“They’ll never give us the truth,” Vaughn said. “Assuming they would makes no sense at all. If what Gavin says is true, and I have to assume it is, they’ve lied to us for years. They’ve been systematically trying to destroy all of us for decades.”
Gavin sat forward. “But they don’t know we know any of that. They’re going to want updates. If we go in there under the pretense that—”
“No pretenses,” Matthew snapped. “No lies. No more! Don’t you see what’s happening here? Lying and manipulating, cowering from consequences and sneaking around is their thing. It’s Arius’s thing. If we hate them for what they’re doing, then for heaven’s sake let’s make sure we cut all ties to it ourselves. Becoming them is the biggest mistake of all.”
Lyle nudged Rafe away from him. He rested both hands on his
