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We hear from Roman the next day, delivering information about what’s going on. Apparently Nero is ready to move—and he’s looped in Vance.
Things are happening between the Eclipse and the Angels…and that doesn’t exactly feel good.
When Roman walks through the door, Cassie is on her feet in an instant, her face a mask of relief and something else–gratitude, maybe, or just the raw need to cling to someone who promises a way out. She’s already doing much better, getting some color back, and is dressed in jeans and a hoodie—ready to take off.
“Roman,” she breathes, voice barely above a whisper.
“Hey, Cass.” His voice is low and steady as he pulls her into a brief embrace. “You holding up okay?”
“Thanks to you,” she murmurs, pulling back just enough to look him in the eye. I’m close enough to see the exchange, close enough to feel the tension that’s been chewing at our insides start to ease, just a fraction.
I know the look on both their faces.
It’s how I feel about Aisling.
“Plans are in motion,” Roman says, locking eyes with each of us in turn. “But we’re not clear yet. Nero is leaving his mansion and Echo Beach, and Vance is clearing a path.”
“All for me?” Cassie asks.
“For you…because it was all part of Nero’s conditions,” Roman says.
She pales. “Does he want something to do with me…?”
“Not you,” Roman says, then looks up at us. “Oberon and Gunnar’s girl. Not sure why.”
I swallow hard, exchanging a glance with the others. Gunnar shakes his head and groans.
“When are we going to fucking be safe?” he mutters.
“Once Caius Rossi is out of the picture,” Aisling says. “And Nero and Vance are going to help us do that, whether we like it or not.”
The two of them gaze at each other, locked in some kind of silent negotiation, but I don’t ask. We’ll have time to discuss this later, after we have some privacy again.
Regardless, I’m not sure if we’re coming back to our apartment.
Not after all this.
“We should get our go-bags ready,” I say. “May need to find a new place to hunker down after this is over.”
“Good idea anyway,” Aisling says. “I don’t trust the Eclipse not to come for us now that we’ve allied ourselves with Nero.”
“Then let’s not waste time.” Gunnar reaches for his phone, and we all know the drill. It’s about survival now, about keeping ahead of the Eclipse troops that won’t stop until they’ve sniffed out every last one of us.
“Call him,” I say, and Gunnar doesn’t hesitate.
It’s time to bring Vance Solace back into the loop.
The phone rings, a harsh echo in the silence of anticipation, until finally, Vance’s voice fills the space, gravelly and concise.
“Talk to me.”
Gunnar doesn’t bother with pleasantries. “Eclipse is closing in. We’ve got Cassie, but getting her out of the city is going to be a bitch without some backup. And…”
I can practically hear Vance’s smirk over the speaker phone. “And you need help again? A safe place to stay?”
Gunnar looks at Aisling and nods once. “We’d love whatever you have to offer.”
“Understood,” Vance replies, and there’s a rustle on the other end, like the sound of a man preparing for war. “I’m sending reinforcements. Stay low until they arrive.”
