Page 93 of Secrets of the Six

Watching her glide around the kitchen, preparing tea and slicing up a loaf of homemade bread, fills me with nostalgia. As kids we always talked about what we wanted if we could ever get out of the Brogratto. I was adamant about living a life of luxury. I wanted the finest clothing and the most expensive jewelry. I wanted a house other wealthy socialites would envy, and I was determined not to take a husband, fearing him abandoning me like all others had in the past. But Carmen was the exact opposite. She always craved a husband and a family of her own. Four children, at least, is what she always said. Finery wasn't important to her. Happiness and health were all that really mattered.

Seeing Shaw slip up behind her and wrap his arms around her, whispering inaudible sweet things in her ear, drawing a girlish giggle from her lips punches me square in the chest. She got it. She got everything she wanted – minus the children, but by how they move together, I'm sure they'll have all four of those babies once the Soberano is dealt with.

Suddenly my dream of living lavishly and alone doesn't have the same appeal it did before. Carmen is surrounded by friends, cuddled by an attentive husband, and in the midst of fighting for their justice and freedom, she's joyful. Complete. Whole.

Without meaning to, Remus pops into my mind and I wonder what a future with him could look like if we made it to that point. Would we dance around the kitchen together or curl up in bed without fearing the other might flee in the middle of the night? Being a domestic was never appealing to me. Not that there's anything wrong with it, I just knew it wasn't in the cards for me. But maybe, just maybe, I don't have to live my entire life fearing abandonment. Maybe I could have a partner by my side to have and hold until the day I breathe my last. Maybe that person could be Remus.

The door flies open and closes just as quickly. When we all turn, we see Remus rip his hood off before sliding his cloak off. Greetings ring out as he saunters to join the rest of us at the table. He hasn't met my gaze yet and suddenly it has me worried. We haven't seen or spoken to one another since the night I killed Montenegro. Not typically an overthinker, I can't help but wonder if he has changed his mind about me.

As if he can sense my trepidation, he raises his head to meet my gaze and offers me a small smile. Nothing grandiose or flirtatious, but enough to ease my nerves. Part of me is worried he won't keep my secret from the group, and they'll ultimately oust me for my wicked deeds. But if that was the case, he wouldn't have asked Carmen to bring me tonight. He would have stiff-armed me out of his life, but he didn't. One day, I'll have to truly learn to trust again. Maybe today could be that day.

Why the hell do I care so much? This is why I keep to myself. I never questioned my actions before, now all I do is wonder when they'll wake up and realize I'm not deserving to be called one of them.

"Let's get down to business," Remus calls everyone to order once they've had their fill of tea and bread. He runs his fingers through his dark locks and sighs. "I'm afraid we don't have much time."

Chapter 33

Remus

Seeing Ines at the table as a part of the group shoots a jolt of electricity through my chest. She belongs here. But her face is marred with concern. I'm not sure what she's thinking but I wish I could reach across the table and sweep her into my arms to reassure her she's safe. Her secrets, her past, her crimes, are all safe with me. I don't believe in keeping the Vulpes in the dark, but when it comes to her past, it's for her to tell in her own time, if she even wants to. My opinion of her hasn't changed. If anything, my feelings for her have greatly intensified and my desire to be hers consumes me.

I can't dwell on my own selfish desires all night. We've come to discuss the Murrieta heist and knowing our quick turnaround, we don't have a moment to spare.

"As you all know, we need to infiltrate the Murrieta estate. What you don't know is we have one shot at doing it and it has to happen tomorrow night."

Everyone stews in silence, either afraid of speaking up or contemplating if it's a mission they want to volunteer for.

"I know that sounds insane, but it's the only chance we have of being successful," I quickly continue. "Severo will be at the Palace of Justice late tomorrow evening for a meeting with his staff. Rogelio will be out with his friends celebrating his engagement in the Night District. We all know when the masters are away, the servants will play."

"And security will be lax," Cas adds with a grin.

"But the dogs," Olli shudders. "I don't suspect they'll be taking the night off."

I dig into my pocket and produce the Tranquillis provided by Pillar. "A gift from your mother," I say, and Olli softens at her mention.

I know he misses working with her in the Market District, but when I asked him to take the open position at Iglesia de los Santos to guard the entrance to the City of Dreams, he readily accepted. I wouldn't have asked, but my man who was monitoring it died, and I was in a bind. Olli made a tremendous sacrifice, and he's never once complained about it.

"What is that?" Cas jerks his head toward the package, lifting his mug to his lips.

Olli picks up the bundle and sniffs it. "Tranquillis," he identifies easily. "Once the dogs eat it, we'll have an hour or so of them sleeping to move about unattended. I don't know why I didn't think of it before."

I clamp my hand down on Olli's shoulder. "You've done your part of copying the blueprint. Of which, I promise will be burned the second our meeting is over." I turn to the rest of the group. "You all know the rules. If you don't want to be a part of this mission, speak now. No one will hold it against you." I wait a few heartbeats and look everyone in the eye as I round the table. No one flinches, no one says anything.

"We're with you, Remus," Shaw finally speaks on behalf of the group, draping his arm behind Carmen's chair. "If you say we move tomorrow, then we move tomorrow."

Nods and affirming grunts round the room, spurring me to move on to the next phase of the meeting: revealing my plan.

"Alright." I spread the blueprint Olli secured across the table, smoothing it out, and placing mugs at the four corners to keep it in place. I point at Severo's office. "This is where we will find Severo's important files. I'm not sure what the layout of his office looks like but – "

"He has two narrow windows overlooking the gardens," Ines interrupts, earning our undivided attention. She slides her fork between her lips, cleaning the food from the prongs and points around the mapped room. "There are two armchairs that face his desk. I didn't see any bookshelves, or paintings to hide a wall-safe behind, so I would assume he has the documents you're looking for in one of his desk drawers. We'll have to be careful of dirtying his rug. It looked custom made and is certainly expensive. If we scale the building from the garden, we'll leave mud tracks. We might have to repel from the roof or sneak in through the library on the main floor and go up the stairs."

Her eyes slide to meet mine across the table and I have a million questions swarming in my mind. But the image of her pouty lips pressed against mine has my heart racing.

"How do you know all of that?" Cas sets his mug down, the clattering of the porcelain enough to jar the rest of us free from our stupor.

She swallows hard, as if she didn't mean to divulge all that information so freely, before clearing her throat to explain. "I was there."

"Where?" I ask, fighting to keep my face calm.