Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 69909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
“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.”