Page 42 of Midnight Salvation

I was going to fucking kill someone and then bring them back to slaughter them all over again. Fury bubbled in my veins and combined with the panic in my chest to form an explosive blend that demanded blood as a sacrifice.

My features neutralised into the mask that hid all my emotions as I wandered back into the room where the Council sat.

“Problem?” Dad asked, sitting back to try and read me.

“Some asshole has damaged my fucking car,” I replied. “I fucking love that Jag.” Everyone knew my black Jaguar was one of my favourites. My security patrol tended to do random sweeps to ensure everything was safe when I was away. It was the best I could come up with since I felt like being physically sick after hearing her shaky voice and receiving that phone call from Karl. He never ever phoned me, only texting me if there was an emergency. My heart had nearly exploded when I saw his name pop up on my phone when it rang earlier.

“Bastards,” Jordan said with a sneer. “No one has any respect anymore.”

I sat down, muttering about the price of repair work while I texted Xavier and Jordan.

Me:L just shot. Team eliminated threat and en route to hospital.

My face didn’t change as I typed, one ear cocked to listen to what was being said around me. Xavier sat up straighter in his chair and Jordan’s mask came up as they read my message.

Dad continued to watch me with that predatory awareness that meant he was expecting a reaction from me. He would get one, and then he’d finally know exactly how I felt about Lucrezia.

I deliberately glanced up. “Problem?” I asked, using his phrase from earlier.

“No, you look just a little distracted,” he commented.

“I was telling my guys to take my car to the garage.” I held my phone out. “Wanna see?”

I knew he would refuse because it would make him look petty, and it was a gamble I was willing to take right now. He held his hand up and shook his head.

“Did I tell you all that my son Ash has agreed to marry Dylan’s daughter Nicole?” Dad announced, his eyes never moving from me. He was trying to unsettle me.

Congratulations were murmured around the table.

The corners of my lips tipped up in a practiced smile. “Thank you, gentlemen. I’m sure we’ll be very happy together. Nicole chose her ring and is currently looking at venues.”

That ring was the very opposite of what Lucrezia made for herself. The stone looked too big on her finger and the setting big and clumpy. It was made for social impact not practicality. Lucrezia could wear her ring anywhere and it wouldn’t hinder her. That was the stark difference between the two women. One fitted into my life and the other didn’t.

I set my phone on the table and settled back in my chair as if I didn’t have a care in the world. “We will be setting a date for the engagement party soon, so clear your diaries near the end of the month.”

Dad’s jaw ticked in his irritated giveaway. I deliberately let a smile spread on my lips, so wide that it showed my teeth to let him know he hadn’t gotten under my skin.

“Dad, you’ll be able to announce it for us when Nicole has everything organised.”

He nodded once and glanced away since he hadn’t gotten the reaction he wanted. The meeting droned on about the usual mundane nonsense, but my mind was far from this room and everyone in it. Every part of me needed to get to Lucrezia.

My phone pinged and I lifted it to scan the message.

Karl:Through and through. She’s insisting on going home. Suspect at secure location and identification being run.

Me:Thanks, keep me informed.

He replied with a thumb’s up emoji.

I set my phone down and pretended everything was fine, steepling my fingers under my chin to pretend to listen to the conversation. When the meeting was finally fucking over, every muscle was tense with the need to run out that door. I forced myself to remain relaxed and stay to chat to people and accept their congratulations. I felt Dad’s gaze boring into me the entire time, as if to gauge my reactions. He had to have known that Lucrezia had been targeted today and anticipated me running to her side.

I’d wanted to, only she’d talked me out of it.

“Ash, we have a meeting this evening,” Xavier said, coming to stand beside me. “You can all congratulate him with expensive engagement presents.”

Xavier smiled, patting me on the shoulder and moving me to the door where Jordan waited.

“Dad, I’ll come around tomorrow and we can discuss that family matter.” I waved on my way out. That family matter was his slaves and the paperwork in Cassandra’s safety deposit box.

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