Chapter Thirteen.
Jess
They’d never let Jess forget. They kept harping on about the plagues as if Jess had forgotten. If Mitch were playing her for an idiot, then she would walk into a Hunter’s headquarters and give herself up. Jess would never release another plague.
“They wound you up mentioning a plague,” Mitch said as they curled up in front of a fire at his home.
“Yes. It’s something they refer back to about my loss of control.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Not really.” Jess fell silent, fiddling with her fingers nervously, and then spoke in a rush.
“In sixteen-sixty-five, Charles the Second was king. One of his advisors was the Earl of Cumberbach, a handsome man with learning and wisdom. Or so I thought. Simon was widowed and looking for a second wife. I’d been in love twice before him, and both times had been betrayed.
“Simon was serious and in his thirties. He was clever, had the ear of Charles, and was considered steady. Not flirtatious or whimsical. Simon loved hunting, cards, and a good ball. While Charles was recognised as the Merry Monarch, Simon balanced him. We became close, and he asked for my hand in marriage. I agreed despite knowing he’d die before me, but I wanted love so badly, and I was so desperate.
” Jess took a deep breath, and Mitch reached out.
“You don’t have to tell me.”
“Oh, this is the least horrifying of the four plagues I let loose. Things proceeded smoothly until three days before the wedding. I was at court and attending Queen Catherine. I’d gone inside to fetch a shawl, and I heard a couple of ladies-in-waiting chatting about Simon.
They were praising him for being stalwart, for marrying me, and for his loyalty.
That made me smile, and I hurried to rejoin the garden party.
“On returning to the Queen, I overheard two men talking. They talked about the wedding and the surprise they had arranged. Cutting a long story short, they were planning treason with Simon. I rushed back, informed her majesty, and then, in turn, Charles. Simon was arrested, the marriage ceremony was cancelled, and he was tortured for a confession. They’d planned to put James on the throne, the king’s younger brother, because they believed the king to be sterile.
“Once again, someone I loved betrayed me, and the future. Disease escaped my leash, and the Great Plague of London was released. Fortunately, although it only caused the deaths of approximately one hundred thousand people, a quarter of London’s population, it was contained.”
“Fortunately?” Mitch asked cautiously.
“The Justinian plague killed around thirty-five million people. The Black Death wiped out fifty million,” Jess uttered with sorrow cutting through her.
Mitch stared, aghast. “How did you take the risk of falling in love with me?”
“Good question!” Jess said with a hitch.
“Sorry, Jess,” Mitch murmured as he pulled her back into her chest.
“The final plague I released, would you like to know about it?” Jess asked, her gaze distant.
“No.”
“Didn’t think so. Now you realise you love a monster,” Jess whispered, steeling herself for rejection.
“I’m in love with a wonderful woman. And anyone else who says differently can face me.
Jess, you didn’t cause those plagues out of spite or any other reason.
You were deeply hurt and lost control of something that isn’t even yours to own!
Don’t blame yourself for having feelings,” Mitch stated passionately.
“But I can’t help it.”
“Then, I’ll remind you daily of how beautiful and wonderful you are,” Mitch said.
“Mitch, I look in the mirror and see a murderess,” Jess admitted.
“I don’t,” Mitch replied and held her tightly.
Mitch kissed Jess and murmured all the good things he loved about her in her ear. Jess began to fall asleep with a smile on her lips. Maybe the fifth time was the charm!
Mitch
He scowled at his phone as Alexander’s number flashed up. Mitch set his shoulders and checked that his office door was shut, and then answered.
“Where are you?” Alexander demanded.
“Hi, Mitch, how are you? Just wonderful, Dad, thanks for asking,” Mitch replied sarcastically.
“Screw that. You had Clifton arrested.”
“What’s the problem? I warned you and Alfred.
Nobody believed me; Alfred paid the price.
You still didn’t heed my warning, and Clifton came and shot up a restaurant.
Now he’ll not see the light of day again, even if Clifton survives the trial.
He was a very busy man. No fewer than thirty disappearances and murders have been cleared up by his arrest. Of course, I’ve no doubt the media are scrutinising everything the family has done because Alfred’s crimes have also come to light,” Mitch said calmly.
“You’re starting a war you can’t win!” Alexander yelled.
“No, I’m ending it, Dad. You started this by murdering Mum.
You should have let me walk, and nothing would have happened.
Instead, you came after me, even when warned.
That was your mistake, not mine. Don’t start shit you can’t finish, isn’t that what you told me repeatedly?
Well, I’m ready to stop this, are you?” Mitchel replied with a snap.
Although Mitch was trying to stay calm, Alexander was pushing his buttons.
“You need to behave, Mitchum; you can’t take on the entire Sealgair Uilebheist.”
“Is that coming from you or the Ceann-Feadhna? Because right now, it’s you assholes challenging me and sending Murtairs. Leave me alone, and I’ll return the favour,” Mitch replied.
“And Jess Mayhew wants to be involved in this?” Alexander said smoothly.
Mitch began laughing, which wasn’t the response Alexander had expected.
“What’s so amusing?” he demanded.
“Unlike Mum, who you wilfully kept in ignorance until you tortured and murdered her for what might have been a childhood nightmare, Jess knows. She’s aware of everything, and if anything happens to her, I won’t hesitate but will put every file I have online.
You’ll be hounded for being murdering bastards, and Sealgair Uilebheist across the country will be hunted.
Of course, I’ll remove any mention of the Uile-bheist and make it look like you’re all in a fucked-up cult,” Mitch warned.
Alexander growled, and Mitch laughed. “You might believe you’ve got the upper hand, Alexander. You don’t.”
“Mitch, you will obey,” Alexander declared emphatically.
“You’ve marked Frederick as next in line to be your heir. I wonder what the police would think of his file?” Mitch mused.
“Don’t you dare,” Alexander seethed.
Mitch pictured Alexander sitting in Alfred’s old office, with the heavy wooden furniture and velvet curtains. There’d be the drinks cabinet and the small occasional tables, and in one corner a tall rubber plant, and in the other… Mitch stiffened.
“I’ll risk anything. However, in the name of peace, I’ll come to the house, and we can talk face-to-face,” Mitch suggested in a complete turnabout.
“That’s a reasonable suggestion; we can lay our cards on the table,” Alexander said.
“Let me assure you, if I don’t come out alive, the files will go viral.”
“I’ve no intention of harming you,” Alexander said.
Mitch immediately saw the loophole. “Ensure nobody else gets that idea too.”
Alexander chuckled dryly. “I trained you well; such a waste.”
“Indeed.”
Jess
Jess wandered around Mitch’s house. It was large, but not a mega-mansion as one would expect him to have.
She found herself drawn to the ornamental koi carp pond outside and strolled over to it, where she sat, trailing her fingers in the water.
Without the noise from her siblings, Jess was at a loss.
Movement caught her attention, and Jess looked up and spotted a tall man walking through the gardens towards her.
He was dressed casually in jeans and a button-down, but Jess was on guard.
There was an aura surrounding him which screamed danger and oiliness.
He smiled when he saw her, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
“Jess Mayhew?” he asked as he approached.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Mitchum’s cousin, Frederick. The whole family is agog with the news Mitchum has a girlfriend,” he said smoothly. Frederick came closer, and Jess refused to back away. Respect lit Frederick’s eyes as he sat on a stone bench.
“I’m aware of who you are. If you’re here to harm me, think again. I’m not defenceless,” Jess replied. The Loch Ness Monster would bite his head off if he attacked.
“Martial arts?” Frederick inquired.
“Try me and find out,” Jess challenged.
Frederick laughed. “In another life, I would have liked you, Jess Mayhew.”
“Sadly, I don’t feel the same. What do you want? Mitch isn’t here.”
Frederick chuckled again, but this time it lacked mirth. Jess was on guard and wary. This man was a snake and would strike when she least expected it.
“Mitchum is at a meeting with Alexander. While he’s occupied, I came to give you a warning.”
“Take it and stick it up your ass,” Jess replied bluntly. Frederick’s words rocked her. Why was Mitch visiting his family home? Fear rose; was Jess about to be betrayed again?
This time, Frederick didn’t smile. “Mitchum will be excommunicated from the family. No longer will he have the Weideman name to fall back on.” Whether Frederick realised it or not, he’d just reassured Jess.
Jess smiled coldly. “Mitch hasn’t used Weideman for over twelve years. That’s no loss.”
“If you weren’t my cousin’s girlfriend, I’d have great pleasure taking you to my bed and breaking you,” Frederick taunted.
Jess saw the evilness hidden behind Frederick’s good looks. “And I’d cheerfully kill you in your sleep.”
“You’re Mitchum’s girlfriend, not his wife. If Mitchum ever dumps you—”
“I still wouldn’t touch you with a bargepole,” Jess snapped.
“This is a warning, Jess. Tell my cousin to fall in line; he won’t like the consequences,” Frederick threatened.