I made a mental note to tell Liam to look into the senators, but I’m sure he’ll study the footage from this room in minute detail. “Who else has control over the chip in Karl’s arm?” I demand, feeling like a pompous ass for speaking in third person.
Brian’s pupils double in size. “H-how did you know about that?”
My brows scrunch in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Only those in the innermost circle of Senator Baker and the Fraternitas know about that. Which means,” he trails off, lowering his head momentarily before snapping it back up. “Which one of the fuckhead heirs are you?”
“And here I thought you were a complete dunce.” Seeing no reason to hide my identity, I lift the mask so it sits on the top of my head and turn off the voice modulator. As he takes me in, the color leeches from Brain’s face when he realizes who is questioning him.
His jaw drops open. “No…no…no. You’re not allowed to do this.”
“Surprise, motherfucker,” I smirk, then sail the blade through the air and connect with his other side. “Now, answer my fucking questions, or the next shot will be your head.”
“Please stop. I’m sorry, man. I was doing what I was told. I’ll tell you anything. Whatever you want-their plans. The names of the traitors that are still in the Fraternitas ranks. Anything. Please. I’m begging you.”
“Who else controls the chip in my arm?”
Hanging his head in defeat, Brian sighs. “Senator Baker and Samantha. If anything happens to either of them, an alert goes to the device, then you and whoever is in a one mile radius go boom.”
“Can we just take them?”
“No, they’re biometrical. So only they can disarm the chip. And as you already know, if you kill them, you die. If you remove the devices, you die. If you piss either of them off enough??”
Clenching my fist, I cut Brian off. “I die. I got it.”
“Wrap this up. He doesn’t know anything else important,” Liam instructs in my ear. I knew the fucker would be watching.
Huffing, I yank the blade from his side and unscrew the device from his side. Brian sags in relief until he looks up. I watch as it sinks in. The moment he finally understands. He’s not getting out of here. This is where his actions will be meted out. Death is the only thing coming for him, and I’m the reaper that will deliver his soul straight to hell.
“You’re a coward, and your thirst for power led you here,” I growl, rearing my arm back. I slam the Pear of Anguish in his eye and crank the handle five times before he can blink. Brian wails, his body convulsing from shock, and I watch as the spot that used to house his right eye caves in. Not satisfied because he’s still bleeding, I two-fist the machete swing, connecting with his throat until its progress is stopped by bone. But it’s enough to end his cries.
I don’t bother to admire my work. Sliding my mask back in place, I turn on the modulator and exit the room. There’s still more hunting to do.
AUGUST
We all remain quiet as the elevator descends to the SCIF on the sublevel of the Fraternitas. We had barely finished our debrief with Matthieu when our phones went off in unison. The Council was summoning us.
“You know they’re going to want an explanation,” Rowan mutters, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
If this were any other time, I would make a witty retort. Who am I kidding? Gasping in faux shock, I say, “Where would we be without your deductive reasoning skills?”
Everyone laughs. “Shut up, asshole. I’m just saying maybe we should’ve talked more on the drive over,” Rowan states.
“I think we’re set for what needs to be discussed,” Sebastian announces, then peers around the elevator, saying more with his eyes than his words.
Don’t reveal more than what’s necessary.
The door slides open, and we file out only to be greeted by every member of the Council. My gaze immediately zeros on Emma’s father. Aaron Bradford’s composure appears calm and collected, but his eyes burn with fury. An older man who looks like Aaron in twenty more years and another Bradford family member stands beside him.
“Glad to see you boys have decided to grace us with your presence,” Donald Calloway mocks. The set of his jaw is so much like his son’s when they’re annoyed.
Sebastian elbows Karl as Liam elbows me. Karl and I look at each other and smirk while rolling our eyes.
“You know the routine. Lock your shit away, go through the scanner, and enter the SCIF. We’re limited for time, and there’s a lot that must be discussed,” Mr. Calloway instructs.
It takes about thirty minutes for each of us to go through the security protocol to enter the room. A screen is already being lowered as we take our seats. “I thought this was Council business?” Rowan questions, staring at who I assume is Emma’s grandfather and possibly her uncle, which are shocking developments in and of themselves.
I only interacted with the guards and Aaron when I visited Emma in Bronston. If I’m right, the Bradford line went from being extinct to having three generations of family members.
“We’re asking the questions here,” Rowan’s father barked.
“Yeah, that’s no longer going to work for us,” Rowan snaps, meeting his father’s glare in a challenge. “We’re either equals at this table, or we walk.”
Aww, our little Rowan is growing a pair. I had to grip the arms of my chair to refrain from clapping. This showdown has been a long time coming. Mr. Calloway spent years after Karl’s kidnapping verbally abusing his son, and Rowan always took it. The reasoning behind it didn’t matter. It would take years for them to work things out if they ever did. But Rowan needed to find his voice before any of that could happen.
“Excuse me?” Mr. Calloway spit.
“We don’t have time for this, Donald. My granddaughter’s life was already at risk before the stunt these fuck-ups pulled tonight,” Emma’s grandfather levels us with a glare before turning his vehemence on the Council. “If your fathers were alive, they’d be kicking your asses. What have you idiots been doing while I was in hiding, picking each other’s noses? You’re behaving like children instead of leaders.”
I cough to cover up my snort. Tobias Bradford was not dead. Tonight’s meeting just got more interesting.
“What do you mean?” Karl says, jumping from his seat. “How has what happened tonight put her in more danger?”
“Sit down,” Sebastian commands. “We need to recognize that to keep Emma safe, we need to work together. It’s the only way we’ll ever be able to get our girl back.”
A smile curves on my face.
He’s finally getting it. I know Rowan seems like he’d be the most difficult one to be on board, but it’s actually Sebastian. Rowan is a broody asshat, but he’s like a giant teddy bear. He’s been writing to her in his journal for months. Sebastian is jaded-his heart was ripped out and put through a shredder by Vivian. She fucked Sebastian’s father and married his former best friend, and she still had the gall to try and win him back. I flex my jaw at the thought of the dead wench’s name. Sebastian will have to open the vault that stores his heart before he gives Emma the key to unlock the chains binding his love.
“Why don’t we all calm down,” Aaron says, gazing at everyone around the table. He pauses until Karl, Mr. Calloway, and Emma’s grandfather sit down. “Now, what were you doing at Le Toucher tonight?”
Leaning forward, Sebastian rests his hands on the table. “We’ve been planning for tonight since summer.”
Donald’s face draws tight-his face flushes red. “Why are we only hearing about this now?” he mutters through clenched teeth.
“Because Emma’s life is at stake- hers and our babies’. The plan you’ve been employing is moving slower than a snail,” I quip. “We refuse to be separated from Emma or miss her pregnancy longer than we have to.”
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.