Page 5 of Forgotten Promise

“Fuck,” Franco breathed, his eyes glossy, though he was unnaturally calm.

“Price, can you get security footage for the area around the library?” Lachlan continued.

Price owned Bennett Security, a massive private security firm that had access to things it definitely shouldn’t.

Lachlan started laying out what he needed, and Price tapped his phone as Lachlan spoke.

Rose touched Sebastian’s arm, tilting her head to indicate she wanted to talk in private. They walked over to the corner where no one would overhear. She glanced at Colum and Franco, sitting silently on the couch. Colum held the bag of ice to Franco’s head. Franco’s eyes were half closed. Rose knew that reality would hit him like a ton of bricks when the drugs wore off, but at least he’d have a little time.

“What happens if we can’t rescue them?”

Sebastian’s jaw muscle flexed, his face stamped with anger. “Ready to declare them dead?”

“No, you emotionally immature asshole, I’m saying the Grand Master is gone. My whole life has been a series of worst-case scenarios becoming reality, so I like to be prepared.”

“We’ll find them.”

“Unless we find them in the next few hours, we need to have a plan. What about when Izabel Serra, Rowan Greene, and Brennon Reyes come back for their marriage ceremony?”

“Is that why you’re in Boston?” Sebastian eyed her.

“No, I’m in Boston to kidnap my former fiancés. Yes, dumbass. Izabel is a friend, and they had a little reception after their binding ceremony last night, and tonight we were at the symphony together.” Rose gestured to her dress. “We’re supposed to be flying back to the West Coast tomorrow.”

“If Izabel, Rowan, and Brennon just had their binding ceremony, they aren’t due back for a formal marriage ceremony for a month.”

Rose had forgotten that there was a month between the binding and marriage ceremonies.

“We’ll have Juliette and Devon back by then,” Sebastian insisted. “Until they’re back… We’ll just put everything on hold. No major decisions or ceremonies.”

“The Trinity Masters is full of dangerous, powerful people,” Rose countered. “Even if we keep this a secret, not having a leader is a bad idea.”

“Fair. If the Grand Master is incapacitated…” Sebastian’s expression went blank. “I…I don’t know what, or who, takes over. Maybe we do? As counselors?”

“What about the keyholders?”

The question came from the couch. Colum was looking at them and had apparently been listening in.

Price and Lachlan stopped talking and turned to look at the Irishman.

“If the Grand Master is killed or compromised, doesn’t one of the keyholders become your acting Grand Master?” Colum asked.

Rose looked at Sebastian, who met her gaze and then spun to Colum. “Who the hell are the keyholders?”

Chapter Two

Boston

One month before the kidnapping

* * *

Kailani Iona walked out of the dressing room. The room beyond felt like a cave, and not just because it was underground. Dark, save for the lights that illuminated a giant triquetra medallion embedded in the stone floor, the altar room was something she’d heard about from her parents when they told stories about their own marriage.

She’d been excited on her way here, nerves only settling in as she accessed the secret elevator at the back of a closet in the rare books room of the Boston Public Library. The weight of the library rested on the roof of the Trinity Masters’ underground headquarters.

Now her stomach was in knots, and Kailani’s knees shook as she followed a path of lighter stone in the floor to a chair on the edge of the medallion. When she was close enough, she could see the looming form of two other chairs. Two other robed figures were following their own paths, and as one, they stepped around to the front of their chairs and sat. There was a moment of quiet before the Grand Master appeared from the darkness.

A black robe with a deep hood hid the Grand Master’s face.

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