Page 47 of Grayson’s Challenge

“Monique. Hey, kiddo.”

He pulled Monique into a hug, and at the sight, Grayson felt a twinge of something he didn’t want to examine further. When John released her, his gaze bounced between Monique and Grayson. Grayson didn’t have to be a mind reader to know what John was suspecting.

“I didn’t realize…” he started, then shrugged. “Does anybody know?”

Grayson exchanged a look with Monique, who shook her head.

“No. And maybe right now it’s better if nobody does,” she said softly. “It will just distract everybody…” She didn’t finish her sentence, didn’t need to, because they all knew what was more important right now.

“What brings you here?” Grayson asked. “Do you have any news?”

“Not news per se,” John said evasively. “But, uhm…” He looked at Monique. “I didn’t want to add more worries than you already have. That’s why I came to speak to Grayson. But since you’re here, I suppose I might as well tell you too. I think there’s something nefarious going on at the palace.”

“What do you mean?” Monique asked.

“I made a few calls. I wanted to figure out whether Cain had received any threats lately, or made any new enemies, so I called a few of the guys I knew from back when I was the leader of Cain’s King’s guard.”

“And what did they say?” Grayson asked eagerly.

“That’s just it: they didn’t say anything. I couldn’t get a hold of them. So I tried a few more of the guards I knew I could trust, men who would never turn against Cain. And not a single one was answering his cell phone.”

“You think they’ve been locked up?” Monique asked.

“Or worse, killed,” John replied. “We have to assume as much. Which brings me to my theory.”

“You think that somebody is trying to seize the kingdom,” Monique interrupted.

John tossed her a surprised look. “How did you—”

“We just found out that Monique’s brothers were attacked by two vampires in Switzerland,” Grayson explained.

“Fuck!” John cursed.

“They were able to kill their attackers,” Monique added. “They’re on their way here. One of the Stealth Guardians is bringing them back.”

John nodded, a breath of relief rolling over his lips. “Virginia?” he asked with a look at Grayson.

“Yep. I sent her and Cooper to Gstaad when Monique couldn’t get a hold of them.”

“Good thinking. I don’t suppose they got a chance to ask the attackers who’d sent them before they dusted them?”

“Afraid not,” Grayson said with regret, “but one of the girls who was hired to lure them to a remote cabin and distract them, is alive. Pearce is working on finding out who paid her and her friend to be honey traps. We should know more soon.”

“Damn,” John hissed. “This is worse than I thought. This looks like a really well-planned coordinated attack. Somebody spent a lot of time and money to orchestrate this.”

Grayson was thinking the same thing. “I can’t help but think this is personal. Cain knows the person behind this.” He looked at Monique and saw her concerned expression. “And maybe that’s a good thing. William, the surviving bodyguard, already asked the palace to send the database of all former and current employees as well as clan members to Faye, so she and my mom can go through it to see if they recognize any of the men who kidnapped Cain and Samson.”

Monique nodded and pulled her cell phone from her pocket. “Let me talk to Mom, and ask her and Delilah to make the palace’s database their first priority. They can go back to the Scanguards database after they’re done.”

Grayson nodded. “Good idea.”

Monique was already selecting Faye’s number, when Grayson’s cell phone rang.

He looked at the display and answered it, stepping away from Monique so he could speak to Isabelle without interfering in Monique’s conversation with Faye.

“Hey, Isa. What’s up?”

“Mom and Faye identified one of the attackers. He’s an ex-VCON.”