30. Ezekiel
30
EZEKIEL
B lue is anxious as we pull up to my brother s house where I see Hildebrand s Rolls Royce parked right out front as well as a second one with guards inside. I guess he s not taking any chances.
I climb out, walk around to Blue s side. Relax, Blue. You ll have dinner with Isabelle and the kids. You don t even have to see him.
He can t do anything to you, right?
I shake my head. I ring the bell and Isabelle opens it a moment later. She, too, looks anxious. A home visit from a Councilor of The Tribunal will do that to you and considering all the visitors she s had lately, I get it.
Isabelle. How are you doing? I ask as we walk inside.
She gestures to the study. I d like my family back, but otherwise, I m fine. Blue, hi. How are you holding up? she asks, hugging Blue.
I m really good, actually.
I squeeze the back of her neck. I m heading in. See you two after.
Blue sighs, nods, but is clearly not sold on the idea. Isabelle is used to Society ways, and she knows it ll be easier for everyone if I just go in there and get it over with.
I knock, then enter and find Jericho and the Councilor seated on the couch. Behind Hildebrand is another man, his clerk I believe.
Ah, Ezekiel. So happy you could squeeze us in, Hildebrand says, making a point of checking his watch.
Gentlemen, I say, closing the door behind me. Apologies for my tardiness. Couldn t be helped.
Jericho gives me a look like he knows exactly what caused the delay. He gets up to pour me a whiskey. I take a seat across from Hildebrand.
Now that you re both here, Hildebrand starts, gesturing to the man behind him who takes some papers out of a briefcase and lays them out. Let s discuss what The Society will hear of the events that transpired the night of Councilor Augustus s execution. He doesn t call it a murder, but I guess he did give his blessing.
You ve drawn up a contract? Jericho asks, Hildebrand s tone so casual when talking about a fucking beheading.
Just a precaution. What Girard did cannot happen again. It was anarchy?—
I thought it was a coup, I say.
He looks at me irritated. Whatever you want to call it. It cannot happen again. Things must change.
Change how? Jericho asks.
The files that were stolen were taken from Councilor Augustus s computer which leads me to the realization that we ve been too lax with our cyber security, not to mention physical security. I have already initiated changes so that sort of thing cannot happen again. The email that went out to all members of IVI, well, that I cannot undo but I ll take care of that privately. Girard hadn t sent the most damning of files so you and I can both be grateful for that.
He means my father s murder. Jericho only glances at me quickly before returning his attention to reading the contract.
What can we do for you, Councilor? I think we all want to put this behind us, Jericho says.
You will not speak of the events that took place the night of Augustus s execution, he says again without even a tiny smidge of emotion. That is what this contract states. Matters such as these are always handled in complete privacy.
I have no intention of gossiping about the man s death, no matter how deserved, with anyone. I m sure my brother feels the same way, I say.
Then you won t mind signing.
Not at all, Jericho says, setting the contract down on the coffee table and picking up the pen to sign. It s fine, Zeke.
You sure?
He nods. I take the pen and sign. I don t really care how he spins this. We re done here?
There is one other matter, Hildebrand says.
And that is?
The girl. Blue, is it?
I knew this was coming, didn t I? What about her?
She isn t Society. I simply raise my eyebrows. She s a ticking bomb.
How so?
She can go to any paper, any news outlet, post photos on her Instagram for all I know. Maybe make a… what do they call it? A TikTok?
What the fuck are you talking about?
She can blackmail any of us. Any member of The Society. Hell, she may be holding onto files herself. Wasn t it she who brought that information to Girard?
She s not holding onto anything. She wants to put this behind her as much as we do.
Bring her in here. I d like to see for myself.
That won t be necessary. I wonder if I made a mistake bringing her.
I disagree.
I said— But before I can continue the door opens and Blue is standing there.
Ah! Hildebrand says. There she is.
I pull her aside, turn my back to the Councilor to shield her from him. What the fuck are you doing? Go inside.
I heard my name.
How did you hear your name? Was your ear pressed to the fucking door?
She shrugs a shoulder. Whatever this is, we re doing it together, Zeke. She slips past me and walks into the room.
Councilor, she says and nods an acknowledgement to the clerk in greeting. You wanted to see me?
Hildebrand openly looks her over taking longer than appropriate. I set a hand at the back of Blue s neck, rub with my thumb even though I m mad as hell that she walked in here.
As I was saying, there could be a leak. Blue, Hildebrand starts, standing. I d like to request you to join me to The Tribunal building. I d like to discuss the events of the other night.
What? Blue asks, glancing at me. She didn t expect this. No.
I m afraid it s not in your power to refuse.
I m afraid it is, she says, reaching out a hand to take my wrist.
I d just like to be sure she understands the cost of any sort of leak, Hildebrand says to me as if she s not standing right here. My car is outside.
I take a step forward, moving Blue behind me.
She s not going anywhere with you and certainly nowhere near The Tribunal, I tell him.
The corners of Hildebrand s mouth turn down.
I agree with my brother, Jericho says, coming to stand on Blue s other side.
Blue knows what s at stake. She won t talk. Isn t that right, Blue? Jericho asks.
Blue looks at him, her eyes wide. She nods.
I m afraid that won t be enough. He gestures for his man. Tell the others to come inside.
I slap my hand to the man s chest my eyes locked on Hildebrand s.
I said she s not going anywhere, I repeat firmly.
You will surrender her to me now. Once, and only if I am certain she poses no threat to The Society, she will be returned to you.
Over my dead body will she leave with you.
No need for dramatics, Ezekiel, he says patronizingly. You do not hold the power to stand between a Councilor of The Tribunal and?—
I do, Councilor, I say, knowing where he s going. Knowing there s one way out for Blue.
He raises his eyebrows and I see Jericho do the same from where he s standing. How so, Ezekiel?
Come morning Blue and I will be married. I hear Blue s gasp of surprise and I take her hand. As her husband, I have every right to stand between you and my wife. I will speak for her.
Jericho mutters something, clears his throat to cover it up.
My heart is hammering, the tension in the room palpable.
Well, this does change things. As your wife, she d be Society, of course, and things would be different, Hildebrand says pointedly to me. As her husband you would be able to take responsibility for her.
I nod, draw a deep breath in, exhale it out, my grip on Blue s wrist tight.
I suppose congratulations are in order, then, the Councilor continues. Ezekiel St. James taking a bride. Hildebrand looks her over. I didn t think I d see the day. He moves toward the door. I ll look forward to confirmation of your nuptials. That or you can surrender her tomorrow, he pauses, looks at Jericho then back at me with a grin I want to punch off his face. I really should take her in, but we ve been through enough, haven t we? And besides, how does the song go? I would do anything for love.
I raise my eyebrows, not seeing Hildebrand as a fan of Meatloaf.
Come, Hildebrand orders his clerk as he would his dog and moves to the door. He opens it but stops and turns back to us. Oh. One more thing. Should the nuptials not take place for any reason, you, Ezekiel, will be held in contempt. You don t want that, son.
I m not?—
Understood. Jericho clasps his hand over my shoulder. I ll see you out, Councilor, he says and closes the door behind them.
As soon as Jericho is gone, Blue turns to me. She looks paler than usual. What did you do? What the hell just happened?
I wasn t going to let him take you.
Zeke, there s no way?—
You don t have to marry me. I cross the room to where the whiskey bottle is and pour myself a generous tumbler. My heart is still racing, adrenaline still coursing through my veins. It ll just be for show. On paper. In a few months we can dissolve it. If that s what you want.
I turn to face her after I ve said what I ve said, and my heart sinks a little. Marriage wasn t on my radar. Certainly wasn t on Blue s. After our confessions last night, I was hoping for time but Hildebrand threatening to take her to The Tribunal? No. I can t risk that. To him, she s a loose end to tie up. If he gets her there, she may not be leaving.
I… Can I have one? she asks, pointing to the whiskey and dropping into a seat.
I pour her a glass and take it to her. She drinks, winces but swallows.
You haven t had a chance to live, Blue. I know that. You re nineteen years old. You ve been on the run since you were sixteen. No matter what I may want, I m not going to steal any more of your freedom.
She looks up at me, her eyes huge and I remember the girl from the first night when she d given me her hand to stitch up. How she d gritted her teeth at the pain and gotten through it. How, in a way, she d trusted me from the beginning. It s fucked-up, I know.
But for now, I continue when she doesn t speak. I take a seat across from her. We need to do this. He won t let this go.
She drinks the rest of her whiskey, gets up and walks to me. Then like she had that night in Carlton Bishop s basement, she kneels between my legs and sets her head on my lap. I pet her hair and there s something about this posture, her like this, me as I am, that is so perfect, so right, that I don t want it to end.
Do you think I m strong? she asks without looking at me
You re the strongest woman I know.
Good. She turns her gaze up to mine. What if I didn t want to dissolve it?
What?
What if I didn t want to dissolve the marriage?
You can t make that decision now.
Can you? She sits up on her heels and sets her hands on my knees. You told me last night that you love me. Was that true?
What kind of question is that? Of course it s true.
Well then what a stupid way to propose telling me I can dissolve it in a few months. She shakes her head. I love you, you idiot. And you re not stealing my freedom because I would never let you or anyone ever do that to me. How many people have tried over the last three years? None have succeeded. Now, she gets up, folds her arms across her chest. If you want to marry me, you ask me properly, Ezekiel St. James. Down on one knee.