Page 96 of Seizing Control: Part Two

Veronica pulls a small cannister from her purse.

“Pepper spray?”

She shakes her head in response to my question, then brandishes the cylinder in the direction of the Constantine when he opens the door closest to her. The tall man regards her steadily, a wry lift to his lips as he takes in our preparedness.

“Ms. Cerulli,” he addresses Veronica. “Please accompany me inside.”

“Not on your nelly.” Her ridiculous response makes his restrained smile widen.

“It is a request from the heads.”

“Why are we being separated?” I ask. Constantine’s mention of the heads of the Catalonian guild settles uneasily in my psyche. “We haven’t presented our request yet… the proof Layla sent through was only the tip of the iceberg, but nothing we’ve uncovered implicates Veronica.”

As my right leg bounces, I press my palm down on my knee to contain it.

“Veronica is our guest,” Constantine advises me in a tone that brooks no arguments. “Upon your return, you’ll be able to utilise our hospitality yourself. Vitale—” Holding the door open wider, he steps back and a man I recognise moves into view. “—will be accompanying you on the next stretch of your journey.”

Vitale Noguera-Tomás is the father of Seraphina.

She’s the lead singer of Apologies to Medusa.

A member of Lily’s Moscato & Monet club.

One of my sweet thing’s best friend’s.

Her dad wasn’t on my list, but I’ll do what it takes to get home to my woman in one piece…

“Vitale.” I greet the head of the US conclave of the La Trinitat Nova with deceptive placidity. The gleam in my eye is mocking when I angle my muzzle toward him as I continue. “To what do we owe the honour?”

Each conclave is made up of three families. The positions are hereditary, passed down to the eldest biological son of each generation. As part of the leadership of the US Trinity, Vitale is a man to be feared.

He doesn’t scare me.

Because I have enough dirt on his conclave to permanently bury them for three generations at least. Gabriel was in cahoots with Salvador Rocafort-Porra, the man who held the scythe to Lily’s throat during the ritual, and as part of their plan to usurp the old country as the head of the guild, the old Adjudicator left my father defenceless. The scheme that Layla and Hunter are slowly unravelling with Veronica’s assistance is convoluted and alarming and led to me receiving permission to oust Gabriel with Catalonia’s permission.

Which led to our rushed trip to the southwest corner of Europe.

“I am abreast of the situation,” Vitale replies. “My sons are also up-to-speed… unfortunately, we’ve lost contact with Rio.” He mentions the son of another head of the US Trinity. “It appears you’re interested in maintaining his safety as well, hence my orders to assist you on the next stage of your voyage.”

“Fine.”

My bluff has been called.

With Gabriel’s corruption exposed, I have plans to spread the Adjudicator’s curia to each continent. That way, we have a tribunal set up that is intimately aware of the goings-on in their jurisdiction. No more flying in, making snap judgements, then flying out with the clean-up left to the local conclave.

I want total control.

Oriol Costa-Rey is my pick to lead the US sector.

A madman with antisocial tendencies, an inability to be touched, and a flare for delivering swift justice, he’s been on my radar since Layla brought him to my attention a few weeks ago. With Gabriel’s treachery speeding up our plans, I find myself on the back foot. The new structure I wished to present to the guild has been leaked, and apparently approved without any discussion.

“You know how to contact me,” I murmur to Veronica. “If you see something, say something.”

“Of course.” The older woman elegantly slides out of the SUV with Vitale’s assistance. My command to keep her eyes peeled has her straightening her shoulders, then she peers at me. “Seems we have things to discuss upon your return.”

It takes me a moment to understand what she’s referencing.

Once I do, I nod. “I want you as a captain.”

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