Page 24 of Prodigal

He’d brought Samir and Will with him. He never went anywhere without Samir, and Will pulled the short straw this time, while Marco and Kaleb stayed behind to watch over André and his sister. Along with the tech guys, there were another four bodyguards in the second SUV.

“We have to be careful,”Ennis warned again.“Any move we make on Winters must be foolproof. Besides, he’s expecting us to act.”

“Then why disappoint him?”Prislaya challenged.

“I think I might like her,” Gideon murmured. “If only she wasn’t trying to kill me.”

Next to him, Will snorted. “Yeah, if only.”

“I say we call a meeting within the next few days,”Prislaya continued.“We put this to a vote. The majority will side with us. They will sanction his death.”

“Hmm.” Samir cocked his head. “Why do you think she’s got such a hard-on for you?”

“Dunno.” Gideon shrugged. “But why don’t I go and find out?”

“Whoa!” Will held out a hand to stop Gideon when he reached for the door handle. “We didn’t okay you going in there.”

Gideon glanced from her to Samir. “Well, what are you waiting for? Okay it, then, because I’m going in there.”

“G.” Samir shook his head. “Now is not the time to show our hand.”

“We’re not showing our hand. Members of The Council called a meeting. I have a right, as The Council’s treasurer and figurehead, to be included.” He wanted to see how brave Prislaya Chopra and Ennis Canto would be, if they’d say the things to him that they just said to each other.

So far, they’d been hiding. What would they do when faced with him in the flesh? Suddenly, that was all he wanted to know.

“Their men are right outside the door. You won’t get past them.” Will pointed to where four men stood at the entrance to the church, clad in black, silent sentries waiting for their respective masters to exit the building.

“So handle them,” Gideon told her. “I’ll be here waiting when you’re done.”

She rolled her eyes but turned to Samir with a raised eyebrow. It didn’t bother him that she sought approval and permission from Samir since he was her immediate boss, mentor, and head of security. If he vetoed it, then it wasn’t happening. But, eyes narrowed on Gideon, Samir nodded, and Will slunk out of the vehicle, blending into the shadows.

Gideon didn’t bother watching her. Will was a beast and could handle the four men out there with ease and without breaking a sweat. He focused on Samir instead, on the question in his friend’s eyes. “What?”

“What’s going on in your head?”

Gideon frowned. “What do you mean?”

“You’re distracted and spoiling for a fight. Why?”

“How do you figure?”

“Does it have something to do with our guest back at the penthouse?”

Gideon’s lips parted, ready to issue a full-throated denial. He wasn’t distracted. And even if he was, why would Samir think André would be the cause? “I’m not distracted.” That didn’t sound as confident as he would have wanted it to. “André is just a means to an end. Once he’s fulfilled his purpose, I’ll get rid of him.”

Samir’s lips twitched. “I was referring to Ree…”

Fuck.

“But you just proved my point.”

Gideon scowled at him. “Oh, fuck off.”

Samir laughed softly as the back passenger-side door opened and Will poked her head in. “You’re all clear.”

“That was fast,” Gideon said.

She shrugged, holstering her gun. “Bullets usually are.” She stood aside as he exited. Samir did the same and when they stood on either side of him, Gideon tugged lightly on Will’s ponytail. She swatted his hand away.

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