Diana Racine 02 - Goddess of the Moon

forehead. “Pity, really. We weren’t ready to move on quite yet, but I’m afraid your father gave us no choice, Cal. Martin’s pathological fear that he would realize the same fate as his own father played right into the hands of the police. He verge d o n breaking. My daughter felt compelled to stop him.”
    Cal took a step backward. “Anastasia murdered my fathe r?”
    Phillip pursed his lips. “ U mm, m urder is a strong word. I prefer to describe her action as protecting the group . I knew about Martin when I recruited him, but he was a brilliant man and would produce brilliant children, like you and your siblings , only with Crane genes. I needed him. ” He sighed . “ Who thought things would get so out of hand?”
    “You don’t subscribe to the devil, Phillip,” Cal said. “You are the devil.”
    With an arched brow, Phillip said, “I do what needs to be done . ”
    “Yet you did everything to involve the police,” Lucier said. “Notes, druggings . Why?”
    “ Martin sent the notes . He wanted to stop this before it went further . He thought if he scared Diana away, the cops would stay away too. Had I known at the time, but… ” He cocked his head toward Silas. “ He wasn’t as upset at Martin as I was. I should have paid more attention to a man whose ego made him think he could do anything and get away with it , like putting drugs in Diana’s drink . If I’m being honest, his reprehensible behavior is what drew me to him in the first place. How could I ignore a man who blackmailed his own father-in-law into trading votes in the Senate for a government contract?”
    “Blackmailed him?” Maia said. “How? Gault Fannon was a wonderful, kind man. What could you possibly have used against him?”
    “Wonderful? Kind? Maybe ,” Silas said. “ But your grandfather suffered from a similar perversion as poor Edward. He couldn’t help himself. He hid it well, but I found out. The threat of exposure left him a broken man. In addition to the tragedy of your brother ’s death, learning about her father sent your mother over the edge.” He shrugged helplessly. “With a little help.”
    Maia leaned against Seth. “ A little help? Y ou killed my mother , and you knew Edward was abusing the children ? Your grandchildren? ” Her knees gave way, and Seth reached his arm around her waist to keep her upright . “ My precious babies?” She hugged Phillip closer. “ You’re evil, Father. Evil. Oh, G od.”
    Seth took Phillip from her and whispered something in her ear. She calmed.
    Diana sensed it had to do with upsetting the children, for Maia nodded and stood erect.
    A little late to worry about yo ur children, isn’t it, Seth ?
    She hoped they were too young to understand what one grandfather had done and that the other planned to incinerate th eir parents like so much garbage.
    “ Sacrilege . Don’t mention God in my presence , Maia,” Phillip said.
    “You’d do this to your own famil y ?” Seth asked his father.
    Cal stepped forward. “Oh, yes. Nothing stands in the way of the mighty Cranes. Anat has always been a thorn in his side. No tears will be shed over her demise. Y ou stood a chance before today , Seth . The good soldier, only following orders , b ut you lost favor when you couldn’t father more children. Now, unforgivably, you’ve screwed up by finally seeing the light. You’re no good to them anymore.” During his speech, Cal took another step forward. No one noticed Lucier doing the same.
    Diana needed to help. She had one thing in her favor. Phillip Crane wanted her alive. She stepped closer to Compton, the man who ’d drugged her and placed her at Satan’s altar. She’d improvise as she went along.
    “If you don’t care about me, Father,” Maia said, “what about your grandchildren?”
    “The children will come with us. They’ll be safe , b ut I can’t trust you any longer. And Anat ― ” He snorted.
    “Anat what?” Anat said. “You’re disappointed? I’m delighted.”
    Silas brushed her off with a flick of his wrist.
    Diana moved closer to him . One of the thugs stepped up to her and jabbed his gun in her ribs . Lucier lurched toward her , but a second man waved him back with his weapon. Unfazed, Diana pushed the gun aside and reached for Compton’s hand. He tried to pull away, but she wouldn’t let go.
    “What’s the matter, Silas? You always wanted a reading, and I’ve never given you one, have I? Now is the perfect time, because after