Page 41 of Gambit
“Let’s aim for a stronghold,” I suggest. The corners of my mouth twitch upward as I consider the alliance. “Cian is family. I doubt he would move without serious thought. Victoria, on the other hand, is not one to be underestimated.”
“Two queens on a chessboard,” Raphael comments, leaning forward between the seats. I catch his smirk in the rearview mirror. “But which one of you is white?”
“I guess we’ll find out who moves first.”
Today wasn’t just about standing our ground; it was about laying the groundwork for what’s to come. The possibilities unfold in my mind like a map of the future—twists, turns, and all.
We pull into the familiar streets of CastleGate, our university rising from the ancient earth like a statement of power, the stone buildings bathed in sunlight. There’s a buzz in the air of anticipation—thick, tangible.
“Back at our turf,” I say, parking the car with a sense of finality. We step out, and I take in the sight of the university. Our domain. Our challenge.
“Ready for the next chapter?” I ask. They nod, their expressions set with determination and a touch of excitement. No fear here, only the fierce readiness to stake our claim.
“Always,” they respond, almost in unison.
“Good,” I say with a grin. “Because Castle University’s about to witness a new era. One where the underworld and academia aren’t just parallel lines—they’re woven tightly together.”
“Dawn of a new era, baby,” Oliver snickers, using my words back on me.
“Fuck, yeah!”
22
ELIZA
After a successful trip to Blackbriar,I figure I might as well keep up the momentum. Despite my words to the guys yesterday about getting our heads down academically, I really feel this needs sorting out as soon as possible.
I flick open my phone and hit Felix’s contact, thumb hovering over the message box.
Felix, meet me at Dad’s. Two hours.
I wait as the three dots come up, and then a message pops up:Yep.
That’s it?
Shrugging, I take it at face value and slide the phone back into my pocket as the guys wait for me to share.
“Going to meet Felix at Dad’s house. This needs sorting. I promised him I would, and I’m riding the family high right now.”
Tarquin says. “We’ll come with you.”
“To be honest, I think I need to do this alone. I know you’re all going to worry about me, but I’ll be fine, I swear. I’ll message when I get there, and if you don’t hear from me again for over an hour, you can send in the troops, okay?”
“Eliza, we said we would never send you off alone again, not after Franks. We are a unit, not lone wolves.”
“I’ll be in my car, then with my dad, and then back in my car. It’s fine. It’s daylight, and the roads are busy. I’ll be fine.”
“Go,” James says. “We’ll be here when you get back.”
I see the shocked faces of the other three guys, but ignore them and beam at James. “I’ll see you later.”
Slipping back into the car, the engine roars to life, the sound a familiar comfort. The drive is long, two hours of tarmac stretching before me, but I use it to steel myself. Today, I lay everything on the line for Felix – for our family.
Glancing in the rearview mirror when I pull up to the lights, I scowl and look back over my shoulder.
“You cocks!” I snarl as I see Ollie and James behind me in Oliver’s Jeep. I should’ve known that was too easy. But my temper fades quickly as the light turns green, and we get moving again. Their need to keep me safe is a good thing. It’s precious, and I should hold it close, even on days like today when I need my own company. After all, Ididsay no one was to go alone but to be fair, I meant on a mission, not to deal with long-lost half-brothers.
The car eats up miles under a leaden sky, which darkens the closer I get to my dad’s house, the landscape blurring past my window. I park in front of the formidable gates that guard the Hughes family stronghold—the ironwork whispers of power, of secrets held tight behind stone walls. I’ve never been one to hesitate, and today is no exception.
