Chapter Thirteen. #2
“There you are!” a voice exclaimed. Both Jess and Frederick looked up and spotted Diar sauntering through the gardens. “Mitch was worried about you being alone.”
“As you can see, Jess had company,” Frederick snapped. “You’re interrupting, McDonald.”
“Tough. You’re not welcome here, Frederick. Best leave before I call Mitch and tell him this was a setup to get at his girlfriend,” Diar threatened.
Frederick scowled, and Jess smiled. Frederick stood up and checked the cuffs of his shirt.
“Mitchum is at Weideman Manson, discussing his return to the fold. Although Alexander is prepared to excommunicate him, I wonder what Mitchum will give up to secure his place once more. Of course, he wouldn’t be the reigning heir anymore, but I’m sure he’ll fall in line. ”
Frederick walked away before he saw the blow he’d just dealt. Jess sagged as old fears and worries rose. Disease hissed in triumph as her control began to slip. Jess refused to break and held on to hope. How ridiculous that the cruellest Sin was all that was keeping her from spiralling.
“Frederick’s lying,” Diar stated.
“Is he?” she murmured.
“Yes. Mitch would never return to those murdering bastards.”
“What if it were to save our lives?” Jess asked.
“Not even then. He’d blackmail those assholes first. Mitch would never bow to them,” Diar said with the utmost faith.
“What are you doing here?”
“Mitch sent me. He believed they might try something, and he wasn’t wrong. Their sending Frederick was a move neither of us saw. Frederick is in line to inherit after Mitch turned his back on them. That is interesting.”
Jess cocked her head. “Why?”
“Because they know it will trigger Mitch. Those murdering bastards have realised your worth, Jess, which means you’ve just become a major playing piece. Maybe even the Queen. Welcome to the game,” Diar said and held her eyes.
“And if I refuse to play?”
“They’ll aim for checkmate.”
◆◆◆
An hour later, Jess looked up, surprised, as Rhett and Leon entered the house. They’d brushed aside Diar and come straight for her.
“Get your stuff, you’re leaving,” Leon ordered.
“No,” Jess replied calmly.
“Jess, this isn’t a joke. Mitch has betrayed you. He’s gone to visit his family,” Rhett said.
“I know. And I’m choosing to trust him. Mitch isn’t betraying us,” Jess stated with a sideways look at Diar.
“Who are you?” Rhett demanded.
“This is Diarmad McDonald, Mitch’s best friend,” Jess introduced. Their eyes narrowed on his last name. McDonald was a fairly common surname, but his links to Mitch helped them identify him.
“Another one?” Leon seethed.
“His guy who hurt himself?” Rhett grasped who Diar was quicker than Leon.
“Yes. Who the hell are you?” Diar demanded.
“My brothers,” Jess said.
Diar’s eyes grew bigger. “Which ones?”
“What do you mean, which ones?” Rhett snarled.
Dair walked over and switched on a music player. He turned it up loud and beckoned them over. “Let’s say I understand Jess loves swimming in the loch,” Diar replied.
Jess, Rhett, and Leon stiffened, and Diar smiled.
“Mitch wanted someone to know who would risk everything to protect you. If he doesn’t return alive, I’m to get you out of here and convince you to check in once a week with me.
If you refuse, then I’m to assume they’ve killed you and release everything. ”
Jess was stunned. “Mitch said that?”
“Mitch ordered that. We’re brothers in all but blood. I’m the backup plan,” Diar said.
“We have Mitch’s files; we don’t need you,” Rhett stated, puffing up.
Diar grinned. “You don’t have my family’s.”
Jess stared and began to laugh. “Who took a page out of whose book?”
“Mitch stole mine. I was kicked out of the family at fourteen when they realised I’d never be fit enough to hunt and kill. I copied everything I could and ensured I was safe. Four years later, I helped Mitch repeat my actions.”
“Why is he seeing Alexander?” Jess asked.
“I can’t say, Jess. He believes something important is there and needs to check. Mitch will tell us all when he’s back,” Diar said, placing a hand on Jess’s.
She nodded and turned to gaze out of the window.
“I might be a cripple, but I can fight and outshoot most of them. Against the Murtair, I could potentially struggle, but I could hold them off long enough for you to escape.”
“Murtair? Mitch mentioned them before. What are they, Diar?” Jess asked.
“Hunter assassins. Bred to take rogue Hunters out. Mitch has fought several off, and so have I, and we barely escaped. Those assholes kill without compunction or hesitation.”
“And you’ve had to fight them off?” Rhett inquired.
“Yes. They’ve attacked both of us. Mitch and I being free gives ideas to the rest of those trapped in a life they don’t want. We aren’t the only ones trying to escape. If there were somewhere for those trapped to go, they’d flee,” Diar said.
Jess and Leon exchanged glances. They knew someone who could perhaps build a pocket realm for those imprisoned. But they wouldn’t speak of it now. They didn’t know Diar well enough.
A car pulled up, and Jess headed to the front window and saw Mitch climb out. His demeanour was grim, but Mitch wore a satisfied expression on his face.
Mitch paused when he entered the house and saw Rhett and Leon.
“What’s happened?” he demanded.
“Nothing. They believed you were going back to your family,” Jess replied.
Mitch laughed. “I thought you guys were meant to be clever. Idiots,” he snorted and grabbed Jess for a kiss.
“I found Gargoyle,” Mitch announced after he’d finished and grinned.
Jess jolted and gaped at him. Rhett and Leon exchanged grim glances. “He’s at your family’s home? Wait, how do you know it was him?”
“As Alexander ranted at me, he winked. Believe it or not, Gargoyle’s sat in the corner quite happily, and from what I can tell, he’s unharmed. I don’t think they realise who they have landed,” Mitch replied.
Jess barked out a laugh. “That’s about right. We have to break him out somehow. He’s been in contact with Tisiphone after a long silence. Sounds like Gargoyle’s ready to come home.”
“Rescuing him will be hard. They’ve got guards everywhere, and the family is on high alert because of what I’ve done. We’ll need a plan,” Mitch said.
“Can you make a map?” Rhett asked.
“Sure. Whoever goes in to fetch him, I’ll go with. I know the ins and outs of that house; if they get trapped, they’ll need me to find a quick escape route,” Mitch offered.
Jess felt panic well up for a brief moment. They’d be able to flee quicker than Mitch would. She glanced at Diar. “Mitch, we have an exit plan that you don’t.”
“I’m not letting your siblings face this alone,” Mitch stated.
Panic faded into pride and love. This guy was truly her soulmate. Mitch wasn’t prepared to let her family face danger if he could help. All the pain she’d experienced, and it had led to this. A man who really loved her.
Pandora/Andie
She leaned her head on Luc’s shoulder. Luc, in turn, rested his on hers. Pandora snorted a little, and Luc laughed too.
“Does anyone suspect yet?” Pandora asked.
“For all my meddling? No. How surprising that is,” Luc replied.
“Time seems to be marching faster. I can visualise the end, and where before it was centuries away, it appears to be close now.”
“Don’t panic, my love. Everything will fall into place, and then it’s in their hands.”
“Are they strong enough?” Pandora asked with worry.
“Not even I can see that. I can only hope.”
“Luc, I’m scared.”
Luc sat up and pulled her closer. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.
Pandora snuggled into him; the only person who’d doubted her involvement from the start and not believed in what others had.
Luc had questioned Pandora mercilessly and had challenged everything she’d said.
Then Luc stunned her with the truth of what had happened.
Since then, Pandora’s heart hadn’t belonged to anyone else but Luc. Their goals back then had been so many years in the future, they’d been a speck of dust. Now they were almost within reach. It was scary.
“You’ll not leave me?” Pandora whispered.
“Never. You’re stuck with me. Pandora, my love for you will never fade, and no matter what happens, I’ll always find you.”
“I love you, Luc,” Pandora said, kissing him.
Luc smiled against her lips. “Not as much as I love you.”