by Rachel Jonas
Elle shook her head. In fact, she was already shaking it before I even finished speaking.
“No,” she protested. “She wouldn’t have done that. Not again.”
I hadn’t even said that I suspected she may have run off, but Elle read my thoughts.
“We have to consider that a possibility,” I stated. “We gave her everything she needed to make a clean break this time—brought her team back into her life, gave them unlimited access to one another, brought them into my home. For all we know, they’ve been planning this since they first reunited.”
I hated how the idea of her running from me—from us—cut so deep, but it did.
Had she not realized how much she meant to us all? Had she missed the sacrifices we all made because we were coming into seeing things her way?
“It doesn’t make sense,” Elle said quietly, still in disbelief.
“She gave me her word,” Levi uttered.
The statement was quiet. So quiet I wasn’t sure he’d even meant to say it out loud.
“What do you mean?” Silas asked, gazing toward our brother from the West Quadrant.
There was a long moment of silence, leaving me to wonder if Levi would ever fill us in.
“She promised she wouldn’t leave again,” he shared. “Not without giving warning first. And, silly me … I guess I fell for it.”
He wasn’t the only one who felt like he’d been taken for a ride, betrayed on a deeper level than any of us cared to admit.
“I don’t believe it wasn’t real,” Elle chimed in boldly. “She wouldn’t have left any of us like she did before, which means we’re missing something.”
Sometimes, she was optimistic to a fault, but more than usual when it came to Corina. That optimism was present now, as I watched her mind worked double-time to come up with a more suitable explanation than the one I deduced. When her expression shifted from defeated to determined, I could only guess she had some sort of plan.
“What is it?” I asked.
“We need to speak to Felix and Liv,” she chirped.
“If she’s gone to them, they won’t answer our call,” I countered.
“Which is why we need to start there.” Elle took a step toward Corina’s bedroom door, deciding to leave the rest of us to sulk while she leapt into action. However, she paused mid-step. Each of our gazes followed her when she stooped toward the ground. When she lifted, keeping her eyes trained on whatever she held, my brow tensed.
“Did you find something?” I was already taking steps in Elle’s direction.
“Yes, but … I’m not sure it means anything,” she answered, clearly distracted.
She turned and held up a peculiar piece I think my brothers and I had all seen a time or two. Although, I don’t know that any of us had ever given them much thought.
“It’s some sort of … key,” Elle announced, dangling the black trinket from its satin ribbon. “Maybe it’s a clue?”
There was no way of knowing for sure, but I now agreed things might not be as black and white as I first thought.
“Get Liv and Felix on the line. We need answers.”
Chapter Two
Levi
The tone of our call wasn’t at all what I expected, for two reasons. First, because Corina’s team actually answered. Second, because it became abundantly clear they had no idea what we were talking about when we asked for information on Corina’s whereabouts.
“What do you mean she’s missing?” Liv piped. “I just spoke with her, like, an hour ago.”
“What did she say?” Silas chimed in.
“She wanted to have, you know, girl talk,” Liv revealed without saying too much. “I’ve honestly never heard her sound happier, or more secure, than I did during that call. As a matter of fact, we even made plans to hang out tomorrow. Which I’m guessing she was going to bring up to you guys in the morning.”
While, yes, Corina’s team could have been covering for her, I had a feeling we were beyond that. No, the walls hadn’t completely come down between us and them, but the progress Julian and Si made in my absence made it hard to believe this was all a ruse.
“Did she say anything that might be a clue?” There was no missing the desperation in Julian’s tone when he asked. “Anything at all. Something she might have mentioned? Something she may have been investigating or someone she may have been in contact with?”
“Nothing and no one,” Liv answered. From the sound of it, she was becoming more concerned by the second. “Well … there was one thing.”
Hearing her backpedal sparked hope within me, even if only a little.
“What is it?” I asked just as both my brothers’ mouths parted to say the same, I imagined.
“Well, our talk this evening wasn’t the only time we spoke today. I rang her this morning, too.”
“About what?” Silas interjected.
“I told her one of our contacts had gone missing. An Ianite who worked at the docks,” she revealed, spilling more of her teams’ secrets than I imagine she was comfortable with. However, like us, I believe she would have done anything to help her friend.
“Spencer.” When that name left Silas’ mouth, Julian, Elle and I passed a look his way.
“Yeah, h—how’d you know?” Liv questioned.
“Because she brought his disappearance up to me this morning, likely just after she’d spoken with you. She asked if I’d look into it, but … there was no need,” Si shared. “A visit from Roman shed some light on Spencer’s fate.”
I recalled the conversation with Roman, only now realizing the Ianite he’d spoken of had been named Spencer. The same Ianite he explained had met an untimely end after being tortured, all to extract a name.
Blackbird.
Julian’s gaze shifted to Elle then, and it dawned on me that she was the only one in the room, or on the line, unaware of Corina’s true identity.
“What do you mean?” Liv’s voice was suddenly shrill.
Silas seemed to weigh his words carefully before explaining. “Spencer was taken,” he started. “Jon, the reporter who challenged us at the press conference, had him delivered to someone he thought might be able to extract pertinent information about Corina.”
“Who?” Liv’s voice shook when asking.
I met Silas’ gaze, recalling the details we’d been given by Roman.
“The Butcher,” Silas finally revealed.
Liv drew in a sharp breath and there was no wondering if she was familiar with his work. He’d built a reputation for himself. One that struck fear in the hearts of Ianites and humans alike. Worldwide.
“I can’t … I don’t understand,” she sobbed. “How could they have known about her connection to Spencer?”
“Because Jon seems to have a hard-on for bringing the sky down on our heads, and he’ll even resort to torturing and killing his own kind to accomplish it,” I seethed.
“Do they know she’s …” Liv stopped just short of finishing her statement, but we all knew how that question would have ended.
Across the table from where I stood, Elle’s brow quirked with confusion. “Do they know she’s what?” she asked.
My gaze and Silas’ both shifted toward Julian.
He seemed at a loss for words, perhaps uncertain whether it was acceptable to speak the truth aloud, so I did him a favor.
“Corina is Blackbird,” I said plainly. “No sense beating around the bush, now is there?”
“She’s … all this time, she’s … we’ve been sharing a roof with … Blackbird?” Her tone wasn’t quite what I expected as she stammered. It was almost as if she were pleased to hear the news. As though she’d just discovered she’d been entertaining a celebrity.
Although, in some circuits, I suppose that’s exactly what Corina was.
“That information is not to be shared outside this room,” Julian said sternly.
“My lips are sealed,” Elle said with wonderment heavy in her tone.
There was no mis
sing that twinkle in her eye as she likely reran her entire experience with Corina since their first meeting, trying to decide if there had been clues she missed.
I knew, because I’d done the same myself.
“So, where does this leave us?” Felix chimed in, sounding far more downtrodden than usual.
He was worried like we all were, and likely even more concerned now that he’d been made aware of Spencer’s encounter with the Butcher. If there was one thing I learned about this group, it’s that they were tightknit, like one big, mismatched family.
“Well, we found a black key,” Julian filled them in. “We’ve seen dolls with them before, but admittedly have no idea what dealings the Black Key Society are involved in, nor do we know who’s responsible for issuing them.”
“So, another dead end,” Felix stated with a sigh.
I couldn’t blame him for feeling defeated. It was taking everything in me not to succumb to the same grim outlook. However, it was my deepening emotion for Corina that kept me going.
“Perhaps,” Julian answered. “But for now, we can only rely on what we know for certain. Jon has it out for Corina, which makes him suspect number one.”
“Do you know where to find him?” Liv inquired.
“No, but I think we might know who does,” Julian said with a smile.
I frowned a bit, knowing the source he thought of must have been Roman.
“Wouldn’t he have left already? It’s been nearly an entire day since we’ve seen him,” I pointed out.
“Actually, my internal database provides me with access to information on all flights inbound and outbound from this quadrant,” Elle chimed in. “There’s no record of Roman’s vessel having departed.”
The news was both a relief and cause for concern.
“Well, if that’s true … we’ll certainly find him,” Julian assured us.
***
General Woodson and Lieutenant Colonel Garvey scowled as we fled the premises before they had a chance to stop us. Elle weaved us in and out of traffic at an uncomfortable speed. So much so, I found myself thinking I should have driven separately.
We were headed to the one place we knew we’d find a clue as to where Roman might be—the private runway near the outskirts of the Capitol where he typically flew in and out of the quadrant.
We turned off the main highway, onto an unpaved passage. Gravel pelted the underside of the car as the tires spun over the road. Meanwhile, I held out hope that this trip might bring us closer to finding an answer. Before now, the only thing we’d seen for miles were bare trees lining our path. However, now there were lights straight ahead.
We’d driven mostly in silence, holding our breath as we waited to see what we’d find once we reached the hanger. It honestly could have gone either way, but the sight of a pristine, white jet with a solid red stripe across its broad side meant Elle’s information had been accurate.
The vessel appeared to be in preparation for Roman’s departure. Completely lit on the inside, his flight crew lingered just outside it, passing luggage off to the handlers before boarding.
“We need to hurry,” Julian said in a rush. “He’s likely already inside.”
“Wait, do we have a plan?” Silas asked. “Do we know which questions need to be asked?”
“This isn’t something that needs to be debated,” I answered, knowing we should be getting out there sooner rather than later. “Either he tells us what we want to hear, or—”
“We beat it out of him.”
Silas and I both stared in shock, having never heard Julian speak this way. He’d been more than ready to welcome Roman back into the fold with open arms just the morning before, but now it seemed he was in no mood to mince words. Then again, all our nerves were stretched a bit thin, and for good reason. Not to mention, for him and Silas, this was the second time they’d faced these very circumstances.
There really wasn’t much to say after that. Julian had made his stance clear, and neither Silas nor myself spoke against him. With that, we quickly climbed out, including Elle who, at some point, had seemingly stopped waiting to be given orders. There was once a time when she didn’t make a move without Julian telling her to do so. Now, you couldn’t tell she wasn’t one of us.
“Good evening, Your Highnesses,” One from Roman’s guard detail greeted us. His tone was friendly, but the arm he stretched to stop us from boarding the jet made it clear he didn’t intend to let us pass.
“We need to speak with Roman,” Julian asserted. “This will only take a second.”
Silas and Elle ran interference. Si spun a quick lie to distract the guard, leading him to believe our impromptu visit was only cordial. Meanwhile, Julian took the metal steps by two, letting the soles of the designer, patent leather shoes he’d worn with his tux announce our presence. It wasn’t the stealthiest entrance, but he hadn’t taken the extra minutes to change his clothing. Instead, choosing not to waste time, he’d come out to hunt Roman down in full formal attire.
Love makes us all do crazy things, I presume.
I was right on Julian’s heels when he rushed toward Roman, taking him roughly by his collar.
“Where is she?” he practically spat, lifting Roman to his feet.
Confusion crossed Roman’s face as the phone he held slipped from his hand and fell beneath the cream-colored leather seat beside him.
“What are you talking about?” Roman’s brow creased, but I didn’t buy for one minute that he didn’t have answers.
“Corina’s gone missing,” Julian revealed, “And there’s no one on this planet who would love to see harm come to her more than you and Jon Carlisle,” he added through clenched teeth.
There was a brief moment where the two stared one another down. Just outside the jet, I heard Silas doing all he could to keep the guard calm, but from the sound of things, he’d just called his comrades for backup.
“We’re running out of time,” I warned Julian quietly, peering out to take in the scene just outside the window. As expected, there were three guards now, listening as Silas did his best to schmooze. Had he been anyone other than a royal, there was no doubt in my mind he would have been cuffed and on the ground long before things escalated this far.
When I glanced toward the tense standoff before me, I was surprised to find a smile ghosting on Roman’s lips. But what didn’t surprise me was the scowl Julian donned in return.
“Sounds to me like you’ve lost your pet,” Roman teased. “And the first person you suspected had something to do with her disappearance is me?”
There was a hint of something beneath his enraged expression, and it could only be described as deep-set pain. Perhaps it had only become clear to Roman in this instant how wide the chasm between us all had grown.
The look shifted, quickly darkening until it turned completely cold.
“I don’t know where she is,” Roman practically hissed. “And as much as I wish I could say this was all me, I can’t.”
Julian’s grip on his collar tightened and I took a step closer, unsure of what either was capable of at this point.
Commotion outside the window stole my attention. Silas had resorted to physically blocking the steps and, while he was strong, he couldn’t hold them all off for long.
“Might be a good time to bail,” I said under my breath, signaling Julian, but he wasn’t budging. By the second, Roman grew more cantankerous than the moment before.
“Where can we find Jon?” Julian asked next, somehow able to ignore the verbal jab that had just been delivered.
“Now, why on Earth would I tell you that?” Roman seethed.
With one question, it became clear to whom he was most loyal, and it was no longer us. The hatred in his eyes was hard to miss. What I wasn’t sure of was whether it was reserved only for Corina, or if it extended to my brothers and I as well.
“Good luck with your search,” he said with a mocking laugh. “Although, I must admit, whatever fate has befallen that scourge
to our dynasty, I don’t imagine it isn’t one she deserves.”
Julian moved, and he was only a blur. The full magnitude of his quadrant’s unmatched strength could not only be seen but heard as his fist careened into the side of Roman’s face. Nearly too stunned to move, I managed to wedge myself between the two, just long enough for Julian to compose himself and step back. He lifted his hands into the air as Roman swiped a trickle of blood from his lip.
The guards finally pushed past Silas, while Julian and I made quick work of disembarking from the jet through the emergency exit. We leapt down, landing on our feet before taking off toward the car. Elle and Silas caught sight of us as we passed and bounded down the steps while the guards checked in on Roman. It would only take seconds for them to notice we fled and begin their pursuit.
Elle didn’t miss a beat, managing to keep up with the three of us, hopping behind the steering wheel with a wide grin set on her face. In that moment, it became clear that, even in her absence, Corina’s tenacity was now a part of us all.
The engine roared and we were headed away from there as fast as Elle could drive us.
“So, where to now?” she practically sang. I wasn’t sure A.I.’s were capable of having adrenaline rushes, but you’d think that was the case based on how excitement flowed through her now.
Julian sat in silence, staring out the passenger-side window, still brimming over with frustration. So, when he failed to answer, I responded to Elle instead.
“Well, seeing as how Roman would have been more than happy to share his and Jon’s involvement, I suppose we can cross them off our list of suspects. Which means we’ve got to think outside the box,” I explain.
“Who else do we know capable of doing this?” Silas asked.
A thought occurred to me, and while it seemed far-fetched with little evidence to support the theory, I couldn’t shake the idea of there being another possibility.
“Hang a left and veer onto the freeway,” I instructed.
“Where are we going, Your Highness?” Elle asked excitedly.
My thoughts darkened as I recalled the time I’d spent in a cell not so long ago. With a sigh, I acknowledged that I’d only return to a place like that for someone I cared for deeply.