Page 22 of Seduce & Destroy

He hummed. “Our dear friends from the Novelli dynasty have agreed to attend the funeral for Edward. Though, Aldo seemed quite preoccupied over the phone, something about Flavia’s illness or—”

I tried to restrain my eye roll. My hope that he would be transparent about the circumstances of Tilly’s death or the investigation into his father’s death depleted the longer he said nothing. He was already looking forward before addressing the past. Might as well face it head on.

“Why didn’t you tell me that Tilly died the same way as Granddaddy?” I tried to sound confident, but between the words, my heart broke a little more with each syllable.

“Sunshine,” he began, his eyes softening in a caricature-kind of way. “We don’t need business talk at the breakfast table. I’m now the head of this family. Hell, I'm the head of the syndicate. Things are going to work a little differently than they did before.”

“I understand that, but–”

“Listen. Information is a luxury I cannot give as freely anymore. Tilly’s death revealed that they know our location. That they are among us. I can’t risk speaking it aloud in the house. Do you understand?” Do you not trust me?

“You made me kill him without knowing the full extent of his crimes, Father. The brutality of it…I could’ve…” I was at a loss as to what I really wanted. All I knew was that his omission felt like isolation. It hurt. “And the fact that he was one of us–”

“DON’T associate him with us. There is no us. Right now, I trust that blood is thicker, but you can’t trust anyone, you hear me? Anyone.”

“I just want to feel–”

“This isn’t about feeling, Laney. War is coming. Until I know what they are waiting for, I want you prepared, but not at risk.”

“I can handle it.”

“I don’t want you to.”

My shoulders sagged at that. I was strong. I was capable.

“You know it's them, right?” I said in a quiet voice. We both knew who them was, I dared not speak the name in case of inciting violence, but that hope was quickly crushed.

He slapped his hand on the table, causing the glasses to clink. I flinched at the sound. “It is not them! They are gone, Laney, how often do I need to say it?”

I narrowed my eyes as I shook my head. I couldn’t understand why we shouldn’t be preparing for any possible avenue of attack. It was obvious whoever it was knew of the existence of the estate, even the geographies of Great Tenor, I just couldn’t discern a motive. Grandfather mourned them, our families were bonded until the accident. Father was a teenager when the Karstein home burned, he could probably remember details about them to figure out why they might return with such vengeance.

Before I could formulate words, he held his hand up with a serious look on his face. “I won’t say it again,” he warned and sighed. “Have you completed the enhanced vetting process for current and incoming cadets?”

It took a moment for his words to register, I was still stuck on the sting of his dismissal. I’ve been trained since birth, my head is never fully facing one direction. Ever. What else have I prepared for if not imminent war? There was something he won’t admit.

“Sunshine.” He prompted.

“Yes, Sir. I’ve got the verified list of guardsmen and cadets, I'm going through them one by one. Sorted by years of service.”

“Good girl.” I grimaced and grabbed one of the pastries on the table as I headed out the room. I was done. “Oh, and Laney? The devil comes from within.”

I took more considerable strides on my way to my office. God, fuck him.

The devil comes from within was his barely veiled critique for my past mental health issues, as if to say, you are the problem, you created it, don’t let it implode you. It was the cornerstone philosophy of the counselling I received at eighteen, endorsed by Father, of fucking course. Bullshit.

My eyes couldn’t roll further back into my head.

“The devil comes from within.” I spat under my breath as I rounded a corner before jumping back when a person blocked the way.

“I thought I was the devil?” She joked.

I narrowed my eyes and kept walking. “Not the devil, just a liar.”

She followed. “You weren’t in training today.”

“Wow, she knows how to speak facts.”

“Funny.” She sighed, softly. “I was told that you were the head of cyber security services. I think it would be beneficial for my training to understand the security protocols in place to enhance my enforcement role.”

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