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Chapter Twenty-Nine
Zander
It was almost surreal sitting across from the man I had thought was my father for so long.As Kristin and he conversed about inconsequential subjects, I found myself almost laughing out loud a few times.
I understood how upset Angelina was, and Kristin was just as much, if not more so, but she contained it much better.After years of hiding her true feelings and thoughts, she was a master at it.
Once the meal was over, Joseph instructed his men to find suitable quarters for my group, with strict instructions to treat them fair and kind.He eyed Kristin.“And I hope yours will do the same.”
“But of course,” she replied quickly.I hoped they would behave appropriately, even though I knew there was a lot of conflict and unresolved anger between our two groups.
“May I bring my elders with me, Henry and Clayton?”
He seemed to think on that for a moment.“Why don’t we wait and the two, or three, of us talk first?Then if you wish to discuss it with them, you can.If we agree, then you can bring them in, and we can decide on the particulars.”
“Alright, let me speak with them,” Kristin replied and went to discuss it personally with Clayton and Henry while I stared at Joseph.
“You have come a long way, son.”
I shook my head.“How many times do I have to tell you that I am not your son.I am your nephew, but not your son.”I paused for a second.“Did you know that?”
“No,” he replied immediately.“I did not, but would that have changed anything if I had?Not in the slightest.I knew what your possibilities were.”
I shifted to face him and lowered my voice so that only he would hear me.“I remember quite clearly how you killed my father.Every single minute of it.You are lucky that I don’t take your head off for it.”
“Perhaps,” he said just as softly.“But if I had not killed him, would you have ever come to learn that you were his son?”
“I guess we will never know that.”I glanced over my shoulder at Kristin.“If you even think for one second that you are going to put one over on her, guess again.You might have a lot of people on your side, but she has more, and she has the power to bring you to your knees with just a look—as do I.”
He swallowed.“I promise you, Zander, this is not a trick, and I wish no harm on her.”
“Break that promise, and you will not be alive for the coming sunrise.”
I shifted back as Kristin returned and spoke.“Are we ready?”
“Of course, if you’ll come this way.”
While Kristin seemed tense, she was calmer than she had been while sitting in the dining room.Perhaps that had more to do with the number of people around us.Whereas in the lounge, there had been about fifty people, and now there were just eight.Jett and Ryker followed behind us, and Portage also had three men with him.
We crowded into the elevator and went up to the fifth floor.Once we got out, we followed Portage down a hallway and into a large guest room converted to a sitting area with several couches and chairs in different orientations.
“Would you care for a drink?”he asked as he went to pour himself one.
“Please,” Kristin replied, and I nodded.
He returned with our glasses and held his hand out to indicate we should sit.We did, and Ryker and Jett flanked the edges of the couch.Portage eyed them cautiously.
“I was hoping for a civilized conversation.”
“And we shall have one, but if you think that I trust you, you are very wrong.You behave, and they will too.”
“Very well.I apologize for sending the message the way I did, but as you know, things are getting increasingly worse out there, and we are losing members of our society at alarming rates.Unless you aren’t aware because you have been hiding.”
“I am very aware.I follow the reports closely.I speak with others outside my compound, and I know what has been happening.”
“Then you know that we have to do something.”
“I agree.What is it that you have in mind, Joseph?”
