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We meandered our way to the living room, where Daphne and Vivian were already waiting for us. Atticus stood there, his arms crossed over his chest, and he asked with a matter-of-factness, “So, what’s your grand plan, August?”
August shifted uncomfortably in his seat, tugging at his collar. He started to say something just as I interjected with a hushed voice, “August. Tell us.”
He slowly exhaled and Leo brushed against my hand—a subtle gesture of support. Then August began, “Redview. It all started there. Three years ago, a rebellion broke out, right? Lord Geralt helped my father contain it. The archives said over three hundred people were killed.”
“Eva mentioned that when we were tracking down Lord Nathan,” Atticus reminded us.
I furrowed my brow in confusion. “Who is Eva?”
August rolled his gaze to mine with a deep intensity. “The most annoying teenager I’ve ever met in my life.”
I uttered a mumbled, “Oh.”
“So, what should be done about it?” Leo asked, his frown deepening.
August grimly replied as his fists clenched, “They’ve tried to pin the blame on another lord, but Lord Nathan has been cultivating his army on deceit. People living in Aldrich are suffering from oppressive taxes and the effects of their crumbling infrastructure. Lord Nathan saw an opportunity to use that to his advantage. Little do they know, his family is not only responsible for the massacre that occurred in Redview, they benefited from those circumstances, and they continue to reap the rewards financially. Unaware citizens have been taken in by Lord Nathan’s machinations, and he’s made himself out to be a savior.”
Atticus scowled, adding, “But if they had the slightest clue that it’s his own family that caused all this bloodshed…” His voice trailed off as the mood in the room filled with a sense of rage mixed with anxiousness.
“And if we made promises for real change…” I gritted out, my fingernails digging into my palms.
“Then we could turn Lord Nathan’s army against him and have more of a chance to take him out.”
Atticus steeled himself. “He still has DuPont men.”
August narrowed his eyes. “We both know they’re more loyal to you. If Lord Nathan loses his army, they’ll still be outnumbered. Once they realize Theodore DuPont has lost his upper hand, they’ll switch sides. DuPonts don’t have the numbers.”
I scoffed in disbelief. “What makes you so sure?”
Atticus exhaled heavily. “Criminals are only loyal to survival. Besides, my father let me out of that cell because he knows some of our contacts are still loyal to me. People will go where the money flows.” He refused to make eye contact with me, body tense in the chair. We still hadn’t made up from our fight. “It’s a good plan, August.”
August was paralyzed, his gaze wide with disbelief. “Really? I had a good plan?”
Atticus’s eyes softened as he tried to keep a light mood, but the fear and powerlessness within him was apparent. “It’s a good plan. But how exactly do you plan to spread the news? We’re hiding, remember?”
“Redview,” I murmured, feeling my throat tighten with anxiety. “We go to Redview.”
The room was dense with trepidation, and I glanced around, unsure if they had heard what I said.
Atticus’s forehead creased in worry. “Are you aware of the risk we’d be taking if we go there? We are not exactly welcome anywhere now that we have a bounty on our heads.”
August’s voice rang steady and confident. “Most of Nathan’s soldiers are at the castle now. We can meet with the wives; they’ll help us.”
I nodded in agreement, my voice growing stronger. “We can’t keep running forever; the DuPonts will come for us no matter where we go. We need to stand up and fight against Nathan’s army. We have each other’s backs; none of us will have to do this alone.”
Atticus held my gaze, and his voice was unswerving when he spoke back to me. “That’s right. No one will be left behind to face danger alone.”
August shot me an apprehensive glance before I shifted my focus to Leo’s mother and sister. I opened my mouth, my words caught in my throat for a brief second. “You… Stay here,” I said finally, my voice wavering. “It’s not safe for you to accompany us.”
Daphne rose from her chair, but Vivian stepped in before she could respond. “Yes,” she affirmed. “Don’t worry about us.”
Atticus nodded, his lips twitching into a tight smile. “I’ll call Hudson and get him to stay here as well. He’ll keep watch over the two of you,” he said with a gruff voice.
I could feel Leo tense beside me, his body rigid in surprise. After a beat, he croaked out a soft thank-you to Atticus, who merely shrugged and replied with a murmured, “We’re all family now.”
Vivian’s face lit up at the sentiment, her eyes glowing with admiration as she looked up at him. With a satisfied nod, she clapped her hands together and declared that she would go pack some meals for us; the trip was going to be long and arduous. She grabbed Daphne’s wrist and pulled her along as she headed for the door. My heart was beating rapidly as I watched them leave, my mind reeling with worry.
I inhaled the heavy air of anticipation that surrounded us.
