Page 79 of Seizing Control: Part One

“Good. Good.” I spin around to face him. Hands on my hips, I issue my demands, “There’s a bracelet... a diamond tennis bracelet. Hand-crafted. I’ve been tinkering with it for more than a decade, tryna make it perfect. I want you to get it. Give it to your team, arrange for them to add a tracker and any other tech you have.” Pausing, I try to rack my brains for all the things Cub has mentioned during one of his geek-outs. “Listening devices. GPS. Chips. Fuckin’ video surveillance... whatever you have the capabilities for, I want it on Lily.” A ripple of frustration undulates through me when Gabriel doesn’t immediately respond. “You can manage that, can’t you?”

“It’s manageable, yes.”

“There’s an alien pendant with sapphire eyes—” As an idea hits me, I grin. “—and a solid-gold scalpel in a locked box on my workbench. Have them added to the bracelet for me.”

“Of course.”

Nodding to myself as a way to remain at the forefront of Lily’s mind during my prolonged absence reveals itself, certainty spreads through me. It stops the churning in my gut, replaces it with the kind of confidence I rarely feel. “Give it to Slash to gift to Lily before their second ceremony. He’ll know what to do with it.”

“Sure.”

“Now.” I settle into the chair he directed me toward earlier and pick up the folder of documents. “Let’s nut out this shit, once and for all—the quicker it begins, the quicker I get back to my woman.”

“The first item is an explanation of the role you’ll be taking on.”

As I scan the first page slowly, reading every individual word to ensure I don’t miss a detail, the future I’ve agreed to gradually comes into focus. The goals I once had fade into insignificance. My vow to Slash to return to take back what’s mine dies. This is where I should be—this is how I make up for every mistake I’ve made. This is how I give Lily the life she deserves, safe from the brutality of men and the world at large.

“I won’t be visiting you again once the plea deal is tabled.” His eyes dip down to my busted knuckles. “I see you’ve met Karlos... all communication will be through him from now on.”

“Why?”

“Plausible deniability, Lazarus.”

His use of the name I will be going by in less than a week makes me physically jolt. I draw my eyebrows together, taking the time to really try it on for size. As much as I love the sound of my first name falling from Lily’s lips, part of me can’t wait to hear her address me by my new moniker.

Although, knowing her resistance to my road name, she’ll likely refuse.

My woman is stubborn. She doesn’t back down easily.

Two strengths I’m counting on to carry her through the next few months.

“What else do I need to know?”

Gabriel peers at me over the top of his glasses. “Everything.”

“Guess that’ll have to wait until I’m outta here, then.”

“Unlikely. Your education begins now. Karlos will be your tutor and your right-hand man?—”

“I don’t know him from Adam. I was thinkin’...” I trail off as I realise that I don’t have anyone I can trust with my back any longer.

“It’s only for the transition.” Gazes locked, we tacitly acknowledge the favour Gabriel is offering me with the provision of a mentor. “Once I’ve stepped aside, you will create your own inner circle... until then, you will be a leader within my faction. You’ll have a team, one you can build person by person. I’m happy to assist, but I expect you’ll want to put your own spin on things.”

As I carefully slide the documents outlining the parameters within which I will be operating as Lazarus, I say, “Just wanna let you know that I appreciate this... won’t let you down. I know I’m not the smartest, technology ain’t my thing, but I’ll do my best.”

“Although custom dictates that one of my sons follows in my footsteps, I am not displeased with how things have turned out. What you don’t seem to understand is... I’ve watched you, since the day you were born, battle through things that would’ve turned a lesser man into a delinquent. Your inner core, the part of your soul that makes your life harder than necessary sometimes, will hold you in good stead as my successor.” When he offers me a deceptively placid smile that doesn’t match the sins clouding his eyes, my heart skips a beat. There’s a monster residing in the dark recesses of Gabriel Abaddon’s psyche. A demon similar to the one that lives inside me. “Should you prove me wrong, the solution is simple. Dead men can’t die a second time.”

Standing, Gabriel rounds the corner of the table. I track his approach with a steadfast gaze. When he traces a cross in the middle of my forehead with his fingertip, I do not flinch away from his touch. I’m ready for this—determined to bury the lies and mistakes in the empty grave my corpse is supposed inhabit.

This is my second chance and I’m determined not to squander it.

Steadfast in my choice to protect the sole sweet thing in my world at any cost.

Resolute in my resolve to be resurrected as the man Lily needs.

I mentally vow that I won’t return to her until I’m worthy.

Yet, as Gabriel curls his fingers over my closest shoulder and squeezes, I can’t suppress the flicker of unease that fills me at the idea of leaving my woman susceptible to the machinations of the man I once trusted with my life. I wasn’t blowing hot air when I told Slash that if he touched her again, I’d kill him.

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