22. Twenty Two

twenty-two

“Are you sulking or brooding?” Caroline asked an hour later.

I rolled my head to look at the silhouette of my friend just inside the patio doors, the light from the suite casting her face in shadow.

“Does it matter?”

I remained sprawled on the lounge chair I’d collapsed onto after Ahrun’s little bombshell. The only thing that would be more perfect was if I had a glass of bourbon.

It would have tasted awful, but there was just something about bourbon that felt appropriate for when your world was crashing down around you.

Caroline moved further onto the balcony, settling in the lounge chair that was a twin of the one I was reclining on. “I guess it depends on if you plan to do anything about what’s bothering you.”

“The vampires have Deborah.” Caroline’s lack of reaction made me look at her. “You knew.”

“I heard earlier.”

“Lucky you. Ahrun had to tell me because the others wouldn’t. Probably too afraid I’d run off on my own.”

Caroline leveled a dry expression on me. “Does that mean you won’t?”

I opened my arms to indicate the balcony. “I’m still here, aren’t I?”

“How very evolved of you.”

I kicked at the lounger. “Don’t get used to it. If I thought I had a chance of rescuing her on my own, I’d already be gone.”

“That’s more like the Aileen I know.”

As much as I appreciated her humor, I wasn’t in the mood to smile. “What are you doing up here?”

“Sondra is making plans with the vampires. You could say my skill set doesn’t lend itself in that direction.”

I cut a sidelong look at Caroline. “What? No anecdotes about the tactics of ancient battles to share? I’m disappointed. I thought you’d have one or two of those up your sleeve.”

Caroline pulled a face. “Most of them were alive for some of those battles. No point in sharing when they may have actually been there and lived through it.”

My quiet snicker took me by surprise. “I suppose it would be like pointing out the obvious.”

“There’s something else you ought to know.” Caroline became engrossed with an invisible loose thread in her top. A sure sign of nerves when it came to her. “I didn’t only come up here to commiserate with you.”

My body tensed on the lounger as I squinted at her. “Why are you here then?”

Caroline composed herself before forcing her gaze up to meet mine. “It’s Jenna. She’s here.”

I touched my tongue to my upper lip. “Say that again. Jenna’s where?”

“Here. In Vegas. Downstairs.”

Blood rushed from my head, leaving me lightheaded and woozy. The world felt like it was about to float away in a balloon.

“I swear I didn’t invite her. I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t seen her while I was walking around the casino floor.”

“She said she had to go on a business trip,” I rasped.

That was the excuse she’d given me when she called a few days earlier to cancel our movie night plans.

“Maybe that’s what this is.” Caroline’s expression was sympathetic. “She was talking to some men. It could have been about business. They looked pretty intense.”

“Only one way to find out.”

I was off my lounger and striding toward the elevator in an instant. Caroline scrambled to follow.

“What are you doing?” Liam asked, coming out of one of the other rooms.

I didn’t answer, pressing the elevator button. One touch became several more until finally I kept my finger on it.

“Aileen!” Liam barked.

His eyes blazed at me, the intensity of his anger making them almost glow.

The door behind him was open. Thomas stood in its entrance, a carefully controlled expression on his face. Nathan was beside him, looking cautious. Behind them, I could see the other enforcers and Sondra. Everyone’s eyes were on me, not even pretending to give us privacy.

Ahrun came out of the next room, his face carefully blank despite the standoff. He said nothing, watching me with an enigmatic gaze that reminded me of what he’d shared earlier. About fate and meeting it.

Was this what he meant?

“Her sister is downstairs,” Caroline announced in an attempt to defuse the situation.

Frustration tightened Liam’s features as he lifted a hand to rub his jaw.

“You’re not talking me out of this,” I informed him.

It would break my heart if he tried.

“I wasn’t going to,” he growled. “Anton.”

The enforcer’s gaze was incredulous as it shot to Liam. “Why do I have to babysit? Nathan is her bestie. Send him.”

I gifted Anton with a saccharin sweet smile. “For once I’m in agreement. Nathan tends to whine less.”

There was a choked sound from Nathan as his shoulders started to shake.

Anton swatted him on the back of the head. “This is because you lost her last time.”

Thomas regarded Liam steadily. “Splitting our forces so close to a challenge is not the best decision tactically.”

A soft ding announced the elevator’s arrival.

I marched into it. “That works for me. I’m perfectly fine on my own.”

Caroline hurried after me. “You’re not leaving me behind.”

“Wolf,” Sondra growled, prowling out of the war room. “Don’t even think about it.”

Caroline waved and lifted her shoulders in a gesture of mock apology as the doors started to close. “Too late.”

Liam slammed a hand between the doors, forcing them open. He didn’t do anything after that. He just stood there and glared, not saying a word.

“I won’t enter the Playground or the barrow. I’ll also remain in crowded areas and not go off on my own,” I assured him, knowing what he wanted.

It was unlikely that Vitus would launch an attack if I was surrounded by humans. Doing so would violate the council’s own mandate and possibly expose our world to their kind.

“I’ll just be gone long enough to escort Jenna back up here.”

I’d prefer to get her out of the city immediately, but there was no way to arrange that on such short notice and with a duel imminent. At least if she stayed in the penthouse, she’d be surrounded by enforcers.

That hadn’t helped Deborah, my inner voice whispered.

Ruthlessly, I squashed that thought. We weren’t thinking about my companion right now. Jenna first. Then Deborah.

Triage. It’s what I’d learned in the military. Concentrate on the immediate problem at hand before taking on more.

Liam’s jaw worked. “Nathan, give it to her.”

My friend sauntered into view. “Someone should have named you trouble.”

I didn’t respond to his provocation, my gaze dropping to the gun he held in his hand.

He offered it to me with a flourish. “Here you go. I know how you like your little toys.”

I took the weapon from him, examining it closely. It wasn’t one of mine.

Nathan handed me two boxes of ammo. “This one holds iron bullets. And this one silver.” He winked at me. “Just in case there’s a reason you need to switch it up.”

“Thanks.” I looked up at Liam. “You said guns were pointless against spooks.”

“I haven’t changed my mind about that, but you’ve shown me they can be useful in the right circumstances.” He straightened, preparing to remove his hand from the elevator doors. “Down and back. No straying.”

I nodded. “Down and back.”

Liam lips tightened, but he didn’t say anything further. His hand dropped to his side as he let the elevator doors slip closed.

A second before they could, Anton slid through, turning sideways so he didn’t brush against them.

I eyed him askance. “What happened to not wanting to go?”

“I gave it another thought. The most interesting things always happen to you.”

“Liar,” I muttered, facing the doors.

He was here out of concern for Liam. To give Liam peace of mind that I had someone watching my back.

Beyond Caroline that was.

“Why did he send you when he could just come himself?” Caroline asked.

“Because he and the rest have to scout the location for the duel.”

“Where will that be?” I asked.

Since Thomas had issued the challenge, Vitus would determine the time and place. Most likely one that was most advantageous to him.

“Guess.”

It took only a moment of consideration to arrive at a likely possibility.

“You don’t mean—”

Anton bared his teeth, looking a touch feral. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”

Caroline’s face showed confusion as she flicked a glance between the two of us. “Someone clue me in.”

“The pits where your alpha almost murdered our dear Aileen. That’s where Vitus has decided to have the fight,” Anton explained.

Caroline blanched. “How is that possible?”

“Technically, the barrow hasn’t declared an allegiance to either vampire and since its attached to the Playground it’s still considered neutral ground. That makes it an acceptable venue for the duel,” Anton explained evenly.

Except as everyone in this elevator knew, things were never that simple. I’d been lured into that barrow. The only one who had a grudge against me was Vitus. There may not have been any evidence of his culpability, but it didn’t take a genius to see that he was involved.

“Are you sure you should be here and not with them?” I asked Anton.

His objection earlier now made more sense. His loyalty was to Thomas and Liam. It was natural for him to want to be part of making sure the dueling grounds didn’t contain any nasty surprises.

Anton stared as the numbers above the door ticked off what level we were on. “It’s fine. As I said, it’s a scouting mission. I doubt Vitus will try anything tonight.”

Not in the mood to pursue the matter, I let the topic go. Just in time as the elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open.

“Where to?” I asked Caroline.

She was already moving. “This way.”

Anton prowled at my back as we entered the casino, the din almost drowning out Anton’s, “I’m going to regret this later.”

I pretended not to hear, preoccupied with observing our surroundings.

Despite the late hour, the humans were out in force. Their outfits ran the gamut from Vegas formal—heavy on the sequins—and lounge wear that was just a fancy word for comfy pajamas.

Caroline moved quickly, making a beeline toward one of the casino bars. There was a step up to set it apart from the gambling area. Screens lined the perimeter that could be put up or down as the patrons inside desired. The dim interior was decorated with furnishings that looked like they’d seen better days. The booths and lighting were a little dated but not bad.

Right now, the place was half full with humans who were listening intently as a singer softly serenaded them from a stage off to the side.

I barely noticed them, already moving toward the group gathered in the corner.

The men with Jenna clocked me before she did. I nearly cursed as I registered Drake’s presence.

Son of a bitch. First Connor. Now Jenna.

I was going to kill him.

Noticing that their attention had wandered elsewhere, Jenna looked up in confusion. Seeing me, her mouth dropped open. “Lena! Oh my God. What are you doing here?”

Caroline gave Jenna a little wave when my sister noticed her a second later.

“You’re here on a girl’s weekend,” Jenna accused. “And you didn’t invite me? You bitch.”

Drake started to rise as I reached the table. “Hey ya, cuz.”

I shoved him back in his chair none too gently.

“Lena, careful!” Jenna protested.

“He’s lucky I didn’t break his nose.”

I still might.

“You’re supposed to be on a work trip,” I snapped, sweeping my gaze over the other two men sitting at the table. “This certainly doesn’t look like business to me.”

For one thing, Jenna worked in a law office. For lawyers. Something I couldn’t picture either of these men as. Maybe their clients with their slightly unkempt appearances. The older of the two had a head of white hair. His skin was creased with a road map of crevasses and grooves pointing to the hard life he’d led. The man next to him was related. His features slightly leaner and without the stamp of time.

They both had a vigilance that only came from having experienced violence on a regular basis. Grizzled men who looked like they’d spent most of their lives doing and seeing things that would keep other people up at night.

“Hello, grandfather. Uncle. I’ve been wondering when you would show up,” I drawled, ignoring the flash of guilt on Jenna’s face.

There was no need for introductions. Their resemblance to Drake and my father was so obvious that there was no denying it.

I grabbed Drake’s head and slammed his face into the table.

Jenna popped up from her seat. “Lena! What are you doing?”

“Ow! What was that for?” he asked in a muffled voice, cradling his bleeding nose.

Jenna grabbed a wad of napkins from the table and handed them to Drake. He took them and gingerly pressed them to his nose.

“I told you to stay away from my family,” I said.

Caroline shook her head before walking away to settle at an adjacent table. She kept her body canted toward us, making it clear she was still listening.

“I take back what I said about babysitting. This makes everything worth it,” Anton gloated.

Jenna spun toward him. “You’re a vampire, right? Help me talk sense into her.”

“Oh boy.” Caroline eyed Anton carefully.

The stillness that had descended on the enforcer held a predatory edge. Every muscle in his body locked tight. Only the tips of his fingers twitching as he focused dark eyes on me. “You told her?”

My gun was up and moving before I gave it conscious thought. Its muzzle trained on the vampire across from me.

“Gun!”

Screams came from the other humans in the bar as they created a stampede for the exit. Within seconds, we were the only ones left.

“Put that away,” Anton snapped, looking incensed. “You know that won’t kill me.”

“Maybe so, but I’m betting it would hurt if I shoot you in the right place.

The head. The heart. Both required a recovery time that I could put to good use.

“Aileen?” Jenna’s hand was shaky as she placed it on my back. “What’s going on?”

“Just a miscommunication. Nothing to worry about. Stay behind me. And don’t look him in the eye.”

For once, Jenna listened.

“You’re being ridiculous,” Anton hissed at me.

“I take it this was what you meant when you told me not to let anyone know about you,” Jenna whispered

“Yes.”

“I thought you meant other humans,” Jenna mumbled apologetically.

“I should have explained better.”

Truthfully, I hadn’t expected to encounter a scenario like this.

“Are you just going to sit there?” I demanded of Caroline, not taking my eyes off Anton.

My friend rested a foot on the chair next to her. “I’m feeling a little left out. Why wasn’t I told that Jenna was in on the secret?”

Trust her to fixate on the wrong thing at a time like this.

“Does Liam know?” Anton demanded as if Caroline hadn’t spoken.

“Yes.”

I neglected to mention that he’d only learned about this fact earlier tonight and hadn’t really had a chance to figure out what to do about it.

An avalanche of curses burst from Anton.

“What’s the big deal if she told us?” Jenna asked.

“It’s forbidden,” Anton answered, addressing Jenna for the first time. “The first rule of our world—don’t tell the humans we exist. Unless they are in service to us in some way. By telling you, she’s placed not just herself but her sire and everyone who knows what she’s done and doesn’t report it in danger. If discovered, they could all be executed.”

‘What if she’s not the one who told me?” Jenna asked.

Anton frowned. “What is she talking about?”

Jenna stepped out from behind me. “Hunters broke into our house and used us to ambush her. Technically, they’re the ones who exposed the fact that vampires existed. Not Aileen.”

Anton’s gaze swung to me. “When was this? Why didn’t you tell us about your family being attacked?”

“If this is how you react, I can see why she held back,” Jenna muttered.

“Quiet, you,” Anton shushed her. “The adults are speaking. We still haven’t decided what we’re going to do with you.”

Jenna’s mouth popped open in insult.

“Nothing,” I snarled. “You’re going to do nothing.”

Anton flashed his fangs at me. “You don’t get to decide that since you’ve already proven to have less than stellar judgment skills where your family is concerned.”

“Do I get a vote?” Caroline asked.

“No,” Anton said dismissively.

Caroline lowered her chin to her folded arms. “Just so you know—I’m team Aileen and Jenna. Try any of your mind bullshit and I’ll bite you.”

Her lips curled back to expose her own mouthful of fangs.

Anton looked furious but he didn’t try to rip Caroline’s throat out. I called that progress. “I will be talking to Liam about this.”

I lowered the gun. “You do that.”

It wouldn’t change things. My family knew and I had no interest in putting the cat back in the bag.

Turning to the table, I studied the two men on the opposite side. Neither of whom had shown much interest in the confrontation.

The older man lifted his mug of coffee. “You’re just like your father.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I said, seating myself in the chair across from him.

Jenna hesitated before doing the same next to me.

I flicked a glance at Drake. “How’s the nose? Still bleeding?”

He removed the wad of napkins, tossing them on the table. “It’s fine. No thanks to you.”

“I did warn you what would happen if you kept targeting the people close to me.”

As far as I was concerned, he’d gotten what he deserved. Maybe in future he would be a little more cautious.

Ignoring Drake’s sour expression, I focused on the other two. “I take it you’re our family.”

“That remains to be seen.” The last man, the one I suspected was our uncle and Drake’s father, curled a hand around his Jack and coke. His other was out of sight. Probably on that gun I could smell. “You see—we haven’t decided if you’re worth claiming.”

From the way Jenna stiffened beside me, I could tell she wasn’t expecting that response. I was though.

It would be strange for hunter born to accept someone with my lineage into their ranks. The biological daughter of one of the most dangerous Fae to walk this planet? A vampire to boot?

I was what they hunted. Not the one they made nice with.

“We’re family,” Jenna argued.

“You’re family,” our uncle corrected. “She’s adopted. Moreover, she’s a monster.”

He probably intended those words to hurt me. They certainly had Jenna, if the pain wafting off her was any indication.

The funny thing was, they barely grazed me.

I was a monster. Finally proud of it too.

If they didn’t want me, so be it. I had too much beauty in my life to be bothered by their small minds.

“I knew Dad had a reason for cutting you out of his life,” I purred. “I’m glad I trusted his judgment.”

“What does it say about your sister that she didn’t?” our grandfather asked.

Jenna made a small sound, hurt showing on her face.

I put my hand on her arm and squeezed, offering comfort. “It means that family means a lot to her. No matter how unworthy they may turn out to be.”

“Do you include yourself in that last part?” our uncle challenged.

“Jenna has a big heart. She’s able to overlook a lot.”

Some people—like those sitting across from me—might seek to take advantage of that fact. I wasn’t going to let them.

There were a lot of ways I could have responded to this interrogation. With anger. Hurt. Or, my preference, by grabbing the gun our uncle had aimed at me under the table and using it to beat him unconscious.

Hm.

That was quite a lovely idea, now that I thought about it.

I wouldn’t though. Like I said, these two might have been a shitty example of what family was, but to Jenna, they still counted.

“Vampirism is an awful big thing to overlook,” our uncle drawled, his eyes as cold and dead as a fish’s.

I was beginning to see where Drake got the annoying part of his personality from.

“Does she know about the rest?” he asked with a pointed smirk.

He wanted to know if I’d told her about my Fae heritage.

Jenna slapped the table with both hands and pushed to her feet. For a moment, she didn’t speak. She remained in that position, her hands flat, her angry glare focused on a spot on the wood.

“I apologize. I made a mistake coming here.” Jenna straightened, her shoulders going back as she looked down her nose at our grandfather and uncle. She shook her head before turning to me. “Let’s go. We have nothing more to say to these people. You were right. They’re not family.”

Anton’s soft snort interrupted the moment. “Looks like your sister has a backbone after all.”

I rose from my seat. “She always did. It just takes a little for her to find it sometimes.”

She was the peacemaker between the two of us. Always trying to find the path of least resistance. But the few times she lost it, watch out. The resulting eruption rivaled anything I’d ever done or said.

“You’re lucky I love you,” Jenna announced in an icy voice

I gave her a crooked grin. “Yes, I am.”

My grandfather let out a sigh as we turned to go. “Sit down, granddaughters.”

Jenna cut him an angry look. “You called my sister a monster. We have nothing more to say to each other.”

Technically, it was our uncle who’d done the name calling, but close enough.

Our grandfather pointed at the chair across from him. “Sit, child. You may no longer want anything further to do with us, but your sister isn’t so lucky.”

“What does that mean?” Jenna demanded.

“You’re more like Patrick than she is,” the old man told me.

“You still don’t know her very well,” I informed him.

Jenna may have seemed like the softer, more reasonable one of the two of us but push her far enough and the Travers came out. She had Dad’s quiet determination and Mom’s fierceness. She just hid it better than I did.

“I’ll have to fix that,” our grandfather murmured.

Was that a note of approval I saw in his eyes?

That question made me shelve some of my antagonism. This new grandfather of ours was no slouch in the manipulation department. He was like Ahrun and Thomas. Probing and testing to see how far our sisterly bond went.

And I’d fallen for it.

“Ever wonder why my grandson was sent to infiltrate your sire’s territory?” the old man asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

Drake’s gaze met mine briefly before he looked away, going back to pretending he wasn’t there.

“That is a good question. Aileen might not have but I sure am,” Anton growled, making his presence felt.

The deadly look he sent the human didn’t bode well for Drake’s future. My cousin would have to disappear for a while after this. Otherwise, the next time I saw him might be after he took a dirt nap.

“The master of the city will be most interested to learn that a hunter is trying to get close to his son—and the woman he considers a daughter,” Anton continued.

Jenna leaned closer to me. “Your friends are interesting.”

“We also have excellent hearing,” Anton purred. “Remember that, little human.”

“I’ll be sure to,” Jenna said with a smile that could have peeled skin.

I pinched her arm. “Stop antagonizing the vampire.”

As for Anton, he better not get any ideas when it came to my sister. The more distance between them the better.

“How much do you know about hunters?” our uncle asked, interrupting the moment.

“You mean besides the fact that they keep trying to kill me?”

Not much.

Our uncle didn’t react to my sarcasm, his expression remaining neutral. “Made hunters. They give the rest of us a bad name. They’re mostly comprised of humans who’ve stumbled upon supernaturals by accident or have suffered at their hands. Born hunters come from family lines that have been doing this for ages. Each line tends to specialize in a certain species.”

“What’s yours?” Jenna asked, showing interest.

Our uncle fixed me with a look. “Guess.”

I crossed my arms and leaned back in my chair, one finger tapping against my arm as I considered. Drake’s presence in Thomas’s territory would suggest vampire. But Dad hadn’t been hunting vampires when he came into our lives.

“Fae.”

One side of our uncle’s mouth crooked upwards. “Very close.”

Jenna had a troubled frown on her face as she looked at the two of us. No doubt wondering why that had been my guess rather than the more obvious one.

“Our family line is very old. Because of that, our duties are different from other lines. We don’t specialize so much as oversee. It’s why we’re among the very few tasked with hunting those Fae who threaten to undo the balance between supernaturals and humanity,” our uncle shared.

Jenna was listening attentively, soaking up the information like she was getting a history lesson. I supposed in a way she was. Her family’s history.

“But the first agreement our line ever struck was with a vampire.”

Our uncle’s gaze never wavered from mine. Anton’s frame tensed, his body on high alert as he stared at the two men in front of me.

“The head of our line shared blood with the most powerful vampire the world had ever seen and vowed to be the hunter in the dark that kept the rest of the monsters in check. The reaper who would keep his kind from growing too bloated with blood and power.”

My nails bit into my skin as I held myself together. I didn’t need to sense the worry and anger pouring off Anton to know how complicated this situation had just become.

“You’re talking about Ahrun,” I said.

Our uncle dipped his chin.

I released the breath I was holding. A shaky exhale as I processed the fact that my sire’s sire had set my father’s ancestors on the path of being vampire hunters.

“There was an additional clause to our pact with the ancient,” our grandfather rumbled.

I looked over at him, waiting.

“If the council ever requested our assistance, we had to answer.”

That explained Drake’s presence in Columbus. He’d mentioned the council was aware of his whereabouts. From there, it wasn’t difficult to guess they’d given him a task.

“Did they ask you to kill one of us?”

My voice went high and tight. Anton was utterly still, prepared to launch himself forward at the first sign of aggression.

“Was it Thomas?” I asked when neither of them answered.

No reaction.

“Liam? Connor?”

I could tell by their set expressions that was a no too.

Understanding dawned. There was only one person left that might be targeted as a means to hurt the others. The weakest of their line.

My voice lowered. “Was it me?”

Bingo.

That got a reaction. A barely discernible jump in their pulses.

“Don’t I feel flattered,” I said with a self-deprecating huff.

The infant warranted her very own clan of assassins.

“No!” Jenna twisted to look between us, horror coating her face. “No!”

She jumped to her feet and grabbed my shoulder, pulling at me to try to move me behind her. The problem was that I was stronger and didn’t budge.

“It’s okay, Jenna,” I assured her.

“I won’t let you!” she shouted at our grandfather and uncle.

“Hush,” I soothed. “They’re not going to hurt me.”

They wouldn’t have arranged this little warning if that was what they planned.

“No, they’re not,” Anton agreed. “Aileen may be a pain in the ass sometimes, but she’s ours. We’d massacre your entire family line.”

“Does that include her sister and father?” our uncle challenged.

“They could always become vampires,” Anton said. “Actually, I quite like that idea. No one could claim Aileen broke the covenant if her family joined our ranks.”

Caroline raised a hand. “Don’t forget that werewolf is an option too. I’ve seen her mom cook. The woman would not last eternity on a liquid diet.”

That—was a very good point. Mom’s love of food rivaled my own. I couldn’t see her accepting the limitations that came with vampirism.

“It doesn’t matter either way because they’re not here to kill me. Are you?” I asked.

My uncle’s smirk was slow in coming. “Observant. Did Patty teach you that?”

“You could say that. Along with other things.”

None of which I planned to share with this family member that I still didn’t know very well.

“You can see how this puts us in a sort of bind. Because of our pact, we can’t refuse orders from a council member. But we also don’t kill family.” Our uncle’s eyes were cold as he smirked at me. “However distant that family has become.”

“At least, not unless they do something very stupid or very dangerous,” Drake interjected with a wink.

I ignored him to look at the other two. “What is it that you want?”

From all this verbal tap dancing, there had to be something.

“If the council member who put the hit out on you were to perish or suddenly no longer be on the council, their request would become null and void,” our grandfather said.

The cunning old man. That was what they were after.

“You’re asking a lot given you haven’t told me who it was yet,” I said.

Our uncle snorted. “How hard can it be? Exactly how many enemies do you have?”

“You’d be surprised,” Anton muttered under his breath.

I was the only one who heard him.

Our grandfather drained the last of his coffee. “I suggest you figure it out and quick. We’ve stalled about as long as we can. Eventually, we’ll run out of excuses.”

I squinted as they both rose. “You never did introduce yourselves properly.”

Our uncle threw a bunch of bills on the table. “You never asked.” He nodded at Jenna. “You have our number. We’ll await your decision. Don’t take too long though.”

What was this?

I fixed wide eyes on Jenna. “What decision is he talking about?”

“I’ll let you know soon,” Jenna told our uncle.

“Let him know what?”

Jenna didn’t look at me, avoiding my demanding stare.

Our uncle turned to Drake. “You got this?”

Drake chewed on the soft ice in his glass, his drink long gone. “If I don’t, are you going to step in?”

“Just don’t die. I’d hate having to train another successor.”

“We wouldn’t that.” Drake propped his head on his fist. “I’ve seen my second cousins fight. Not a brain cell between them.”

“Sometimes I don’t know how you’ve survived this long,” our uncle muttered, rising to join our grandfather. “Good luck, Aileen. I hope you succeed.”

I cocked my head. “Are you saying that because you actually want me to survive or are you just afraid of what dad will do if you follow through?”

My uncle didn’t answer, knocking his knuckles on the table in goodbye.

A second later, Caroline joined us at our table. “That’s quite the family you have there. A real tangled web.”

She didn’t seem to notice my glare, her forehead creased in thought for a moment before she shrugged.

“Who needs a drink?” Her hand was already in the air before either of us could form a response. “Barkeep. A round.”