As the car rolls away, a heavy ache settles in Leo’s chest as he watches them go. Letting them leave without him is one of the hardest things he’s ever had to do.
Team Omega is quiet when he gets in, Gideon following the other vehicle before Leo even has his seatbelt on.
Luca and Nix are cuddled up in the back seat, with Luca sitting in the middle so they can be as close as possible.
“What’s the plan?” Luca asks.
“Follow my lead, stick together, and don’t do anything risky. We’ll try to get Carnell alone at some point,” Leo states.
“He’ll be full of charm and sly innuendo. But he’ll want to solidify my return before he speaks to me privately. He’ll want an audience for as much of this as possible,” Gideon explains.
If what Leo knows about Carnell is true, he’ll think Gideon is less likely to cause a scene in front of others.
As Leo has said before, Carnell is an idiot.
Nix nods. “We’re ready, and we’ll back you up. We know who we’re dealing with now.”
The words send a slither of premonitory dread down his spine.
Do they, though?
It’s not long before they’re winding their way toward the coast, where modest homes give way to sprawling mansions and gated estates.
The address on the invitation shows somewhere on the coastal road overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. It had been hand-delivered by Ignatius, who had shared a few quiet words with Jay, of all people.
Though Jay had looked a bit taken aback, he hadn’t revealed what they’d discussed.
The invitation, printed on sleek black paper with shimmering gold leaf lettering, feels as luxurious as the neighborhood they’re passing through.
Leo wouldn’t be surprised if the gold leaf was genuine—its wording far more flamboyant than what had been included in the Phoenix Records’ DMs.
Lots of blah blah blah about reunions and triumphant returns.
Thirty minutes after they’d left their Guild sanctuary, they come upon a line of cars in a queue several hundred yards down the street, but Jay’s SUV passes them by, not slowing to gawk.
Leo catches sight of Finn’s broad palm pressed to the back window, and he watches until it disappears down the street.
Earlier, they’d discussed parking farther down, away from the mansion, and backtracking through the servants’ gate. Given all the other people moving around the grounds, it’s unlikely they’d have the security sensors on—but it meant there would probably be more of a physical presence. More guards with guns.
Carnell preferred human fodder for his cannons; the first line of defense is expendable pawns. Easy come, easy go. So, besides being a delusional, misogynistic, psychopathic narcissist, Carnell was also a speciesist murderer.
Leo spares a minute to be grateful for his parents—that they’re good people who do for others whenever they can. He moves to text his mother with that thought in mind.
Just a simple question:Where are you?Followed byI love you.
They still hadn’t heard from her.
He didn’t call his Mama Frankie or his Dad, though, because Leo didn’t know what they knew, and he hadn’t wanted his father to ask questions Leo would have to lie about.
When he doesn’t hear back, he slips the burner phone back into his pocket with a sigh.
They’re moving forward in the line as security guards verify invitations and check names on lists.
“If you want to get out, now is the time,” Gideon says when they’re five cars back. “Please, please get out.”
“Fuck that, Sugar. We stick together.”
“Agreed,” Nix says, with a hand on Gideon’s shoulder over the seat.
