“Well, yeah. The past couple of weeks, they’ve been hard, and just…yes. I’m worried.”
“I am well.” He clears his throat. “I’m full of sorrow because of Patrick. And anger. But my heart continues to beat even when I think it would rather break. I have you, Dmitri, Rachel. My daughters. My friends and extended family. I have plenty reason to fight.”
I swallow, throat aching with emotion. “Good.”
“Now, I believe we have a game of chess to finish.” He grins at me, all hopeful.
I stand up, beaming back. “This will be the time I beat you.”
Granddad’s phone rings, shrill in the quiet kitchen. He plucks it from the counter. It’s amazing how fast his voice switches from endearing to all-business as he practically barks, “What is it, Carter?”
“Your other granddaughter is here. She’s upset. I thought you’d want to meet her.”
Granddad’s already hanging up and hurrying down the hall. I follow him to the front door.
Rachel’s car comes to a sudden halt, inches from my own. She swings open her door. Granddad and I rush to her and she practically falls into our waiting arms. She twists around to look behind her. “They’re gone? They didn’t follow me in?”
“No, Carter made sure the gate was closed after you.” Granddad hugs her tightly. “You’re safe here, Rachel. Come inside.”
He leads her through the front door while I follow behind. A skittering of nerves prick over the back of my neck. It’s dark out there. Driving at night can be scary. I can’t imagine how terrified Rachel must have been, if she was being followed.
Once inside, I find Rachel sitting on the low bench in the entryway, like she couldn’t take another step. In her 1950s style dress, with her blond bob, she looks like she stepped out of another time and into Granddad’s austere, stuffy house.
Granddad crouches next to her. “Darling Rachel. Tell me what happened.”
“Two guys in another car. I couldn’t see them very good, but there were at least two. They were—they were following me.” She gasps and dabs at her eyes. Smudges of mascara mar her cheeks. “It didn’t matter which way I went. I didn’t want to go home, didn’t want them to know where I live. You told me I should come here if I was in trouble, Granddad—was that wrong?”
“You did the exact right thing, little Rachel.”
She sniffles and nods. “Okay. I don’t want them to come here, either, though. Will they come here?”
“I have plenty of protections in place. You’re safe here. And I’ll ensure your house is protected, too.” Granddad’s voice is gruff with resolution. “Danica, please take your cousin to the kitchen and pour her a cup of tea. I will call in some favors.”
“Yes, of course.” I wrap my arm around Rachel’s shoulders and lead her to the kitchen. There, I pour her tea, which she isn’t interested in drinking, and pile a plate with treats left for us by Granddad’s cook.
“Thanks,” Rachel whispers.
“Do you want to stay here tonight? I’ll stay in the guest room with you if you want.”
“Yes. Yes, please. Thanks, Dani.”
Once Rachel is set up in the guest room, I make my way down the hall toward Granddad’s office. I want to know if Carter got a good look at the car following Rachel.
Granddad’s still on the phone, so I wait outside. I’m not trying to eavesdrop, but Granddad’s voice echoes clearly from the room.
“It’s the Laytons again.” He pauses, likely listening to someone on the other end of the line. “I will purge them from our city.”
17
Troy
Late at night, Ed Layton has called in Francis, Edmund, Caleb Morraine, and Victor Shaffer. I’m here by default, since I’m usually following Edmund around. Or maybe Ed doesn’t trust Caleb as much, since I said his security was shitty, and he wants me here as a second opinion.
So, six men in the Layton organization are crammed into Ed’s office for a meeting about?—
“You’re quite serious.” Francis Layton’s eyebrows rise high on his wide forehead, the only visible expression of shock he’ll allow. “This is about Cece?”
“What does my mom have to do with anything?” Caleb’s usually easy smile is nowhere to be found.
