Page 122 of Kingmakers, Year Four

“I can bring two,” I say.

“Who?” my mother asks, confused.

“Leo Gallo and Hedeon Gray.”

“What happened?” she demands.

“A little . . . conflict with Hedeon. But it’s handled,” I assure her.

“Is the Chancellor alive?”

“Yes. Annoyed, but alive.”

I can feel her disapproval radiating through the phone.

“And you’re sure they haven’t told anyone . . . sure they can be trusted?”

“Yes.”

“Alright. Bring them.”

All throughout the day,I go back and forth a hundred times on whether or not I can bring myself to kidnap Nix.

Picturing her face when she realizes the truth . . .

I can’t fucking take it.

At the same time, we’re finally about to get my dad. We’ve worked years for this moment. Sacrificed everything we used to love in our lives.

If I show up without Nix . . . my mother’s disappointment and rage will be just as bad.

The hours seem to drag by interminably slow. Then all of a sudden it’s dinner time, and I can’t eat a single bite. I’m looking across the table at Nix, at her confused and unhappy expression when I can barely form a sentence to speak to her.

Then dinner is over, and we’re racing toward 10:00, with barely enough time for me to make the simple preparations I need to accomplish.

I meet Kade behind the Keep at 9:30. I expect him to come alone, but instead he’s accompanied by Dean Yenin.

Without preamble, Kade says, “I told him everything.”

“What?”I hiss. “You had no right to do that.”

“Yes I did,” Kade says, his expression stubborn. “This has affected my family almost as much as yours. Dean’s my friend. I trust him.”

Dean regards me coolly, one blond eyebrow raised.

“I should have known you were a Petrov when you knocked my fuckin’ head sideways,” he says.

I take a deep breath, trying to remain calm while panic spirals inside me. This thing is already out of control and it’s barely even started.

“Look,” I say to Dean. “I appreciate how you’ve helped Kade, and the information you gave us about Danyl Kuznetsov. But this isn’t your concern.”

“Yes it is,” Dean says. “I owe service to Danyl. I’ve allied myself with your family instead. I’m already involved. I’ve given you my loyalty—I need yours in return.”

My nails dig into my palms.

“You understand the risks in this?—”

“Yes,” Dean says. “I understand.”

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