerful. And you threw it away for an Omega."
"Good," I spat blood at him. "I'd rather die than be like you."
"That can be arranged." He nodded to Dr. Kane. "Proceed with enhancement. But skip the behavioral modification."
Dr. Kane looked confused. "Sir, without modification he'll retain his emotions. His loyalty to the girl—"
"I know." My father's smile was cruel. "I want him to remember. I want him to keep his mind, his feelings, his love for Aria. And then I want him to watch—fully aware, unable to resist—as we capture her and use her for breeding. He'll be enhanced, powerful, and completely helpless to save the person he loves."
Horror washed over me. That was worse than losing my mind. Being trapped in my own body. Watching Aria suffer. Unable to stop it.
"You're pure evil," I whispered.
"I'm practical." My father turned to leave. "Enjoy the enhancement process, son. And when you wake up stronger than you've ever been, remember: you chose this by refusing to cooperate."
He left.
Dr. Kane positioned the first needle against my spine. "This will hurt. Quite badly."
"Wait," I said desperately. "Please. Don't do this. I'm not your enemy—"
The needle pierced my skin.
Fire exploded through my body. Every nerve screamed. I heard myself screaming too but couldn't stop.
The enhancement serum burned through me like acid. Changing me. Reshaping me. Making me into something other than human.
Through the agony, one thought remained: I had to warn Aria. Had to tell her the truth about my father. Had to stop her from trying to rescue me.
But I couldn't speak. Couldn't move. Could only scream as my body was destroyed and rebuilt into Cross's weapon.
The last thing I saw before the pain dragged me under was Dr. Kane preparing the second injection.
And the timer on the wall counting down: 17 hours, 42 minutes remaining until behavioral modification begins.
Seventeen hours until I lost myself completely.
Seventeen hours for Aria to save herself.
Or damn us both trying to save me.