“I can’t wait to get back home,” Kylan says.
“Yeah. Theo and Zavah said they caught the biggest frogs, and we’re going to find bigger ones,” Kellan adds. Their matching looks of excitement keep us all entertained on the drive.
We’re pulling out on the stretch of road leading to the airstrip when an explosion rattles the vehicle.
“What the fuck was that?” I shout, looking out the window and seeing smoke billowing into the sky from what looks miles away.
When I don’t hear anyone answer, I turn in time to see Dad and Gram shake their heads. It’s then I notice the fear etched on my siblings’ faces. Gone is the banter and fun atmosphere in the car.
We ride in silence. No one says anything until we’re safely escorted onto the plane.
Once we’ve taken off, Gram leads the kids to the bedroom in the back. As soon as I see them walk through the door, I whirl on Dad. I don’t get a chance to bombard him with questions because he’s holding up his hand.
“We sent four decoy SUVs on different routes after we got wind of a possible assassination attempt,” he begins.
The hairs on the back of my neck prickle. “Was anyone on our team hurt?”
“No. All decoys were self-driven. But it wasn’t one of our cars that was taken out.”
I arch my brow and scrunch my face in confusion. “But the explosion?”
“Was an enemy who was dealt with. Your trainer is not someone you ever want to have hunting you,” he states, and for the umpteenth time since I met my lethal trainer, I wonder who the fuck she is.
Knowing Dad won’t tell me her name. I focus on pressing matters. “Do we know who was after us?”
“The only thing I can tell you at this point is that it’s not the Filiae Bellonae.”
I massage my temples, exhausted from the excitement of the day. If it wasn’t Elise’s organization, who the hell else wants us dead?
“Like you said. Your mother-Elise didn’t want you dead. She wanted you married to the Heirs so that both organizations would be unified under your rule. Which means there are more players on the board,” he further explains, sensing my inner thoughts.
“Let me guess. You know the players, but ‘
I can’t tell you anything else right now’,” I say, mimicking his favorite phrase.
“I don’t sound anything like that, Ry,” he jokes, and I roll my eyes.
My eyes droop, weariness setting in now that the adrenaline has worn off.
“Go get some rest. It’ll be another three hours before we arrive,” Dad encourages.
Yawning, I stand and walk to the back of the plane, peek in on my siblings’ sleeping forms, and then open the door to the other room. The minute my head hits the pillow, I’m out.
I don’t know how long I’ve been sleeping when I hear my grandmother’s voice attempting to coax me out of sleep.
“There she is. It’s time to wake up, sleepy head,” she murmurs. Her words finally register.
I sit up, stretching before I respond, “How long have you been trying to wake me?”
“Not too long.”
Rubbing my eyes, I stand. “Thank you,” I whisper, reaching out and embracing her.
“You don’t have to thank me,” my grandmother replies, kissing the top of my head.
Releasing her, I exit the room and make my way to the front of the plane, where my father is lost in something on his laptop screen.
“Everything okay?” I probe, sitting next to him and buckling my seatbelt.
He looks up. “All good. Just reading over a few plans from the Council. I’m catching up on what I missed.”
“Do they have any information on who’s behind all this?”
Dad shakes his head. “Nothing concrete. Strategies have been deployed, and contingencies are in place.”
I’d ask what they are, but I know he won’t answer. I’m surprised he said that much.
“We’ll be landing in New Haven, Connecticut, in ten minutes,” the pilot announces over the intercom, sobering me.
Butterflies flutter in my stomach, making me queasy. “We’re really back,” I whisper. So many emotions run through me simultaneously, like excitement, sadness, anger, and fear. As much as I want to pretend I’m fearless, I’m not. The thought that I’ll start LWU in a week and have to see them with her has my stomach in knots.
“You can do this, Ry,” Dad encourages, lifting my chin. I didn’t even recognize my head was bowed. “You’re one of the strongest people I know, and you won’t be alone.” Then, he stands and presses a kiss on the top of my head before giving me some much needed space.
Leaning back, I close my eyes, waiting for the plane’s wheels to hit the tarmac, signaling the close of one chapter and the beginning of a metamorphosis.
My eyes pop open as we touch land, with Granddad’s words playing on a loop. ‘We’ve been on defense for too long. Now, it’s their turn, and we won’t stop until they’re all dead.’
Calloway won’t know what hit them.
SEBASTIAN
“There’s been another reported death in the Bronston area, bringing the total number of victims killed in recent months to eight. Maxfield Rothberg was discovered early this morning, nailed to his front door.”
I shake my head as I put my Porsche 911 into park in front of the house the guys are staying in on campus. The murders in the Colorado city have been all over the national news.
Shutting off the engine, I open my door and step outside. Then, I make my way up the front stairs.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.