Page 116 of End Game

“She’s one of the four founders of Service,” Zeke said.

“Sybil, Elsie, Jillian, and Victoria,” Ash confirmed.

“What would make this Sybil turn against one of her partners?” Phin asked.

“Maybe two partners,” Cruz said. “With Jillian missing.”

“Kayla said their mission was to place honorable, compassionate, valorous, and strong women in positions of power.” His gaze tapped on each of his brothers as possibilities whirled around his mind. “What would drive Sybil to torch such a longstanding association?”

No one had an answer, and the room went silent but for Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse” in the background. “I can think of one person who might know,” Rohan said, a brow arched in Ash’s direction.

Kayla.

“She’s already lost her godmother, her mother is missing, and her bodyguard betrayed her. How do I break the news to her about Sybil?”

Zeke slouched back in his chair. “Wasn’t it Kayla who recently climbed up my ass about trusting Liv to be strong enough to deal with bad news about her friend?”

“You can hardly compare the two.”

“Oh, I can, brother.”

Phin chimed in. “Kayla’s at her best when she’s working a problem. She’s probably pulling out her hair right now because she,” gleaming teeth flashed at Rohan,” has a lot of frayed ends and nothing to grab on to.”

“She has the support she needs to survive this,” Cruz thumped his index finger against the table, “in here and an even fiercer group inside the Friary.”

“She’s got eleven semi-intelligent minds focused on this case,” Zeke said.

“Semi?” Rohan and Cruz said in unison.

“You can make this promise to her,” Zeke continued. “We’ll get the bastards behind this. Every single damn one.”

“Twelve,” Phin said. “Don’t forget Neuman.”

Ash stared at the grain in the wooden table, overcome by their support. A large hand grasped his right shoulder and another his left. Their strength poured into him, lifting his head, straightening his back.

“Do me a favor,” he said to Zeke.

“Name it.”

“Figure out how deep this rot goes into Service.”

Zeke glanced at the others, who nodded unison. “Consider it done.”

Ash stood. “Thank y’all.” Then he took the first step on the longest walk of his life.

57

Kayla burrowed deeper into the veranda’s lounge chair and readjusted her cashmere sweater against the evening chill. She smoothed a hand over Crispy’s soft back, igniting the feline’s internal motor.

After her conversation with the ladies, Kayla was escorted to a beautifully appointed guest room on the first floor by Henri, the Amazon-like woman who took care of the house and gardens, showed her.

The calming scents of jasmine and vanilla from a trio of candles inside drifted through the screen door, but Kayla wasn’t ready to give up the ghost yet.

Staring at the clear night sky, she noted the constellations Orion and Big Dipper. She couldn’t identify any of the others, astronomy not being her strong suit, but she found a strange comfort in the stars. Their familiarity, their consistency, their brightness.

Movement to her left had her upright in a split second. She grasped the edge of the chair, her heart in her throat. An image of her Glock nestled in her handbag on the bed flashed through her mind.

Crispy jerked away, shot toward the narrow opening in the screen door, and disappeared. Evidently her guard cat’s territorial instincts had yet to kick in.

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