Ford's Rise - L. Ann Marie Page 0,94

“My twin uncles did this, they made the Alpha-Bits? Killed all those boys?” Alexia is showing emotion right now. She’s fucking pissed. I squeeze her hand quick, glad she loosens her hold. “You let them go on testing and growing people!?”

The Director’s hand goes up. “I had to keep you safe, Alexia. Since you were born, all I’ve done is keep you safe. You have to understand what they’re capable of.”

“I live with the Alpha-Bits. Watched and followed leads for the Alpha-Bits. Saw my new brother-in-law Michael and the cave he lived in. Was friends in Providence with my new brother-in-law Garren and heard what he went through losing Commander Ford at seven. Read about him being kidnapped. I read everything and found more to follow. Stop treating me like my brain is clouded by retardation. I understand. I don’t understand how you can think saving one instead of hundreds is okay. You let them continue killing. If I had the choice, I would have sacrificed my life to save those Alpha-Bits. A good man would have made the decision to stop what you keep telling me I don’t know about. I know and can’t believe you’d let this go on for years. How is there any good in that. Do you know how they lived? One room like I had. I could go out when I got to Quantico. They don’t even know what out means when they’re rescued.” She turns to Alder. “Do you have questions? I can’t think about questions. My family did this. I am sorry, Alder.”

Alder looks at the Director then back at Alexia. “I have paperwork, name, now family. You are good, Boss Alexia. You are Badass. You are Ford. Good name to you. I am honored you mine.”

I grab a tissue and wipe Alexia’s face. “You are Alexia Ford. Only good is in that name and the woman we know.”

She nods. “You love all of me, even the not so pretty parts.”

I shake my head. She nods again. “I know. You love what you know, see and feel. Only me.”

Kissing her nose I agree. “I do.”

She looks at her father. “I don’t want to talk anymore.”

He nods looking like the wrinkles deepened in his too pale face. “Will you call again, Alexia?”

She freezes then relaxes. “I don’t know. I don’t know you as anything but the Director. The man who allowed the family I never knew to kill hundreds of kids and babies. They altered the few that lived and became my family now. They did experiments on them like they were lab rats. You're the man that could have stopped it years ago and didn’t. I’m just learning about family. Maybe something I learn will make me want to talk more. Right now, I just hope no one shoots my foot because I’m related to all these disrespectful, dishonorable men that say we’re family but have never shown it.”

My teeth clench again. The Director ages right in front of us. “I understand. Web, can you explain the reason I kept her safe?”

Cort answers for me. “According to you, Alexia is brilliant. She worked in an Ops unit. She’s helped collect more Alpha-Bits from around the world than that Ops unit. She understands that her uncle killed her mother and you hid her away. She understands that you let him go and he’s been running a lab that you knew about. She understands that you had the power to shut both uncles’ labs down long before the Princes took control and demanded it, then just did it. She understands that she’s been lied to for years out of some sense of duty only you feel. Alexia is brilliant, you’re right about that, but you don’t know your daughter. Your assumption that she doesn’t understand proves that. We don’t need to explain anything to Alexia unless it’s simple family dynamics. It’s the one thing she’s never experienced.”

The man shakes his head. “The threat to her was worse. He killed his sister and tried to take Alexia.”

Alexia nods and stands. “You can talk to him if you need more. Alder is good at breaking down information. Demetri said they’re making worm cups. Carmen is here. I’m going to help. I hope it isn’t with real worms.”

I stand. “I’m in on the worm cups.”

Cort nods. They don’t move. I throw chin and leave with my girl.

Outside of Ops I turn her. Her tears have me blinking as I pull her close. “He is not you, Lexi.