Page 166 of Body and Soul

As we neared the heavy metal door, my heart started hammering against my ribcage. I didn't trust Algerone as far as I could throw him, especially not after he’d held a gun to my head. I was surprised Shepherd was even willing to meet with him. Whatever peace offering he claimed to have for us, I had a sick feeling it was just power play.

Shepherd grabbed the big metal door and slid it aside, only to pause when he saw Xander and Xavier waiting for us.

Xander cocked his head and flashed us a cheeky grin, sitting on a pile of boxes in a miniskirt and stilettos, makeup on point. Xavier stood beside him, his hands tucked into the pockets of a black leather jacket. He had the heavy boots, and the artfully ripped up jeans to match.

Shepherd glanced between them. “What are you two doing here?”

“He didn’t tell you?” Xavier offered, running his fingers through his dark hair.

“We’re the ones who ran the fucker down.” Xander hopped down from the boxes, somehow managing to land gracefully in those heels.

“Who?” I demanded, stepping forward.

“Father Ezekiel.” Everyone turned at the sound of Algerone’s voice as he strode into the hallway. He looked just as he had the last time I’d seen him, wearing one of his expensive charcoal suits, not a hair out of place. He walked over, holding out a beige file. “It’s all there, put together by Xavier over the last few weeks with the resources and backing of Lucky Losers Inc. Everything you ever didn’t want to know about the biggest monster in your past.”

“This is your peace offering?” Shepherd scoffed, taking the file.

“No, Father Ezekiel is,” Algerone said, tucking his hands in his pockets. “He’s strung up in the next room, courtesy of a joint effort between Xander and Xavier. The two work surprisingly well together. When they work.” He shot his son a glare.

Xander shrugged. “Xion and Boone helped. They just didn’t want to drive all the way out here. I think Boone’s scared of you, Shepherd.”

I stared at Algerone, my mind reeling. After all these years, Father Ezekiel was finally within reach? Part of me couldn'tquite believe it. The fucker had been a ghost, always ten steps ahead of us, leaving nothing but misery and chaos in his wake. And now he was supposedly trussed up like a fucking turkey in the next room, just waiting for us? It seemed too good to be true.

Shepherd was already flipping through the file, his dark eyes scanning the pages rapidly. I edged closer, trying to get a look over his shoulder. Grainy surveillance photos, bank statements, property records, transcripts of phone calls... Shit. The Laskins and Lucky Losers hadn't cut any corners. This was the motherlode we'd been after for years.

My gaze flicked back to Algerone. The smug bastard just stood there with a slight smile, like a spider surveying a fly caught in its web. I didn't buy this sudden generosity for a second. Algerone never did anything that didn't benefit him in some way. I'd learned that the hard way.

“So what's the catch?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. “You just hand over everything we need to take down Ezekiel, no strings attached? Forgive me if I'm a little fucking skeptical.”

Algerone spread his hands in a conciliatory gesture, but his shark's smile never wavered. “No catch.”

Xavier sighed. “The catch is that you have to forgive him. At least, that’s what he wants. And believe me, it’s not out of the goodness of his heart. Dad’s a bona fide psychopath. He literally does not give two shits about you. But I believe he cares about me, Xander, and Xion, even if it’s only because he wants us to preserve his legacy. It’s a little twisted, but…”

Xander snorted. “We’re already more twisted than a pack of pretzels as it is. What’s a little more fuckery in this fucked up little family of ours?”

Algerone frowned and took another step forward. “The point is this. I am prepared to recognize, however begrudgingly, that you are an important figure in my sons’ lives. That isn’t going tochange. I reasoned it would be better for everyone if we found some common ground and moved forward from this unpleasant business.”

“Better for your bottom line, you mean,” Xavier quipped, drawing a warning glare from his father. “Look, Shepherd. I know you don’t like him. You don’t trust him. But Dad’s got a shit ton of resources and, like he said… He’s not going away. We’ve all got to figure out a way to live and work together to some degree. So…” He shrugged.

“So Dad’s kind of like a cat,” Xander explained. “He brought you part of his kill because he wants you to like him. Plus, Xavier kind of made him do it.”

Algerone sighed and rolled his eyes toward the ceiling.

I stared at Algerone, trying to wrap my head around what he was offering. Father Ezekiel, the sadistic fuck who'd tortured me, Daniella, and countless other kids in that hellhole of a cult, served up on a silver platter by the man who'd held a gun to my head not too long ago. It was almost too much to process.

I glanced at Shepherd, who was still intently scanning the file, his brow furrowed in concentration. He seemed to be looking for any holes or inconsistencies in the information, any sign that this was a trap. I knew he wouldn't let his guard down easily, especially not around Algerone.

Xavier cleared his throat, drawing my attention back to him. “Look, I get it. This is a lot to take in. But we've been working our asses off to track down Ezekiel and gather all this intel. Xander and I, we did this for you and Daniella. Because believe it or not, we actually give a shit about you guys.”

Xander nodded, his usually playful expression replaced by something more serious. “I know we've had our differences, but at the end of the day, we're all fighting the same enemies here. The Laskins and Lucky Losers, we could be a fucking powerhouse if we worked together.”

I chewed on my lip ring, turning their words over in my mind. As much as I hated to admit it, they were right. The Laskins were a force to be reckoned with, but with Algerone’s connections and his money? We could do a lot of good for a lot of people.

I let out a slow breath, my gaze drifting back to the heavy metal door that supposedly led to Father Ezekiel. After all these years, could it be that easy? Just walk through that door and confront the monster who'd haunted my nightmares for years?

My fingers twitched with the urge to reach for my knife again, to feel its reassuring weight in my hands. But I forced myself to be still, to keep my face neutral even as a tornado of emotions raged inside me. Rage, fear, disbelief, a tiny flicker of hope...

“Eli.” Shepherd's deep voice cut through the chaos of my thoughts. I glanced over to find him watching me intently, the file tucked under his arm. “Are you okay?”

---