“Do you think we should stage a fight?” I joke once the office door has closed behind us. “I think they’re half expecting it.”
“This is a good thing, Teo. We’re setting a precedent for the future. Guild leadership doesn’t need to be dictated by violence.”
I wave him off. Same old Rocco, singing his old tune. The only difference now, is that as we take a seat, I’m the one sitting in the padded chair behind the desk.
“How was the honeymoon?” I ask.
“Good. Great, actually.” He gets a faraway look in his eye. “You know, for the longest time, I never thought I’d ever be this happy. I didn’t think we deserved it.”
“We?” I snort.
He gives me a look. “This life has taken a lot from us all.”
“And given us more in return,” I counter. “The Guild is my family. Always has been.”
“Not always.”
We stare at each other for a moment.
I sigh. “What have you heard?”
“That you’ve become close with the Natali girl.”
If only you knew.“Yes, well, she’s our closest lead to Ida.”
“Teo.”
“She’s…complicated, okay?” I concede. “Stubborn to a fault. Reckless as anything, hell-bent on antagonizing me at every available opportunity. Everything that comes out of her mouth is manipulation wrapped in malicious intent.”
“Sounds like a dead end.”
I look away from him. “I can get her to crack.”
“And if she doesn’t?” Rocco sags back into his chair. “Are you prepared to kill her?”
“It won’t come to that.”
“It will if you have any intention of finding Ida. You’ll need to use Isabella to bait Leon into telling you instead, which means you must be prepared to go through with the threat.”
“And I’m telling you, it won’t come to that.”
“You can’t afford to be stubborn, Teo. You know Leon won’t tolerate you harassing her for much longer.”
I finally look back at him. “It’s too late for that.”
“What do you mean?” Rocco goes quite still. “Has the Prince’s Hand declared war?”
“Not yet, but I imagine we only have a few days before he realizes she’s missing. Maybe less.”
Rocco blinks at me. “Missing?”
“He won’t attack if he thinks Isabella will be caught in the crossfire. I intend to use this to my advantage to buy us some more time.”
“Where is she?”
I swallow hard. “Somewhere safe.”
“You kidnapped her?”
