Page 39 of Married to the Devil

Andrew swallows. He’s smart and obviously cares for his brother. He’ll tell me whatever secrets are on the tip of his tongue because he has something he values to protect.

“I want assurances,” he says without pause. He was waiting for this moment.

I frown. “What type of assurances?”

“No punishment for my brother and me. It was a stupid mistake.” His caustic words add to my certainty that he didn’t come up with the plan. It probably was just a prank his brother started, and Andrew couldn’t risk it going awry. A desperate light comes into his eyes with his next request. “And I want your promise that our sister has your protection. She’s only six.”

Fuck. These people think I’m going to go after children.

What the hell were you up to, Lorenzo?If Kalos hadn’t already eaten him, I’d be planning on a painful assassination.

“And you think what you know is enough to grant all that?” I try and keep my disgust from my face. They should be confident that their leader would at the very least keep children safewithout having to secure it with intel, but I won’t turn down information.

“I’m pretty sure Frank is in the fae realm.”

My blink is long.Fae. That’s a hell of a complication, but one we were leaning toward. If our missing persons are being trafficked, the fae are the most likely suspects. Or at least, them ending up with the fae is.

“What makes you think that? And why should I believe that you’d give me information that would betray your own father?” I ask.

Andrew practically spits. “Let’s just say we don’t see eye to eye. He’d go there for business trips all the time, bringing Leo with him for Lorenzo. It wasn’t a secret.”

My blood beats as cold as the stone my father’s people become.

“Why would Lorenzo be dealing with the fae?” There are many legitimate reasons to trade with the fae. Magical artifacts and raw materials make for good economic opportunities.

There’s also drugs and weapons untraceable by witch magic.

Trade with the fae is regulated for a good reason.

Only recently has their ruling body started the arduous process of creating laws to protect sentient beings from barbaric practices such as being eaten or harvested for spell parts. Indentured servitude will probably remain legal for the rest of my life span with how slow they enact change.

Andrew’s eyes shift to the mirror behind me, but he keeps talking, as if the truth has been clawing to escape. “Uncle Lorenzo had a lot of bad habits. Gambling was the worst. I’d be surprised if there was any money left in the Leonid coffers.”

No need for him to be surprised. We’d assumed that Frank and Leo had somehow figured out a way to squirrel away the territory’s funding, but Lorenzo being that much in debt would explain the desperation that led to his end.

“Do you know who he was associated with?” I ask.

Andrew shakes his head, and I shrug, that would have been too easy.

I lean back in my chair. “Is there anything else?”

Andrew looks lost for a moment. “Isn’t that enough?”

It’s plenty. “You should have secured my promise before you started talking.”

His face whitens, the fear that he had been suppressing breaking through for a moment. He’s so young, and even if he’s seen troubling things, he doesn’t have the experience to be brokering such a deal, as shown by his slip up.

“I will do all you’ve requested on one condition,” I say, not leaving him in suspense for a moment longer. “You come work for me.”

The whiplash in his expression from relief to confusion is quick, “Why would you want me to work for you?”

Because children who cause problems need to be given more responsibility, and he has traits I want working for the good of this territory. His brother may be as smart, but he’s missing the concern Andrew displays and is more of a risk to take on. We’ll keep an eye on Caleb, but I would predict the close call he had may be enough to have him turn his troublemaking ways elsewhere.

“Are you rejecting the request?” I make a gesture as if to call forward the imaginary guard behind the mirror, but it’s enough for Andrew to forget his question.

“No! I’ll do what you ask.”

“Good. Welcome to the team.” I flash my fangs and Andrew flinches.

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