Page 91 of Legacy

“Keep believing that…” Laya looked at her phone again, scrolling through her texts. “She didn’t message. That’s not like her at all.”

I grabbed my phone to see when I last spoke with her. Texts were our go-to, not calls, but still?—

I snapped into sister mode, my attention squarely back to a protector duty. Cali didn’t often wander and strike off on her own. Someone would always tail her. Security was a given. Even if she wanted to be alone, she was more of a homebody, preferring books and sketching in her notebooks than taking off and getting out.

“I forgot. We were going to meet up, but she changed plans and said something about an information session on upcoming classes at the university library.”

Laya smiled. “Yeah. And I’m pretty sure she said something to me yesterday morning about books on loan.”

We shared a knowing look. Cali at a library? She needed a tracker in a building full of books.

Laya got up, tilting her head toward the kitchen. “How about we make something to eat before you start overthinking everything? There is nothing you can do without more information.”

I got to my feet, appreciating her offer to keep me company.

“Unless I’m overstaying…”

I grabbed her hand and led her to the kitchen. “Not at all. I must stay preoccupied and not dwell on whether I’ll still want to keep my husband.”

I do.

My motives had to stay contingent on what he decided with his father first.

Twenty-Four

Elias

I arrived at my father’s house, alarmed and annoyed at the abundance of vehicles parked out front. At first, I worried he was calling a meeting for strategic reasons. And then, I reminded myself how out of character that would have been.

Ozias wasn’t current on the protocols for organizing a formal gathering of the lieutenants. Things ran completely differently since I’d taken over, and someone would have informed me the moment the old directives passed through the ranks.

No matter, something was going on. A party, perhaps. Whatever it was, I planned to crash this wonderful event, andno one would fucking stop me. I planned to get answers. If an audience awaited, so be it.

They’d get a fucking show.

I couldn’t lose Avra. And I would protect her and her sisters.

Before I got through the front foyer, I was beckoned to the side by one of Ozias’s lieutenants, Stephanos. Technically, he was one of my men woven into my father’s team. For the last week, he’d left messages to meet, but nothing was secure. Now, I regretted not making a better effort to collect his information, especially considering a convenient recording passing into Avra’s hands.

“Sir.” He glanced toward the back patio before tipping his head to the side.

From the distant sounds of music and laughter over conversations, I figured that was where my father was. I followed Stephanos, though, curious what he could have learned here at the bastard’s home.

I nodded at him, giving him silent permission to speak. “Some fresh recruits came to me saying they heard a few higher-level recruits talking about plans that didn’t sit well with them.”

“Go on.”

“They were flirting with some girl and then bragged about how they were part of a plan to take your child and kill your wife and her sisters.”

I sucked in a sharp breath.

“That’s what she was talking about,” I muttered,connecting the dots. “That was why Avra accused me of wanting to give our child to him.”

Red rage surged within me, heating my blood and forcing me to step back and clench my teeth. I held my breath and attempted to temper the chaotic energy inside me and rein in my wrath to hear him as he continued.

“First of all, congratulations?—”

“This is all hypothetical. Avra isn’t with child,” I snapped, trying not to direct my anger at him. He wasn’t my target, but hearing him explain this plan made my blood boil.

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