Chapter 49
Lucy - Present
“Ready?”
“Ready,” Owen says, shucking his jacket on.
“Talk me through the plan again.”
“You go to the roof terrace; I’ll go to the office. Then when the time comes, I’ll head over to meet fake Luca. You’ll already be there, so will be able to know if it’s not him, and we need to abort.”
“And if we do abort?”
“You’ll ring three times.”
“And—”
“We meet back here, but I am not to go directly here, I am to take precautions.”
“The air quotes are not appreciated,” I say, doing the same. “This is serious.”
“I know.”
“Why do you look slightly unhinged?”
“Because I am,” he says, fidgeting from side to side.
“If you’re not up for this, I can do it. I know Luca. And if it’s someone who has intercepted your code.” Owen pulls a face at my air quotes, and I can’t help but smile.
“No, it’s fine. It’s just the adrenaline.”
“It is. Okay. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“Love you.”
“Three thousand.”
He grins at my reference from our childhood.
“It must be five thousand by now, especially after last night.”
“Meh, maybe.” I shrug. “Go to work, Mr Politician.”
“Yes, dear.”
“Nuh-uh, we aren’t doing that nickname.”
“Okay, Cookie.”
“Better.” I kiss him on the lips and open the door. “Get going, otherwise you won’t leave and we will miss the meeting, I can see that twinkle in your eye.”
“What twinkle?” he asks, biting his lip.
“Fuck me, he’s biting his lip now,” I mutter to the ceiling. “The I want to fuck you twinkle.”
“I wasn’t aware I had one of those twinkles.”
“Well, you do, now fuck off.”
“That’s not a nice way to say goodbye to someone you love five thousand.”
“I said maybe it was five thousand. Now get going, you idiot.”
“You drive a tight mission; I’m going to have to get my money back.”
“It’s pro bono, remember?”
He laughs and kisses me once more and finally leaves the flat. I close the door and even though we are walking into another shit storm, I lean against the door with the biggest, fattest grin on my face.
I don’t think I’ve smiled this much since the first time we slept together.
Okay, Luce, we got this.
I’m sitting at the table in the corner. The roof terrace is reasonably empty, apart from a few people who are having early drinks, maybe finishing meetings early, and having one for the road before they head home.
But Luca Knight is nowhere to be seen.
I already know he’s not going to show up. I helped him set up his plan, he knew the sacrifice, and there is no way he would come out of hiding this quick.
This is big, but it isn’t big enough for Luca to not be selfish.
Him sending the hard drive to Owen in the first place was, in his eyes, him doing his bit. Fuck Owen. And fuck me, because Luca Knight knew our history, and he used it, weaponised it, and positioned me with Owen.
Playing right into Andrews’ hand.
I take a sip of the ice-cold tea and almost choke as no other than Henry Bishop strolls up to the concierge desk like he owns the place.
Jeans, white shirt and glasses. His light brown hair is longer than usual, tousled and messy like he’s been yanking it. Agitated. Unravelled.
Yup.
For an IT Geek, and one of Luca’s inner circle, I’ll give it to him. Henry Bishop throws off some serious Alpha waves. How have I never noticed that before?
A few of the women give him unsubtle glances. I roll my eyes and bury my face behind the menu, lifting my glass again and turning, just enough to shield my profile.
He’s shown to the reserved table.
Five minutes later, and right on time, Owen appears.
I rise as he walks toward Henry. He’s coming from the front. I’m behind.
I pull the small handgun from my jacket. Cold steel in warm hands as Owen slides into the chair opposite of Henry. I pull out the chair beside him and lean in.
“Bishop,” I greet, kissing each cheek like we are old friends. Then I push the gun into his side, enough for him to feel it. I draw back and lower myself into the seat.
Henry glances down, unimpressed. He rolls his eyes like I poked him with a spoon instead of a weapon.
“Cooper,” he says, extending his hand to Owen. “Nice to see you again.”
“You too, mate.”
Mate? I stare between them, and both of them blink at me like I’ve grown a second head.
“Put the gun down, Kara. We’re all friends here,” Henry says.
I flick my eyes to Owen. He nods.
“Henry and I go way back.”
“You all seem to go bloody way back,” I mumble. “You didn’t think to mention that you know everyone in Luca’s inner circle?” I tilt my head. “Little oversight, don’t you think?”
“Jesus, Kara. They were in prison together. I figured someone in your line of work would’ve pieced that together by now,” Henry states.
“I’m still holding a gun, you know.”
Henry smirks. “I’m aware.” He turns to Owen. “You reached out?”
Owen nods, shifting forward. “I did. How much do you know?”
“A little, but some context would be useful,” Henry replies, picking up a menu and nodding to my drink. “What’s that? It looks good.”
“A Kombucha.”
“Good for your gut health, that,” Henry says. “See? I know things.”
I groan and drop my forehead to the table for a moment. “Why is it that no matter which of you I talk to—Luca, Rome, you—you all act like bloody teenagers?”
Henry waves over the waitress and orders three teas, leans back in his chair, waiting.
“I know that Luca is dead,” he says, his face unreadable. “And I know he sent you the hard drive.” He flicks his eyes to Owen.
“You know about the hard drive?” I ask.
He tilts his head. “The question is, how do you know?”
“Apex Security, you idiot,” I shoot back. “Luca set me up.”
“Luca had a plan, which he executed perfectly, it seems. But what are you doing here?”
“We have a problem,” Owen says.
The waitress arrives, dropping napkins like she’s setting the table for a last meal. Henry takes a sip and hums his appreciation dramatically.
I rub my temples. “I swear to God.”
“I don’t need to be genius, which I am by the way, to realise that. What’s happened?”
“What hasn’t happened.” Owen laughs nervously. “Do you want to explain, or should I?”
“Apex Security was hired by Owen at the suggestion of Luca to provide security detail after he sent him the hard drive. I was assigned. But you already knew that, thanks to Luca knowing about our past. What he didn’t account for is that it also played right into Andrews’ hands, who also happens to have tight connections to none other than the Langleys. ”
Henry’s lips press into a line.
“Andrews was working with The Covenant?” Bishop asks.
“And potentially the government, we’re not sure yet. Either way, we’re being hunted. There’s a hit on both of us. Andrews already tried to kill us.”
Henry lets out a low whistle. “Well shit.”
“Indeed.” Owen takes a sip, and I almost laugh, watching Mr Politician drink Kombucha tea like he’s at a spa retreat.
“Last I heard, Levi and Duchess were mopping up what’s left of the Covenant territories. Anyone who isn’t under their control is either hiding or already dead,” Henry says.
“So, it’s government then,” Owen says.
“We can’t be sure,” I say. “Andrews mentioned the Langleys so it could still be them. But what we do know is that the hard drive is broken.”
Henry jolts. “What?” His voice drops to a whisper, but it slices the air like a blade. “What the fuck do you mean?”
“It’s broken. Cipher doesn’t work.”
“Which is why we reached out,” Owen explains. “We wondered whether you had a copy?”
Henry yanks off his glasses and pinches the bridge of his nose. “You think I kept copies?”
“Not you. Luca.”
“Or Roman,” I add. “You know what he did, right?”
“Romans’ in prison, John made sure of that.”
I narrow my eyes. Lie. That’s a lie. He knows. Surely he knows.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” He laughs. But it’s sharp, brittle. He glances at Owen, who doesn’t return his smile.
“You know Roman was your mole, right?”
“Roman? Fuck Off.” He barks another laugh. “How do you know that?”
“Who do you think helped our friend die?” I ask, leaning forward. “He didn’t want any of you to know, so I helped him disappear. The gas explosion was a cover. When Luca saved Layla, who was with him? None other than Asher Black and Roman Rook.”
“Bullshit.”
“Luca put a bullet in Asher’s head, along with Terrance Payton and John Weston. Roman though, he couldn’t do it even after the betrayal. So instead, he set him up for the attempted murder of Katy Murdoch.”
“You’re lying.”
“Why would she lie?” Owen asks, low and steady. “What could either of us gain by turning you against Roman?”
“He would never…” Henry frowns and shakes his head. “He would never betray Luca.”
“He would, for the right reason.”
“What possible reason would he have to betray Luca?” Henry snaps. “We are family.”
“So was Saskia. Who John was holding against him!”
Henry visibly pales, the colour in his face draining as he lets my words sink in. He falls into the back of his chair.
“She…she died,” he says quietly. “I saw it, held her, there is no way.”
I let out a breath as he places his head in his hands. Fuck me. Looking at his reaction, it seems I’m not the only one who buries shit from their past deeply.
“She’s alive. According to John.”
“Are you fucking with me?” Henry asks, dropping his hands. “I mean it, Kara, there is no way Saskia is alive. No fucking way.” He shakes his head, his leg bouncing up and down on the tall turquoise stall.
“Luca told me. He was cut up, man.”
“Have you seen evidence of it? Did you look into it?”
I shrug. “Not my circus, not my monkeys. Besides, you know I don’t make the habit of getting involved in other people’s dramas.”
Henry looks at Owen. “What’s this then?”
“This,” I say, pointing between myself and Owen, “is none of your business.”
“You’re making it my business by reaching out,” Henry spits. “So, we have what? John fucking Weston’s words to go on, that’s it?”
“Roman must have seen the evidence. Otherwise, why would he betray you?” Owen asks.
“Well, we need to go see Roman,” Henry says, standing.
“I thought you said he was incarcerated?”
“He is, but that doesn’t stop us from having a conversation.” Henry reaches for his drink and downs the Kombucha. “Let’s go.”
“Now?” Owen exclaims, standing with him. “We can’t. I can’t just waltz into a prison.”
“I don’t care what you can and can’t do. I’m going to have a conversation with Roman fucking Rook. Who knows? If he betrayed Luca, maybe he also took a fucking copy. Don’t you want to find out?”
I glance to Owen, who looks to me. I shrug. “Your call, Boss Man.”
“Okay, let’s go.”