Page 28 of Keeper of Secrets

Not answering the Emperor’s question, letting the man wait, he pulled out his letter opener and broke the seal instead, unfolding the sheet.

His eyes skimmed over the excessively neat scroll, phrases jumping out at him.Sinners.Damnation.Hell.Retribution.And then…

Your time is coming.I’ve already planted the seeds which will be your downfall.Check your house, Judas has arrived.

Ryker read the words again,his hand clenching the sheet far harder than necessary.

“What is it?”the Emperor asked, reaching for the paper and taking it from Ryker.His eyes scanned down the page.“It’s from Adam.”

“How do you know?”he asked the question for more information, though he was certain the Emperor was correct.

Emperor tossed the sheet back on the desk.“Who is new in your house?”

Ryker sat heavily in the chair taking a large swallow of his brandy.He couldn’t avoid the question any longer because every line of questioning was coming back to one person.“Only Chloe.”

“Chloe?”Winter asked.

He raked his fingers through his hair.“Chloe is my charge and the woman I was with tonight.”

Max looked over at Strongborn.“Beautiful.”

Strongborn looked at Ryker.“You are surrounded by beautiful women of late.First the masquerade and now a new charge.”

If only the other man knew… Ryker only glared, not wanting to give away any more information about Chloe.

So the Emperor looked at the Summoner instead.“How beautiful?”

It was Ryker who answered.“None of your business.”

Strongborn cocked his head.“Is it possible that she is mixed up with Adam?”

“No.”But insidious doubt made him take another large swallow of his drink.What did he know about Chloe?A distant relative who suddenly landed at Mildred’s door who enticed him into a kiss and to whom he was now engaged.She’d slipped past every defense he had with ease.

The Emperor stared at him with an assessing gaze.

“He kissed her,” the Summoner said slowly.

“Perhaps you’re not interested in taking over my role after all.”The Emperor cocked a brow.

Fuck that.The club was his passion, his escape.And after all he’d just learned, Chloe was suspect at best.“I am committed to taking your place when you leave.”

“Is that right, Helmsworth?Good.”He rose then, crossing to the buffet and helping himself to Ryker’s whisky.“There is another event the night after tomorrow.The Rightly ball.We’ll have our next challenge to fulfill, but it’s also hosted by a friend of Whitehouse’s so the chance of meeting Adam is high.Why don’t you tell me what you’ve learned?”

Quickly he explained what Adam had so casually shared and what he’d threatened.While he talked, Max also helped himself to the whisky, his grimace easy enough to read.No one was pleased with the information.

As Ryker finished, Strongborn finished his drink in a single swallow.“Should I cancel tomorrow night’s meeting?”

“And hide like cowards?”Ryker demanded.“No.”

“I agree,” the Summoner nodded, finishing his drink as well.

The man’s words came easier every time he spoke.Ryker didn’t ask, but his curiosity was piqued.

“Good.”Strongborn set down his glass.“Our identities remain private to everyone else who is not in this room,” he said.“And the Master’s challenge is to bed a widow.While I expect you at the meeting tomorrow, I’ll ask you now to partner with me to complete the challenge.The night after, at the ball, we’ll fulfill both objectives.Secure the widow and further the investigation.”

Bed a widow… A noise just outside the door caught his attention, a slight rustling.He crossed the room, opening the door to find the hall clear.

“Everything all right?”Strongborn asked.

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