Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Chloe glided through the front door, opening her arms wide. "Caroline. You're glowing!"

Caroline rushed into her friend's embrace. "Oh, how I've missed you."

Behind her, Luke chuckled as he watched his soon-to-be wife enjoying her joy. Behind Chloe, the Duke of Helmsworth stood waiting.

Luke dropped his chin in greeting. "Thank you for coming, Your Grace."

"Thank you for having me, Your Grace. Chloe would not have missed this for the world."

Luke understood the implication perfectly. Chloe was the reason they were both here. If left to his own devices, Helmsworth would still be happily tucked in the country with his new bride.

It was a sentiment that Luke understood completely. "Happy wives…" he murmured, reaching out a hand to the other man.

Helmsworth chuckled.

Chloe gave Caroline another hug. "Honestly, Caroline, you're ravishing. Being engaged looks stunning on you."

Luke knew that Caroline had not told Chloe about the pregnancy. They'd decided it was best to not put the information in writing and to have the wedding within a fortnight.

Though people might suspect when the baby came early, they'd have been married long enough for most to not question the baby's birth.

But Luke knew the ladies had much to talk about and he and Helmsworth had several details to discuss as well.

They left the women to their own conversation and made their way to Luke's study.

Pouring them both a whisky, they sat in the chairs next to the fire.

Luke took several sips, trying to decide where to begin. Finally, after his fourth swallow, he dropped his glass. "Adam is dead."

Helmsworth paused before lifting his glass. "Well, that is worth toasting." And then he took a long swallow.

Luke didn't drink. "We have eliminated the fist…"

Helmsworth dropped his glass to rest on the arm of his chair. "But the rest of the order…"

"That's right. The head remains. And we're not completely certain who that even is."

Helmsworth drew in a deep breath. "What's to be done?"

He grimaced. "You've got Chloe to care for and I have Caroline and…" He grimaced. "Caroline is pregnant."

Helmsworth's brows drew up. "A happy occasion?"

"The happiest." His shoulders straightened as he continued. "I know that keeping her and the baby safe means that the order must be eliminated. We've both felt their sting."

Helmsworth nodded. "Ironheart isn't up to the task on his own."

Luke shook his head. "I don't think so."

"And your friend, the Summoner?"

Luke took another sip of his drink. "Max has the strength but he's a man with… limitations."

"I've wondered, precisely, what those limitations are."

Luke grimaced, not wishing to give the other man's secrets away. He rarely spoke in public, for good reason. Luke was not keen on betraying the man's secrets. Those were for Max to share when and with whom he chose. But there was some information he could share. "He's deep enough, and dark enough, that Ironheart grates him. I'm afraid they won't work together very well."

Helmsworth took another swallow. "There is only one way to find out."

Luke nodded. Helmsworth was right. "Shall we leave post haste?"

"We shall…"

A half hour later, the two men sat in a carriage together, crossing the city to the Club with No Name.

Tying masks about their faces, they made their way inside.

While very few members would be there this early in the day, some might not have left from the night before.

There was a strong possibility one or the other man wouldn't be here, but if they could collect either Ironheart or Max, then they'd be that much closer to creating a meeting where they could formulate a plan.

Max, the second son of the Duke of Edgemere, was Lord Hardwell, though he rarely used the title.

And while he was a member of the club, he almost never participated in the games. As luck, or perhaps just diligence would have it, Max was in his small office, a stack of papers in front of him.

"Max?" Luke said as he knocked on the partially open door.

"Emperor," Max said, then sighted Helmsworth, his mouth pulling tight. Max rarely spoke in front of anyone besides Luke.

"Not anymore," Luke answered with a faint smile as he looked at the paperwork in front of Max. "But you likely understand that better than most."

Max's hand fisted on the desk. "H-he-he's com-completely incomp-competent."

Helmsworth entered too. "Are we discussing Ironheart? The man has real issues doing anything besides drinking and fucking."

One corner of Max's mouth tilted up as Luke and Helmsworth took a seat on the small settee across from the desk. The room was small and the chairs, tiny. They must look ridiculous.

"Max appears to be doing the bulk of Ironheart's work," Luke gestured toward the stack of papers.

Helmsworth's brows lifted. "I see."

"He tried. But he ad-added most of the columns wrong."

Helmsworth pushed up, coming to stand next to Max as he looked at all the corrections the other man had made.

Luke knew that Helmsworth was learning the truth. There was nothing wrong with Max's mind. The man was as sharp as any of them. Maybe sharper.

The words just struggled to make it past his tongue. But when an investigation needed to occur, someone had to be able to question others.

And that's where Ironheart could be crucial, but the two men would have to work together. All their happiness depended on it.

Luke sat forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees. "Is the new leader here now?"

"Still drunk I'd wager," Max grunted. "But he's in his office."

Luke stood. "I'd like to speak with both of you."

Max nodded and rose too, both him and Helmsworth following him to the new Emperor's office.

Ironheart was there, and as Max said, he was asleep in his chair, a bit of drool coming down his chin.

Helmsworth disliked Ironheart even more than Max and so lifting a heavy candlestick from the desk, he raised it up to shoulder height and then dropped it on the hardwood floor.

The sound, loud as it was, did not disguise Max's chuckle as Ironheart woke with a start, jumping from his chair.

"Your reflexes are decent," Helmsworth chuckled. "I'll give you that."

Ironheart scrubbed at the scruff on his chin. He was always handsome, but his eyes were puffy and dark, and his skin looked a bit pasty. "Always a treat, Keeper."

Helmsworth looked back at him, but he only shrugged. Helmsworth was no more the Keeper than he was the Emperor. But habits die hard.

"Same, Emperor," Helmsworth replied. "Hard at work managing the club, I see."

"I-I l-like you," Max said from behind Helmsworth.

"I-I s-see why you don't talk," Ironheart bit back.

Max's fists clenched and he was around Helmsworth in a second. Grabbing Ironheart by the neck, he had him down on the desk before the other man could even cry out. "Make fun again and it will be the last words you ever speak. I'll crush your larynx before you can even protest."

Helmsworth cocked his head. "You are very articulate in your violence."

"Thank you," Max answered, keeping the wheezing Ironheart pinned.

"Is it too late for me to tell you both that I came here to implore the two of you to work together?"

Max snorted. "Far too late." But he eased his grip on Ironheart, letting the other man up.

Ironheart grasped for breath, his own hands coming to his throat. "I don't know why you're so upset. We both know you're far more intelligent than I am."

Max relaxed at those words, the hard lines of his face softening.

Helmsworth slapped Max on the back. "Tea or whisky, Ironheart?"

Ironheart rolled his neck, a loud crack filling the room. "Tea with whisky please."

"Fine, I'll rustle it up. Why don't the three of you get started?"

"On?" Ironheart asked.

"Adam is dead," Luke volunteered. "Which means, it's time to get to the root of the problem."

"And how do you propose we do that?" Ironheart asked.

Luke looked between Max and Ironheart. "You'll have to work together."

"Make that just whisky," Ironheart grunted.

"I'll take one too," Max mumbled.

Luke smiled at them both. "Good. Let's begin."