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GRACE
Ithought Cole’s family was wealthy until we arrived at the Salvatore Estate. The Salvatore brothers lived on a sprawling compound with an incredible bay view. The main house looked like a medieval castle. They had several guest houses on the property, including an infinity pool, which appeared to be spilling into the bay.
This place was unreal.
A large, covered veranda stretched across the back of the mansion. The sheer size of the house, combined with the stunning view, was impressive. It looked like a resort, not someone’s home.
Cole led me to the helipad, where at least twenty men gathered on the blacktop. They wore suits and stern expressions that made them look even more intimidating. Guards lined the perimeter with machine guns in their hands.
I instantly recognized Drake Battle, Cole’s cousin. He was a hacker and the brains behind the technology at Battle Industries. A real-life Batman and just as handsome.
Drake stood at the center of the circle, an iPad in his hand, with four other men gathered around him. They leaned over his shoulders to watch a video playing on the screen.
“They stole their own container,” Luca Salvatore said.
Luca and Marcello could have been twins with the same black hair and angular jaws. Luca wore his hair spiked in the front, while Marcello’s was longer and messy like he’d been tugging at the ends.
Both tall and well over six feet, Marcello had the build of an athlete, while Luca was lean but muscular. Expensive black suits fit them so well the fabric molded to their bodies.
Two more men stood next to them, one with hair as black as a raven’s feathers and the palest skin I had ever seen. His lips were so red it appeared as if he had drunk blood. The man beside him had dark caramel hair and gray eyes.
My cousin.
Bastian Salvatore.
The man on his right was Damian. They were Salvatores but not by blood.
“The fifteenth anniversary of Mom’s death is coming up,” Luca said, the group’s apparent leader with how he stood with the full attention of every man. “Lorenzo Basile has waited a long time to get revenge.”
Cole had mentioned that name on our way over here. I couldn’t believe they had gotten mixed up with a Sicilian Mafia boss, but I wasn’t that surprised, either. I figured rich people did some shady shit to make their money.
“He was waiting for Alex to take her place with The Devil’s Knights.”
“Aiden, too. Does Wellington know yet?”
When Cole first told me about their queen, I almost laughed. Why did a bunch of grown men need a queen to rule them? But he explained it was a condition of the union between the Wellingtons and the Salvatores—a way for Carl Wellington to ensure his granddaughter’s safety.
“With both of his pawns out of play,” Luca said, “maybe he’ll get off his ass and offer us the help of The Founders Society.”
He walked over to Carl Wellington. The other men stayed behind and passed around the iPad.
“Any updates?” Cole asked.
Drake handed the iPad to Cole. “We just got a lead.”
Rhys was on my right side, his palm on my ass as he leaned over to glance at the screen. When I looked up at him, he smirked. I liked when Rhys touched me. Anytime he was near, I couldn’t get enough of him.
Everyone stared at the iPad and watched as the man on the screen stood inside an empty shipping container and held up a note.
We captured your Queen.
Took your Knight.
Make your move.
I looked at Cole, confused. “What does that mean?”
“We’ve been getting played all along.”
