Page 62 of Prodigal

André shook his head. “I don’t believe you.”

Ennis shrugged. “I know, but it’s true.” He inhaled, then let it out. “I was at the funeral. I stayed in the back, kept out of sight, but I was there.”

André needed to sit down becausewhat the fuck?

Gideon touched his shoulder. “You okay? What do you need?”

“I—”

Samir entered then. “The Council called a meeting.” His gaze went to Ennis, then back to Gideon. “They know we have him. They want him present.”

Gideon rolled his eyes. “When?”

“Tomorrow.” Samir cleared his throat. “They also issued another order.” He nodded in André’s direction. “He must also be present.”

“What?” Gideon actually paled.

“No!” Ennis barked. “Not happening.”

“What’s going on?” André turned to Gideon. “I don’t understand.”

“For once, I agree with Ennis.” Gideon released André’s hand to clasp his face and peer into his eyes. “You’re not going.”

He’d heard them discuss this council before, but Gideon hadn’t gotten around to explaining what it was.

“They have Sienna,” Samir told them. “The Council has Sienna.”

“Goddamn it!” Gideon jerked away, scrubbing both hands down his face. “She went to them.” His lips twisted in a bitter smile. “She told them about André. I’m guessing she’s bartering—protection for information.” He grinned darkly at Ennis. “Your daughter doesn’t know yet that there’s no one and nothing that can protect her from me.”

“She’s got to be working with someone on The Council,” Ennis said, voice low. “Could be one of them, could be all of them.”

“Of course she is.” Gideon blew out a breath while André stared back and forth between the two of them.

“Someone want to tell me what the hell is going on?”

Ennis paused and glared up at Gideon. “You’re sleeping with my son, but you haven’t told him who you are?”

“Mind your business, old man.” Gideon touched André’s face. “I’ll tell you everything once we get out of?—”

“No.” André shook his head. “We’re here now and we’re not leaving this spot until I know what the fuck is going on. Who or what is The Council and what do they want with me?”

20

“Say something.”Gideon leaned over, taking André’s hand in his. They were still in Ennis’s room. A chair had been brought in for André to sit in while Gideon knelt on the floor next to him. Together he and Ennis had taken turns explaining The Council to André, who just stared at them with saucer-wide eyes, mouth agape.

They’d finished talking, but André had yet to react. Gideon glanced over at Ennis, who wore a look of trepidation. So clearly, Gideon wasn’t the only one uncertain of how André would react.

“I know it’s a lot to take in,” Gideon said. “Just tell me what you’re thinking. What you’re feeling.”

André shook his head slowly. “So these people—you—control everything?” Disbelief lifted his voice higher, turning it thin. “Like,everything?”

Gideon shrugged. “I guess.”

“But…” André trailed off. “How? I don’t get it. How long has this been going on?”

“I mean, I can’t tell you when the very first council was put together.” Though Gideon vaguely recalled his father giving hima lesson in that very thing at some point while he was growing up.

“And, wait—” André turned his attention to his father. “You say I’m part of this council?”

---