Chapter 28 #2
Brett stood and paced behind the sofa. “My father was…” He couldn’t finish the sentence, the anger pulsing inside him so strong he wished his father was still alive so he could hurt him. He faced Stephen. “I’m so sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault. But you need to hear what I’m saying. Just because you’re out, Brett, doesn’t mean they like it.”
Felix twisted on the sofa to look at him. “Maybe that’s the reason,” he said.
“What?” Brett frowned at him.
“We keep wondering why Venus is doing what she’s doing. Maybe it truly is just because she wants you back in, like I said before. If they kill everyone around you, you won’t have anyone, and therefore, you’ll be the machine they can use as a weapon.”
Unfortunately, his mother came in as he said those words, and Brett had to catch her when she stumbled while carrying the tea tray.
“Sorry, Mum,” Felix said, taking it from her and setting it on the coffee table.
Ruby waved him away. “It’s not like I don’t know what’s what. I just wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.” She left the room again.
“Will she be okay?” Brett asked, staring after her.
“Yes. I’ll check on her once we’re done here,” Stephen said, picking up his drink.
“We’re meeting with Venus Cage this afternoon,” Felix said, taking a sip of his coffee. “She wants to talk, apparently.”
Stephen shook his head. “I wouldn’t recommend it. She’ll have contingencies. If you intend to walk away from that, you need them, too. She’ll play dirty, as they all do.” He had the grace to look abashed. “Sorry, Brett. I don’t include you in this.”
“They haven’t been my family for thirty years,” Brett said. “I don’t know who they are any longer.” He glanced at his watch. “We don’t have much time, Felix.”
Stephen rose at the same time Felix did. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
They headed down the hallway, and Ruby came out of the kitchen to say goodbye, but Felix asked him to wait a minute because he’d forgotten to ask his dad something. That left him with Ruby.
“You’re good for him.”
“We’re…” They had said they were going to tell his parents, but he didn’t want to do it alone.
“I know you’ve finally taken that step. I can see it in the way you move together.
It was fluid before, but now it’s like you can anticipate everything he’s doing and vice versa.
You’re good for him, and he’s good for you.
Don’t mess it up.” She smiled when she said it, and Brett couldn’t help the flush in his cheeks.
“I love him,” he whispered.
She beamed. “I know you do. And he loves you. Don’t lose each other. Hang tight and all will work out.”
Felix came back, a slow smile creeping onto his face when he saw them. “What are you two talking about?”
“You,” Ruby said before Brett could admit—or deny—anything. She chuckled and leaned forward, whispering something into Felix’s ear before hugging him and stepping back. “Be safe, both of you.”
They climbed back into the car.
“I wish we could just drive away and forget about everything. I’ve never been one for hiding, but I just want some peace,” Felix said, echoing the thoughts in Brett’s head.
“Hopefully soon.”
Felix grinned at him. “Do you think we have time for a quickie?”
Brett was instantly hard, all the blood leaving his brain and heading south. He cleared his throat. “Probably not.” That didn’t stop him from wanting it, though.
“Shame.”
They arrived at Sec HQ and found lots of guards and several princes.
“What’s all this?” Brett asked.
“We need a plan for the meetup,” Dominic said. “You’re not going without backup.”
Brett opened his mouth to say something, but then Felix piped up.
“We’re not. I have one part of the plan already in place, but we need more help.
She wants to meet in the field where you found my clothes.
It’s an open space with not much cover, but it’s not impossible for some people to be there; they just won’t be close. ”
“Come on then,” Christian said. “Let’s get our heads together.”
They hashed out ideas for an hour before Brett said, “We need to decide now, or we won’t have time to set it in motion.”
Everyone fell silent, undoubtedly lost in their thoughts.
“You two can handle Venus, right?” Damon said. Brett glanced at Felix and nodded. “Well, what if we just made it simple and had tons of people in the perimeter trees taking out anyone who might be there as well? If we concentrate on the extras she might bring, you two can handle her.”
“That makes sense,” Brett said. “We have to make sure you’re not seen. We can’t all turn up in a large van and pile out. I’m sure she has eyes on the place already.”
“So do we,” Freddie interjected. “As soon as Dominic told me what was happening, I suggested we send people out to keep an eye on it. We’re keeping skeleton guards here while this is happening, and my family has agreed not to go anywhere, so Landon, Colt, Van, Eric, Jade, Viola and Matt are already there. ”
Brett raised his eyebrows. “Working without my consent, Your Highness?”
Freddie smirked. “I had Dominic’s consent.”
Brett snorted and barely kept his mouth closed to stop the words from flowing out about his new plans after everything was done.
They’d find out soon enough, but he wanted to talk to Felix first. He needed him on board and for them to figure out any problems that might happen during the change. But that could wait.
“In which case, let’s get sorted before we need to leave,” Brett said.
“Grab weapons, radios and camouflage gear. Those in the perimeter will need to hightail it across the distance from your drop-off point here as stealthily as you can.” He pointed at the map.
“If you have to break cover to protect yourself, do it. I don’t care if we’re breaking her rules.
I want everyone back in one piece. Got it? ”
Several rounds of “Got it” floated back to him, and they disappeared. As much as he loved their support, it also terrified him that they were going with him. It horrified him that Felix was, but there would be no talking him out of it because if the roles were reversed, he would do the same.
“Ready?” Felix asked, sliding an arm around his waist.
Brett tugged him closer, uncaring about personal displays of affection right then, and kissed him. When he pulled back, resting their foreheads together, they were panting.
“No, I’m not. But I have to be. This ends now. But before we leave, we need to have a conversation with Alastair Moore.”
****