7. Gianluca

I makemy way to the kitchen with a sense of urgency. This attack on the Norwich campus has left me with a bad taste in my mouth. We need to find out who's behind this, and quickly.

As I walk, I pull out my phone and ring my contact at Norwich. He picks up in two rings. "What?"

"Hey, man. I heard about the attack on campus. Do you have any word on who's behind it?"

"Hey, G. There are no solid leads yet, but rumours are flying. You know anything?"

"Not yet. I was hoping you did."

Smith sighs. It's not his real name; I don't even know what it is, but Smith works. Nice and easy. "I never expected this here."

"I know. This is why it's important to figure out who and why. Anything you've got, anything you see or hear that can link this to Dunsany, let me know."

"Yeah, I will."

"Thanks."

We hang up, and I glare at the coffee machine. I don't even feel like a cup after everything that has happened today. All my instincts are calling out to go to Victoria, to make sure she is really okay after murdering Quinn, but part of me also knows she needs to be alone now. It's why she insisted on going to Castle by herself. I get it. But I'm worried about her. I still haven't fully processed what she told us earlier, and then it all went down, and I'm still reeling a little bit. Diving into this relationship headfirst, with no guarantees is playing on my mind. I fucked her without protection. I didn't even stop to think about it. I needed my cock in her pussy with no sheath, and that's all there was to it. I don't think she will screw me over, but I've been careful for so long that as soon as this opportunity came up, I lost my mind. Completely. She made me lose my mind and my safety measures. That makes her dangerous to be around. First this, then what?

I shake my head, trying to clear the doubts swirling in my mind. Victoria is not like that. She's strong, fierce, and loyal. She wouldn't do anything to hurt me. But I don't have that in writing. I know that's not how real life works, but I don't tend to live in the real world. I live in a bubble that is half royal blood and half mafia. Contracts are made and exchanged, and bargains are struck. It's the way it is.

Pushing the thoughts of her aside, I need to focus on finding out who's behind the Red Reapers. They're a mystery, and I don't like mysteries. I prefer to know my enemies, to understand their motivations and weaknesses. It's the only way to stay one step ahead of them.

I dial another number, connecting with one of my sources in the police force. "Hey, it's Gianluca Etienne. I need some information about a group called the Red Reapers. Anything you've got."

The line goes quiet for a moment before my source speaks up. "The Red Reapers? I haven't heard of them. What are they involved in?"

Narrowing my eyes at the phone as I pull it away from my ear for a second, red flags start to wave.

"Not sure yet. All I know is they're causing trouble on university campuses. Three students were hospitalised in Norwich earlier today." That information is nothing he wouldn't already have access to.

"Let me see what I can find out, and I'll get back to you."

"Thanks."

As I hang up the phone, I can't shake the feeling that we're being played. The attack on Norwich seems too convenient and too calculated. It's almost as if someone is trying to send us a message. But who would want to mess with the next gen? None of us are small-time players in this world, and what does Norwich have to do with any of this?

My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. I turn to see Luke entering the kitchen, his expression unreadable.

"Any news?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "Nothing yet. But I've got my people working on it."

I nod at Cian as he joins us. "I just spoke to a source in the police force. They haven't heard of the Red Reapers."

Cian frowns. "That's odd. They've been making waves."

"I know," I say, running a hand through my hair. "Something's not right here."

"Right, we need to lock this down. No more outside sources. We deal in-house, and when Tory gets back from Castle U, we'll have a meeting, just the four of us, to figure out a plan of action. Eliza might have something for Tory, so we'll wait now and see what she brings back."

"Agreed," I say as Luke nods. Things got strange fast, and that is never a good fucking sign.

The three of us share a tense silence, each lost in our own thoughts. The weight of the situation is bearing down on us, and we all know that time is of the essence.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, snapping me out of my thoughts. I pull it out, hoping for good news, but it's just an email from my father reminding me of an upcoming meeting. I roll my eyes and shove the phone back in my pocket.

"What?" Cian asks.

"More rebel shit," I mutter. "It can wait."

"Wait?" Cian chuckles. "The rebels threatening to overtake your country can wait?"

"Oh, fuck off," I grumble. "You know what I mean. The meeting isn't set until the day after tomorrow. I've got time to help with this before I have to go be Fixer for Esteria."

"How about we start a file?" Luke suggests.

I know he is also worried about Victoria and is trying to distract himself. "Good idea. Encrypted."

"Obviously." He rolls his eyes at me as he goes to get his laptop.

"You good?" I ask Cian.

"Been better."

"She's tough."

"Too tough. She doesn't ask for help."

"She will if she needs it with this. But something tells me that one-woman massacre did her the world of good."

"Let's hope so."

Yeah, because if not, the Red Reapers are going to be the least of our worries.