Chapter 28 - Nova #2
Mom froze mid-step, head tilting like a lioness deciding whether or not to eat her cub. “Ezra,” she said slowly, deadly, “I told you this idea of yours was not more important than our family.”
Idea of hers? My eyes snapped toward Ezra. What the hell is she plotting overseas?
“I know,” Ezra said softly, steady as a rock, “but I got this. We got this. We are the bosses, remember?”
Their eyes locked onto each other, waging that silent kind of argument only moms and daughters could have. Finally, Mom’s eyes fluttered. She huffed, grumbling about her “stupid, stubborn kids,” and dropped back into her seat.
Ezra smiled, her victory won.
“We’ve got this,” she said again, firmer, loud enough for all of them to hear. “We’re strong enough to handle it, so let us.” She looked at the rest of us. “Right?”
We all chimed in, one after another.
“This is nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
“We got this under control.”
“No one’s getting past my territory.”
“The antidote is nearly done anyway. It's fine.”
Mom crossed her arms, still muttering under her breath, but she didn’t stand again. That meant she was accepting our word. That had to be a win, right?
Always the one to try to bridge the gaps, Papa Avery took the high ground. “You know that we and your mom support you guys in everything you decide. We trust you.” He winked at us and smiled. “Just know, we’re always here. Ready to jump in if you need us.”
The parents looked around at each of us before they got up, and the meeting adjourned.
“And get that fucking knife examined,” Papa Avery warned.
“Contact your Papu Syris.” He winced as he said it.
“I know he’s a handful, but he’s the last survivor of the fae royal line.
He might know something about this magic that we don’t. ”
“We’ll talk to him once I find him again.” When Mom’s brow lifted at that, Ezra huffed, “They found the tracking device.”
Mom barked out a laugh, warning Ezra to find them because they were troublemakers even on their best behavior.
With the call winding down, the parents’ holograms flickered like dying stars as they said their goodbyes. Ezra lifted a hand to scratch her nose, the movement too deliberate to be casual, and shot us a look over her fingers.
Her signal was clear. Stay on the line.
I folded my arms together. Yeah, well, I have some questions for you, too, E.
Once the parents blinked out, the silence stretched. Ezra turned to Calix. “Are you really that close to making that antidote?”
He nodded, rustling some papers again. “Yeah. The research Father sent from the other organizations helped fill in some odd gaps. I’m going to test it once we get off the line.”
“Great,” Ezra responded. “Send a batch to Nova first, then some to each of us just in case.”
I leaned forward, brows furrowed. “Still doesn't explain why it landed here?” I asked, thinking over everything.
“It doesn't matter.” Ezra’s voice iced over. “We’ll handle them. Same as every other infestation that crawls our way.” Her gaze didn't waver. Judgment passed and sentence delivered, their fate sealed.
“So, E,” Calix eased out, “when were you going to tell us about the parents meeting with other organizations?”
Ezra’s jaw clenched, and the smallest tic trembled under her left eye, betraying the gears turning behind her calm exterior.
She straightened, her words measured. “They were already traveling. I just… suggested they visit a few groups, see how things were done. Then if something came up, maybe lend a hand.”
Aniyah’s brows shot up. “A hand?” She knew that we never did anything for nothing in return. Out of the kindness of our hearts? Ha! Yeah, right.
Riot’s voice followed, flat, suspicious. “Why?”
Ezra’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Because favors matter, especially the kind owed by leaders.” Her tone softened, becoming much too smooth. “Just in case we ever need to call one in.”
The room went quiet until Calix did a slow clap, cutting through like sarcasm wrapped in applause. “Of course,” he said with a humorless laugh. “Our Ezra is always ten steps ahead.”
Riot’s frown deepened, the realization catching up to her before it did to the rest of us.
Ezra never made any moves without a plan.
Power was her favorite language. I thought back over the last few years—planning this whole legitimate side of the business for us, making us so much money that I never knew what she planned to do with it all.
Now she wanted to bank favors from overseas organizations.
The picture was forming before I wanted to admit it.
“So,” I said, trying for a laugh, “is the world the endgame?”
Ezra’s eyes flicked across each of us, measuring our reactions. My heart skipped a beat.
She didn’t deny it.
I almost wanted to ask her, ‘The world, E? What the fuck are you going to do with the whole damn world?’
When she finally spoke, her fingers flicked out like all of this wasn’t that big of a deal. “We’re years out from anything like that,” she confirmed. “I’ll bring it up when we’re ready, then we can take a vote, of course. You all have a say, like always.”
Good old Ezra. Not an outright lie, but she would set up the board so we were rigged to win. She was going to make it hard for us to refuse her when the time came.
Aniyah grinned, unbothered. “Sounds like fun. I’ve always wanted to have a second location in Paris.”
Calix glared at Aniyah before turning back to Ezra with a groan.
“E, taking on other organizations means we need intel, funds, and weaponry they don't know how to combat. We would also need to get some men on the inside.” His fingers tapped on his desk in a steady, anxious rhythm. “That’s a war plan.”
Ezra nodded. “Which is why we’re not there… yet. This is long-term, years-long.” She glanced at her screen, feigning distraction. “I told you, Cal, I’ll bring it to a vote when the time comes.”
When he sputtered, not making coherent words, she folded her hands in front of herself, staring at all of us.
“Until then, don’t worry about it. When the time comes and I put it to a vote, if you don't think we’re ready or the risk is too great, then you can always say no, and it will be squashed. Simple.”
Thinking over the bomb she’d just dropped, none of us spoke.
Ezra sighed, breaking the silence. “For now, our focus stays on the home front and this substance. We need to find the source, the creator, and we need to eliminate them for good. Do you all agree?”
“Agreed,” we said one by one, even though we all knew her plan wasn’t over. It was just beginning.
Ezra was like that—a bulldozer when it came to what she wanted or thought was right. It was what made her such a great, effective leader.
We said our goodbyes. With my life the complicated mess it already was, the call had given me more to think about than I wanted, but she was right. I didn't have time to think of five to ten years down the future, but if I did…
I closed my eyes and let my mind wander.
I was at the same kitchen table, a small spoon clinking against the bowl. A child with turquoise eyes and ash-white hair looked up at me, pointing to the spoon for more. As the front door shut, a voice called out my name, making my heart race. Conrad. He was home.
Deslen padded into the room, a baby cradled on his shoulder. His laugh was soft as he kissed the crown of my head and settled down beside me.
A set of growls came from the backdoor. A large black wolf and a little white one padded through the door, tails sweeping against the floor before they came my way. The feelings of home and love took over my body.
I opened my eyes, knowing then and there that this was what I wanted.
Even if it led me to pain later. Even if I had to settle for less, I knew it would be worth it in the very end. That dream was worth the try.
Before all of that, I needed to fix this issue with this doctor now.
Fishing my phone from my pocket, I typed out a message for three. We need to talk.
My job was to keep my territory safe. That was my line in the sand to hold. I needed to be the arm of the Syndicate that stood forever strong, and I would be. I was Nova fucking Rossey, and our enemies would feel the wrath of my fists. That was my guarantee.