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“Oh, my freaking hell,” I repeated and looked into the crate for a key. A dull glint caught my eye, and I reached in and pulled out a small key. “Please fit,” I begged as I inserted the key into the lock and gently twisted the key. A little effort made the lock finally turn. I cautiously opened the chest and rested the lid on a couple of supports, so I didn’t weaken the hinges.
Silvie came to stand next to me as I peered inside and lifted the first book on top. Carefully, I opened it and nearly dropped it. My hands shook as I put it down and locked the trunk. I undid my necklace and slid the key on. Excited, I spun on Silvie, whose eyes were wide at my actions.
“Silvie, I’m going to trust you. Honey, I need to get Reid. Don’t allow anybody inside, not staff or customers. Silvie, I’m trusting you, but I’ll have to lock you in. Please don’t touch that box or let anyone near it,” I begged her. Silvie nodded bright-eyed at being part of something important, and I left the Vault and locked the door. Once outside, I broke into a run and flew out of the shop, startling Zoe and a few customers.
I sprinted across the road to where the Rage forecourt was. A couple of men around a bike jolted at the sound of my heels pounding the pavement. One came toward me, brow creased in concern. It was Rock, I thought.
“Where’s Reid?” I blurted out, catching my breath and skidding to a halt.
“Clubhouse,” Rock said, tilting his head and studying my flushed cheeks. “Lady, you okay?”
“Oh my God, no! The Hellfire Club!” I stuttered at Rock and ran towards the clubhouse. I flew through the double doors and stopped. I took a few seconds to adjust to the dim lighting and searched the room for Reid. Drake, his VP, Ace, and Jett were climbing to their feet at my dramatic entrance, and I spied Reid at the bar.
“Sinclair?” Reid snapped out hurriedly, standing up.
“The Knights of St Francis! The Hellfire Club!” I shrieked at Reid.
Reid looked at me as if I’d gone mad as he put his beer on the counter. Jett reached my side and tilted my face, studying me carefully. A huge grin erupted from me, and surprise crossed his face.
“Sin?” Reid asked. I bunny hopped on the spot and then jumped in a circle, and I wrapped my arms around my waist and laughed.
“The Order of the Knights of St Francis! Hellfire Club. Francis Dashwood. It was in the crate!” I couldn’t get my words to make sense. “Reid, you have to come. Right now!” I nearly screamed in my excitement at Reid.
“How’s Hellfire connected to the Reading Nook?” Drake asked. I stared at Drake, confused, and then spun to Reid.
“Will you come! Oh, bloody hell, I can’t believe this, the Knights of St Francis.” I turned on my heel, jogged to the door, and Jett moved towards me. Reid remained still, studying me.
“Pete’s sake, move, Reid. It’s the Order of the Knights of St Francis,” I snapped at Reid. He finally began moving with a puzzled look on his face. I bounded out of the clubhouse and bounced off Rock, who’d been entering.
“Sin!” Jett called, but I was too excited to heed him.
“Hurry, Reid! The Hellfire Club. Oh my God, the Hellfire Club!”
Reid moved towards me, so I sprinted across the forecourt, into the shop, and tore downstairs. Surprised stares from my staff followed me, but I ignored them. My hands were still shaking with excitement when I let myself back into the Vault and found Silvie hovering in front of the chest. I kicked the door shut, pulled the key off my necklace, and bounced on my heels as I waited for Reid.
Reid entered the Vault with Jett, Drake, Ace, Apache, and Rock following. He was frowning at me as he closed the door behind him.
“What the hell, Sin?” Reid asked. Excited beyond measure, I leapt towards Reid and dragged him over to my table.
“Read it!” I exclaimed. Reid bent his head, checked the chest out, and looked at the top of it; I saw when Reid finally got it. The stunned look of recognition that crossed his face mirrored mine.
“Shit!” Reid exclaimed. Reid tried the lock and nearly broke my fingers when I dangled the key in front of him. He unlocked it while I remained buzzing with excitement and pulled on a pair of gloves. Reid lifted the book I had done and opened it carefully.
Reid placed the book gently down, his hands shaking, and he gazed across at me. I bent at the waist, laughing at Reid’s stunned expression. Giddy, I straightened up and giggled and bounced on my heels again.
“The Hellfire Club!” I shrieked, throwing my hands up in the air and flew towards Reid as his arms came out, and Reid lifted me up and spun me around.
“That’s a list of members. That book!” Reid exclaimed loudly.
“Not only that, but it records what year they joined, who inducted them, their donations and, Oh my God, everything. If that is in one book, what else does the chest contain? Did you see the name on the inside page?”
“No?”
“Montague! Lord Montague was the Hellfire Secretary. Can you imagine the sheer freaking value of that book? Just that one? We’ll finally know for sure who the members of Hellfire were! We’re going to change history!” I shrieked, excitement rampaging. Reid put me down, and I spun as someone coughed. I’d been too excited to do more than take a vague note of those who’d followed Reid. And now I saw grim and curious glances and, in Jett’s case, indulgent.
“Guessing there’s no danger,” Drake drawled, crossing big arms across his even bigger chest.
“Huh?” I asked, stopping bouncing.
