Page 77 of Forgotten Promise

* * *

Oscar stared at the hallway. The queasiness he’d experienced from all that fucking turbulence on the plane had finally lessened…after two sleeves of saltines and three glasses of ginger ale…but it wasn’t completely gone. It was why he hadn’t gotten up to help with the bad guy, whom Lachlan had just finished pulling out from under the table. Lachlan stuffed him into a large laundry cart and rolled him away. Bad guy disposal service. Nice.

He should get up and get another ginger ale from the bar. He should get up and confiscate that fucking C4 that Luca had absolutely put back into his pocket.

Movement caught his eye. The door to the staff office opened, Kailani and Preston emerging, Selene right behind them.

“They’re back,” Oscar said.

Everyone else turned to look, waiting attentively in tense silence as the keyholders walked into the restaurant. Oscar refused to take his eyes off Selene, searching for some hint, some sign of what the fuck had happened in that vault.

“Well?” Rose asked with an arched brow. “Who is it?”

Kailani and Preston stepped aside, and from that point, everything switched into slow motion as Selene stepped forward.

No. Sweet baby Jesus, no.

“Selene is now the acting Grand Master,” Kailani announced.

Oscar’s residual sickness was abruptly cured by a mix of pride and horror. Motherfucking son of a bitch. The cult was out of their fucking minds. What stupid fucker thought this was a good idea? Selene’s ancestor who’d originally been given the key was…probably…normal. But Selene as Grand Master…Jesus fucking Christ.

He loved his wife. He would kill for her.

And he knew to the marrow of his bones that they were now royally fucked because as much as he loved Selene, she could be chaos in human form. Give her power and she went full supervillain. It had happened before, the last time they’d gotten sucked into solving some Trinity Masters mystery.

And now she was the Grand Master.

Oscar turned his head, staring at Luca.

Luca’s eyes were wide as their gazes met.

“Grand Master.” Rose inclined her head. “I think you’ll want details about exactly what’s happened. And then there are decisions we need to make.”

Selene was smiling. “I’m great with decisions.”

Luca made a choking sound. Oscar covered his face with his hands and groaned.

Someone poked him in the arm. He spread his fingers, staring up at Selene with one eye.

“Don’t be such a drama king,” she said.

“Baby, you are brilliant and amazing and you know I love you, but…”

Selene narrowed her eyes. “But what?”

“But your risk tolerance is insanely high,” Luca said. “Your willingness to create, and run headlong into danger is terrifying for the rest of us.”

Selene stared into the middle distance, probably remembering the last time they’d been on an adventure. She smiled.

“That smile isn’t reassuring,” Oscar growled, only half teasing. Selene really wasn’t someone who should have their hand on the proverbial button. And now…

Selene rolled her eyes. “But did you die?”

Oscar crossed his arms on the table and laid his head on them.

Selene…no, the Grand Master…turned and walked away, still smiling.

* * *

---