Page 79 of Clash of Sin and Secret

I shake my head. “No. That could play into his hands. If he’s watching us?—”

“—Which we have to assume he is,” Huntley says.

Agreed.“—then us going to reclaim the dagger from where my father and I hid it only exposes it to the risk of being taken.”

Jack nods. “All right. Huntley and I will use our contacts within the community to gather intel on Agostino’s operations here in Toronto. If we know what assets he has, we’ll have a better chance of understanding our foe.”

Huntley reaches for his phone, sitting on the coffee table. “Zane, is there anyone in the old country you can speak to who might know about your long-lost cousin?”

I shake my head. “I never knew there were other living Vasaris. Who would I know who might know more about them?”

“What about a historian or a lineage scholar or something?” Scottie suggests.

I lean forward on my elbows and exhale. “I’ll work on that.”

Jack gestures to the rosewood box on the fireplace hearth. “In the meantime, we need to lay your fathers to rest.”

“What can I do?” Tucker asks.

Scottie takes his hand. “You can help me organize their service today. We’ll notify the clan that Francesco’s head has been recovered and that at nightfall, we will honor them. I’ll have Justine prepare the hub for a service and have Warin gather the volunteers he needs to prepare a feast. Does that sound all right? Do you want to plan it?”

I shake my head. “I leave it to you. And thank you for doing it.”

Scottie sends me a soft smile. “It’ll keep me busy and give me something to focus on other than the threat of your creepy cousin coming for us.”

I lean sideways and press my lips against her temple. “He’ll never get his hands on you again, Scots, I swear. Now that we know who is gunning for us and why, he’ll never succeed.”

My vow hangs in the air while uncertainty lingers heavily around us—Agostino Vasari is coming for everything we hold dear. Well, he better be ready for one hell of a fight.

My phone vibrates against the coffee table, and I reach for it, recognizing the international number. “Ashikaga-san.”

“Konbanwa,Young Vasari.” Ashikaga Hikotaka is the Fondatori King from Kyoto and my father’s longest-standing friend and ally. I’ve always thought his voice carries the weight of centuries and the tension in his greeting tonight sets me on alert. “It is good to hear your voice, my friend.”

“And yours as well.” No matter how anxious I am to know why he’s calling, it would be rude to ask. “I have good news.”

“Wonderful. I could use some.”

“My father’s head has been recovered, and we will lay him and Bran McCullough to rest later tonight in a clan celebration.”

“That is good news. Please wish them both a safe journey from me, during their last rites.”

“I will, thank you.”

I let the conversation fall quiet, giving him the opportunity to broach the reason for his call.

“I apologize for the timing, young king. However, we have a situation requiring your immediate attention.”

I close my eyes and draw a deep breath, bracing myself for whatever storm is about to hit our shores. “Which is?”

“Agostino Vasari is contesting your right to rule Toronto and has approached the Fondatori rulers.”

My grip tightens on the phone. “That is a familial matter. I am the sitting king, and I hold the dagger. Forgive my bluntness, but what business is it of the other Fondatori rulers?”

“None, but there are those who are concerned.”

“Concerned about what?”

“Concerned that a king of your age and inexperience holds the reign of such a powerful seat. If you were to be overtaken, asHeinrich Rainier was in Berlin, it is feared that the power of the Fondatori would stand in question. If that were to happen, other upstarts with thoughts of grandeur might think to challenge us.”

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