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Maggie.
All thoughts of the brick are gone as I consider that Maggie is here with me, finally.
“Maggie,” I call out, turning in circles. “I’ve been trying to reach you. Where did you go?” Questions tumble out as I try and fail to collect myself. She’s here. Despite the block Shante faced, my sister is with me now. Leading me to... to what?
Maggie has always seemed to show up during crucial moments. Whatever she’s leading me to must be incredibly significant, given her absence of late.
“Why are you here, Maggie?”
Silence. She doesn’t answer, and it deflates my earlier excitement.
Push it in.
I replay her words and do as she instructed. At first, the brick doesn’t budge. I use both hands to try to move the stubborn thing, but it still doesn’t work. Frustration and doubt take root as I consider I might’ve misunderstood her message.
I run my hands through my hair, hating that all Katina’s hard work is going to shit due to perspiration caused by the effort to attempt to move a seemingly unmovable brick. I consider giving up, but my inner voice pushes me to try one more time.
“One more time, Maggie, and then I’m done,” I call out. This time, I put my shoulder into it, pushing with all my might, and it finally dislodges. “Oh my God.” I gasp as a portion of the wall to my right swings out, uncovering a hidden room.
The small space is lined with shelves full of dust-covered first-edition books, jewels, expensive-looking trinkets, and a small unadorned wooden chest. Given the ordinary box is surrounded by treasures, I’m immediately curious as to the contents within. However, my attempt to open it is futile. It’s locked, and something tells me finding the key won’t be an easy task.
Chapter Eight
Julian
I snuck out of Marina’s room as the top of the sun peeked above the treetops. All night I’d lain with Marina in my arms, wondering how we would survive all the secrets I’m still keeping and annoyed that there’d been not an ounce of sleep. This meeting is vital, and because of unnecessary drama, I’m going into it unrested.
I’m rounding the corner to my father’s office when I nearly run headfirst into Law. “When did you get here?”
“I just arrived,” he says in a clipped voice, obviously still salty from our last conversation. “I came to level with you.”
“Law,” I warn, gritting my teeth. “I’m in no mood.”
“Great. This should be a lovely chat then. Because I’m not leaving until you do the right thing.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I nod briskly toward the office, refusing to have this conversation in the hall for the whole manor to overhear. He stalks off and I follow closely behind. Once inside, I shut the door a little too forcefully, and Law swings around, finger poised to poke my chest, but he’s smart and quickly lowers it.
“I was up all night—”
“That makes two of us,” I snap.
“Based on your mood, you’ve either told her and it didn’t go well, or this”—gestures to me—“is self-loathing because you haven’t grown the balls.”
A growl seeps from between my clenched teeth as I take a menacing step toward my seemingly unfazed brother.
“Care to press my buttons any further, Lawrence?”
He taps his chin two times in contemplation. “As a matter of fact, yes. It’s my favorite pastime.”
I leap forward and he jumps back, hands flying up as he chokes out a throaty laugh.
“Calm down, Julian. We’re on the same side.”
“It doesn’t seem like it,” I say, clenching and unclenching my fists at my side, trying to calm my nerves.
He moves forward, patting my shoulder. “Let’s talk. Calmly.”
I blow out a harsh breath, moving toward the large desk where my father once sat. The room is silent for several minutes as I continue to rein in my temper and Law eyes me warily.
