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“Okay, anybody got any suggestions? I don’t want to storm the compound. The loss of life will be shocking and unimaginable,” I replied.
“Drones,” Lance said, and I looked across at him.
“Elaborate.”
“If we spike the drinking water for first mass, they should all fall to sleep, but anyone who doesn’t, we’ll use drones to send in a payload by air. Mine can carry the sleeping agent, and we’ll catch anybody still awake,” Lance suggested.
“They’ll see drones coming a mile away.”
Captain Myers shook his head.
“Captain, you’ve been staring at a drone the whole time and not even realised,” Lance said and pointed to the crow on the window ledge.
“That’s a drone?” Captain Myers asked, startled.
“Sure is, dude, and if I send a flock over the compound, the wind will finish the job. We just ensure the drones fly in the correct position, so they’re not against the wind,” Lance replied.
“I think we’ve got the makings of a plan. Let’s hash it out,” I said, and we got to work.
Alice
My head was spinning with all the information dumped on me during the meeting. After being so overwhelmed, I’d taken shelter in the vast library the Hall boasted. That was where Natasha found me.
“How are you feeling?” Natasha asked, sitting opposite.
“Shocked, stunned, adrift. It’s unbelievable that this is all down to two men’s jealousy of their brothers and greed. But what does it matter to you? Natasha, you did your job and discovered the missing heir of the world’s fifth-richest man. That’s quite a feather in your cap,” I said tiredly.
“Alice, you were my friend,” Natasha denied.
“I was your mark, Natasha. You stole my DNA,” I retorted.
“What would you rather I have done? Told you about Willoughby, got your hopes up, and the DNA didn’t match. Or it turned out that you were really Charles’s daughter? I couldn’t do that to you, so I thought it best you remain in ignorance.”
“So, you filched my DNA and hid everything for my own good? Natasha, you’re a great PI but a lousy liar. You can claim the fifty million reward,” I whispered. Money, it always came down to it.
Natasha let out a laugh.
“Oh honey, I don’t get that. Magic does, as he is the one who found you and then kept you safe. I have my fee from Willoughby, which isn’t small, and I’ve reunited a family,” Natasha replied.
“Magic gets the reward?” I asked, sitting up.
“Yes, Magic’s the one who discovered you. Magic gets it all. He’ll be able to rebuild the bar,” Natasha said with a smile.
“Magic has the money to rebuild anyway,” I murmured.
“Alice, I was a PI working for a lonely man. But I am and continue to be your friend. I know how hard it is to reconcile what you think of as betrayal, but I acted in your best interests. Honey, I researched every report on the cult you fled from, and I knew you’d suffered. I just honestly didn’t want to give you false hope. Maybe I should have shot straight from the hip. But it’s too late now. But I would love to remain friends,” Natasha spoke with sincerity in her voice.
I stared for a few moments as she sat there calmly. Natasha probably meant what she said, but I had been betrayed, and it was just another in a damn long line of them. I was considering what to reply when Diesel ran in.
“You’re needed. The cult has made contact,” Diesel exclaimed.
Natasha and I both rose and followed Diesel to the dining room.
“Listen,” Willow spoke as we entered.
Willow pressed play on a machine, and I recognised the Fifth Minister’s voice. The worm had crawled back out of his hole.
“I know you have Alexis, and we want her. Alexis must fulfil her destiny, which isn’t with a dirty biker. If Alexis doesn’t walk to the end of the road alone within the next hour, what happened to the Hellfire President and wife will be permanent alongside their child. You won’t see us coming. We could be nurses, doctors, cleaner, dinner ladies, or anyone. One hour Alexis, or can you handle the death of a baby?”
