Page 77 of Midnight Salvation

“It will be soon, then we’ll have an extended honeymoon,” I promised. In my head, I already had the entire thing planned out. Lucrezia had always wanted to see the world, and I wanted to be there when she saw it. I could spare a few months from my schedule and work from my laptop.

“Okay. Thanks for helping Cat.”

I kissed the end of her nose. “Anytime. I have to go to a meeting now.”

***

Nic sat unrepentant as Lucas glared at him in his office when I made my way downstairs. “You know my taste in women, Lucas. If you wanted her safe from the sins of the flesh, then you should have sent her to someone else.”

“I didn’t know who got which envelope,” Lucas grated out.

Nic’s eyebrows flew up. “Then I’m putting it down to fate.”

Lucas was about to argue on, when Xavier intervened. “Uncle Lucas, we have a lot to get through, Cassandra is texting me as she wants me home, so could we hurry this up?”

“You sure putting Sofia on display will draw Silas out?” Nic asked.

“I guarantee it,” Lucas replied.

“I fucking hate the thought of her anywhere near him. These men are the scum of humanity hiding behind their pathetic Council.” Nic shot me and the guys a look. “No offence.”

“None taken.” Jordan grinned. “I have no problem being scum. It probably beats being a thief for a living.”

If those two didn’t stop winding each other up, we’d end up having to physically tie them to either end of the house or put one of them in the basement.

“Guys!” I held my hand up. “You’re giving me a fucking headache. Give it a break. Jordan’s sorry he brought Sofia home. In fairness to him, neither of you told him you were shacked up together and he didn’t kidnap Sofia. Nic, I’ve just met you, so stop with the insults because I’m already having to deal with all of Dad’s shit.”

Both men stared at me and Lucas slowly grinned. “This is the reason that you make me proud,” he said.

Jordan almost choked, but Xavier smiled and looked away. At least he wasn’t trying to shoot me anymore.

“Silas is a slippery fucker, so I advise we get in and out in minimal time,” I suggested. “Let him know Sofia is in London and then set a trap for him here.”

“That could work,” Jordan agreed.

“I’d rather just drive to his house and blow his brains out now,” Nic replied. “That way, Sofia is never put in any danger.”

“Savage, but definitely doable with the right resources and the blueprints to his house,” Jordan said.

Lucas muttered in Italian, cursing both men for their blood thirst. Xavier and I shot each other an amused look. The man who had always been calm and unflappable was starting to unravel with the loss of his precious daughters. Considering I snatched the first one from his grasp, I was saying nothing right now.

“We will attend the function as planned,” Lucas said from behind clenched teeth. “Then we will deal with Silas.”

“I don’t like your plan,” Nic replied, folding his arms across his chest.

“Tough. It is our best option.” Lucas looked ready to strangle the man he took in as a child.

“He’s right,” I intervened, trying to calm Nic down. “Silas has been a recluse even to the Council. He holds a seat that he rarely occupies. He spends most of his time locked behind his very expensive doors with an entire army at his disposal. We need to gauge the situation first.”

“Fine,” Nic huffed. “But no risks to Sofia.”

“I understand where you’re coming from,” Xavier said. “I have a pregnant wife at home. She had to pick up a gun and shoot someone who was killing me, all while she was pregnant. That sits heavily on my soul.”

Nic studied Xavier for several moments before nodding once, brokering a truce.

The wheel on the wall behind Lucas had five death cards on it. If his plan worked, a sixth would herald the demise of Silas.

***

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