Page 4 of Silent Oaths
Julianoversees the club’s patronage, so he’s aware of who comes in and out.
Inarrow my eyes. “You’retelling me she’s been under our roof this entire time?”
Julianshrugs. “Iguess so.WhenIsaw her on the footage,Irecognized her despite theHalloweenmakeup.Itwas enough to make me look into the club’s employee records.”
Maxwellexhales and tilts his head. “Andyou’re sure it’s her?”
“Positive.Youcan’t hide from someone who knows what to look for,”Julianreplies.
Maxwelllets out a low whistle, shaking his head. “Theo, you’re theHeadofCouncil.Younever noticed her?Vanguardshould be your second home.”
“Funny,”Iretort, tossingJulian’sphone onto the table, “coming from someone who spends most of his nights holed up in his nightclub.”
Maxwell’ssmirk falters for a moment, but he quickly recovers with a shrug. “AtleastIshow up.You’rethe ghost ofVanguard.”
Julianscoffs, butIignore them both.It’strue.Irarely set foot inVanguardanymore.AsHeadofCouncil,I’mtechnically required to oversee its operations, but the reality is,Ionly show up for the monthly meetings.Thoseare always after hours, when the place is empty save for select senior staff.
Isimply don’t have the time.BetweenrunningVanguardSystems, our cybersecurity firm, and negotiating the acquisition of a lucrative business venture, the club has fallen low on my list of priorities.Itis stable, profitable, and self-sufficient.That’sall that matters.Orat least, that’s whatItell myself.
Butnow,Isabelis disrupting that carefully managed order, a variableIdidn’t account for.
Maxwellcrosses his arms. “Anyway, what’s the move now?”
“Wekeep her close enough to never slip through the cracks again.”
Juliansmirks, though there’s an edge to it now. “I’llmake sure she doesn’t go anywhere.Afterall, no one gets in or out ofVanguardwithout me knowing.”
“Andwe’ll figure out what she’s really doing here, because there’s no way she stumbled into this by accident,”Iadd, my voice low. “Shedoesn’t seem to shy away from danger.She’sdrawn to it.”
“Thatmakes her a liability,”Maxwellsays.
“No,”Icorrect him. “Thatmakes her an opportunity.”
“Onceshe’s in, there’s no going back,”Maxwellretorts. “She’llhave blood on her hands just like the rest of us.”
Inod. “She’lleither play along or bury herself trying to escape.”
Mymind races through the possibilities.Isabelseems bold, resourceful, and unpredictable.Ifwe play this right, she could be the perfect tool to bring downFather.
“Trustme—by the time we’re done with her, she’ll be exactly where we need her,”Istate.
Julianexhales sharply, running a hand through his short hair. “Thisis a dangerous game,Theo.”
“That’sthe only kind we play, brother,”Maxwellretorts, a sneer tugging at his lips.
Thethree of us sit in silence for a moment, the weight of our plan settling over the room.Outside, the wind howls, rattling the windows of the guest house.TheWhitmoremansion looms in the distance, its glowing windows a constant reminder of the power we’re about to seize.
Isabelhas no idea what’s coming.
“Andit’s exactly why she’s perfect,”Iadd, locking eyes with my brothers. “Shehas the fire we need.”
Maxwellgives a skeptical look. “Forthe plan, or foryou?”
Thecorner of my mouth twitches, butIdon’t rise to his bait.Instead,Iturn my attention back to the screen, rewinding the footage to the momentIsabelfirst caught my eye.Herbold red lips and the defiant glint in her eyes drew me in like a moth to a flame.
“Youboth feel it,”Isay, my voice insistent. “Youfeel that pull.”
Juliansmirks, reaching for his glass of bourbon. “You’renot wrong.She’s…fascinating.”
