Chapter 20 Callum
CALLUM
Isit at my desk, waiting. I soon hear my siblings coming down the hall. The map is in my pocket. Zaria's voice in my head. And now they are here.
The doors to my office swing open. Declan walks in, followed by Keira, and Octavian waits outside talking to some of my men.
"They are trying to fucking drown us," Declan says, his voice already elevated. "Everything. Why the hell did we allow ourselves to get into this position again?"
I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to stave off the headache building behind my eyes.
"We just need to think," I say.
"Well, do it fast," Keira says. "Because the zoning office not only shut down two of our builds, but apparently the city tax authority decided the Killaney Trust owes four million in back licensing fees.
They sent a certified letter to my office," she says, tossing the letter on my desk. "Four million, Cal."
Delinquent taxes on properties we have held for decades. Properties that were grandfathered in under agreements made long ago.
They are rewriting history, erasing our protections, and trying to strip us bare.
"I just need to think," I say again, moving the letter aside. "We have Dad's funeral tomorrow. Mom is wandering around this house lost, and now this."
"We need to just go in guns blazing," Declan says, pacing in front of my desk like a caged animal.
"Find Cormac and kill him. And if we can't find him, start killing his crazy followers until he crawls out from whatever hole he's in.
Get Octavian's hacker on it, too. Fucking throw everything at it. "
I lean back in my chair, arms crossed, watching him.
"That's not a plan," I say.
"It's a plan alright," Declan fires back. "A damn good one, too."
"Look, I'm working on it," I say, leaning forward.
"I just need a little more time. I want him just as bad for what he's done to this family, our business, and both of you, but we need to watch our footing.
This recent Shadowharbor attack shows how strategic they are.
They want us desperate and out in the open.
If we start swinging blindly, we fall into their trap. "
Keira raises her arms into the air. "So what the hell do we do, Cal? Tell us."
Declan stops and stares at me. They are waiting for answers, and I don't blame them.
My fingers tap against the desk as I contemplate what to say and how to say it.
"I've got something," I say. "I need to see if the source is accurate before I bring it fully to the table, but…" I pause just long enough to choose my words carefully. "I have a ritual site. A meeting place. A location tied to the Morrígan Order. We need to check it out."
"Who told you this?" Declan asks, stepping forward.
I should say Cormac's daughter, who I have locked up above us.
I should tell them the truth.
But I don't.
"It doesn't matter yet. It might not even be real," I say. "I need to know if they can be trusted before I, we, can do anything about them."
Declan stares at me, and I can tell he doesn't like the answer.
I keep talking before he can respond.
"Tonight," I say. "I want you, Shane, and some others to go check it out. Bring Octavian, too. See what you can find. See if what I'm being told is true."
Declan's eyes narrow. "Okay, and what exactly are we supposed to find?"
I shrug, keeping my expression neutral.
"I don't know exactly. If we find anything, that will mean we have something reliable to work with, and then we can go guns blazing. My way though. Strategic, not fucking Rambo."
Declan snorts and shrugs. "Mine is more effective, but fine."
"I'll send you the details. It's near the harbor downtown."
Keira blows out a breath and stares at me with her arms crossed. "I hate this. I fucking hate feeling blindsided. Dad's funeral. Everything crumbling around us. And now we are relying on vague intel?"
I meet her eyes. "It's the only move we have right now."
It is not a lie, but it is not the whole truth either.
Keira studies me for a moment, then nods.
"Fine."
Declan jerks his chin toward the door.
"Come on, Keira. Let's get out of his hair so he can think."
Keira follows him out, and the door shuts.
About 30 seconds later, someone knocks, and I think it is one of my men.
"Come in."
I look up to see Octavian.
"Can I speak with you for a second?" he asks, shutting the door.
"Sure. What's up?" I ask, leaning forward, elbows on the desk.
He walks up to me, his expression firm as usual.
"I spoke with Matei."
My heart races, but I try to keep it cool.
"Oh, and?"
"He told me about the girl."
Shit.
I should have known Matei would eventually tell Octavian.
She's making me sloppy.
I sigh and crack my neck out of frustration.
"I'm trying to decide what to do with her," I say, glancing at the door to make sure it is closed.
Octavian nods.
"How trustworthy is Matei anyway?" I ask.
Octavian shrugs slightly.
"The brothers are fine. It's the dad you have to worry about, but you already know that."
I nod. "Yeah."
"I heard the girl was in bad shape," Octavian says. "That they did things to her."
That is an understatement.
"Yeah, I'm trying to make sense of it. Trying to contain her in case she is dangerous to the family, you know.
Declan and especially Keira have been through enough, and now with our dad…
" I pause, rubbing my forehead. "Just keep it between us for now, okay?
I'll bring it to them when I have it under control. "
Octavian adjusts his jacket.
"Yeah. Sure. Not my place to get involved. I just wanted you to know he told me."
"Thanks," I say. "By the way, I'm sending you and Dec to a location to check out. I'll send you the info later."
"Understood."
Octavian leaves, and the door shuts behind him.
I sit there for a moment, staring at the closed door.
Jesus, this isn't me at all, and I keep doing it.
Lying to my siblings.
Hiding her under my own roof.
Keeping secrets from the people who should trust me most.
I stand and walk to the window, looking out at the grounds.
The pool glitters in the afternoon sun, the water blue and inviting.
Can I go for a swim? Just once?
Her voice echoes in my head, small and hopeful.
I shouldn't care. I shouldn't even be thinking about it.
But I am.
And there is a growing part of me that almost knows they will find something tonight, that she is really helping us, and my list of reasons to kill Cormac just got a little longer.
Because while she told me she feels she has no one to help her, maybe that is not entirely true.