Page 146 of Knights Game

“When she appeared at the gala dinner on your arm, Terry almost shit a brick. I explained our reasoning why we didn’t go back, and finish the job when she was a child. It would have looked too suspicious for the lone survivor of a car crash being in another accident so soon. What would have been the chances? So, we covered up the fact that she survived. I thought he understood that, but the thing I couldn’t anticipate is that her parents had planned for every scenario.”

“How have you kept this hidden from the other Covenant members?”

“What makes you think I have?” John says, picking up the gun and taking the safety off, then placing it back down. Realisation settles in my stomach, he’s telling us everything too easily, he’s too smug, he’s been expecting this, us. Which means he’s telling us everything because we aren’t walking out of this office alive.

“So, this was all part of your plan, use our ideas to help push out the Albanians—”

“Along with support from the government.”

“Then you set us up with the shipment container full of trafficked girls, and if that didn’t work—”

“I’d kill you.” He picks up the gun and points it at my forehead.

“Now, now, Uncle. What did you just tell me, that I’m always thinking outside the box.” I look at a red dot on my chest and it moves to Levi’s chest before disappearing to the back of Johns skull.

“That is a 50-calibre sniper rifle, belonging to a certain Roman Rook that is currently pointed at your head. I’d be inclined to maybe put that gun down. If you shoot me, I can assure you that bullet will rip your head clean off, leaving Levi here to step into your position at the table. Everything you have been working towards will be finished, just like that.” I snap my fingers. “Who gave Levi the tip-off?”

John says nothing just relaxes in his chair.

“It was Terrance Langley.”

I smile and nod. “Clever. You could take us all out with that one shipment.Ifthe Russians had followed through, we’d all be rotting in jail.”

“You’re a smart boy, how long have you known?” John says, smirking at me.

“I didn’t. You preach to Levi aboutflesh and blood. But you killed your own fucking sister, and why? Because she slept with a Russian?” This fat fuck is the reason she’s dead. “I must say I’m disappointed. Whatever happened to the rules of engagement?”

“This is war,” John says. “You know all rules go out the window, as for your mother, you can’t possibly comment on something you don’t understand!”

Levi leans back and taps his lips with his fingers. “Did you ever know what they did to her? To Isabella?” he says, looking at his father. “Those so-called partners of yours? They do not deserve to be sitting at the table.”

“How other Covenant families choose to run their family, is their business. We do not meddle in what is not ours.”

“But she is mine.” Levi growls. “She is fucking mine, and they dared to lay their hands on her.”

“And that right there,” John says, propelling himself forward, pointing his thick finger, “that is why you will never take my place at the table. You are no son of mine, the moment you let her, that bitch into your bed.” He bites. “She is a fucking whore. She deserves to be treated like one. You know nothing of her past, her present, or her fucking future.”

“Yes, I do.” Levi stands leaning forward, his eyes blazing with rage. “I know everything there is to know about Isabella Langley.”

“Is that so?” John says, his voice taking on a calm deadly tone, which sends apprehension running down my spine, his head tilting to the side. “Well, I must say, my son, I’ll be looking forward to when you find out who she really is.” He glances across at me watching the exchange. “Not even you know, too busy protecting your own.”

He grins sardonically at us both, then to the clock on the mantelpiece.

“What is it Roman always says to you, always be prepared?”

Something in the way he says it, something in the way that he looks at the clock, something in the way that he leans back in his chair smirking.

“What you’ve been doing? Child’s play. Welcome to the real world, boys.”

50

Layla

I feel sick asI lie in the queen bed, Luca’s side cold and empty.

They left two hours ago.

Katy and I are alone with a handful of his men, the penthouse protected. She’s in the spare room, I sent her away thirty minutes ago when her constant questioning got too much.

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