Page 5 of Siege of Blood and Betrayal

But that’s not why Francesco initiated the project.

For him, it’s about his men having access to the city’s core to handle issues during the day.

Why let a little thing like exploding into ash in sunlight hold you back, right?

I stride down the alleyway, around the dumpster, and head for the swirling red, white, and blue barber pole.

Jack Of All Fadesis a twenty-four-hours a day gentlemen’s grooming shop run by Jack Grayson, my father’s mentor, and the king’s previous Sacred Squire.

After close to eighty years guarding Francesco and his family, Jack opted to open this barber shop and stay close to the action. Possessing the magic of a Sacred Squire kept him from ageing all those years, but after he retired and gifted his power to my father, the years started to show.

But not much.

The guy celebrated his one hundred and twenty-ninth birthday last fall and still looks like Pierce Brosnan in his fifties. He cuts a mean head of hair, too.

And while anyone is welcome to come in for a cut or shave, more often than not, the men getting their hair trimmed and laying with a hot towel on their faces are part of the Vasari family or mafia informants coming in to spill the latest tea.

The chiming of the door as I enter brings Jack’s gaze up from the book he’s reading. He breaks out into a wide smile and hops out of his barber’s chair to give me a hug. “Scotland McCullough, let me get a look at you.”

Jack’s hugs are like coming home and I take a moment to breathe in the scent of his aftershave. When I ease back from his embrace, I extend both my hands, knowing the drill.

With a hold on both my wrists, he steps back to assess me. The moment he lets go of my arms, he throws an elbow directly at my face.

Ducking to the left, the whoosh of wind and fabric narrowly misses the side of my head. I’m not distracted by the direct attack. I’ve got my arm up to block the uppercut that will come next.

Batting away his hand, I spin and get my fists up. He grabs the strap of my backpack and spins me to the side. It’s a good try, but I use his hold against him and drop my weight backward, taking us both to the floor.

He laughs as he rolls away.

I spin back to my feet to see whether I’ve passed the test or if he wants to play on.

It seems he’s pleased with my moves.

I offer him a hand and when he’s back on his feet, he leans in to kiss my cheek. “You’ve gotten fast, Scottie. I bet you could even rival your father toe-to-toe.”

“I don’t know about that, but thanks.”

He steps back and brushes off the butt of his pants. “Your dad said you weren’t coming home until the weekend.”

“I lied. Francesco said he’d stay in tomorrow night if I wanted to take Da for dinner and a movie for his birthday.”

Jack beams. “Working covertly with the king. I like it.”

“I wanted to come in the back way to tell you, and also to ask if you could cover inside while we’re out tomorrow night? I know it will make Da feel better about leaving if you’re with Francesco.”

Jack grins. “Not a problem at all. I’ll be available. It’ll be good to catch up with the king. Maybe I can entice him into a game of chess.”

“Excellent. I’m glad it worked out all around.” After straightening my backpack, I give Jack a smile and move deeper into the barbershop.

Down the little hall, the kitchenette is as tidy as ever and I head straight toward the fridge. After throwing the latch againstthe wall, I swing the GE to the side and punch in my security code.

Access to the compound is granted and I slip into one of the two private exits that no one except the highest level of security officers knows about. It’s one of the reasons Jack became the royal barber when he aged out.

He may have retired, but he still ensures the security of the king.

The passageway from the barbershop is one of the most direct ways to get to my father’s office in the royal residence. And since I’m trying to surprise him for his birthday, I don’t leave the private passages to move into the public corridors as I normally would.

It’s difficult to surprise the head of security.

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