“Huh. Charlie and Lottie. That’s short for Charlotte, right? How funny,” he muses, his eyes taking on a dark glint. “Are you new in town? I haven’t seen you before.”
My eyes flick to the cafe, and I see Lachlan speaking to the barista.
Hurry up,I urge. When I look back at Charlie, he’s waiting for my answer. He must know who I am, right? That’s why he’s introducing himself? Max said they’d been in Oxford… but they’re not supposed to be in Blackwell yet.
Panic sets in, and I force my heartbeat to slow.
Everyone’s okay.
I’m okay.
I let my eyes wander over the empty street as I try to implement everything I’ve been taught. Charlie seems to be alone, and from what I can see, he doesn’t appear to be armed.
Fuck.
“Yes, I moved recently for work,” I answer tightly.
Charlie nods like he knows. Because hedoes.His brown eyes study my face, and I utilize everything I’ve learned over the last three months to keep the emotions off my face.
“Well, Lottie. Maybe I’ll see you around?” he asks, tugging Helga back with the leash.
Is the dog’s name really Helga, or is he messing with me? It can’t be a coincidence that she looks so much like Cocoa, or that she’s named after my housekeeper.
“Yes, perhaps,” I answer politely.
“Have a blessed day,” he adds, tipping his hat and turning around to walk away.
I don’t even realize that my hands are shaking until I reach for my phone to quickly text Max. I walk into the cafe and nearly collide with Lachlan carrying two takeaway cups.
“Char–”
“Citadel. They’re here. In Blackwell.”
CHAPTER 27
Otto
I’m laying on the sofa in the lounge when my phone chimes with a text.
Max: Citadel in Blackwell. Charlie walked right up to Lottie a minute ago. Bold motherfuckers.
I sit up. “Fuck,” I mutter.
Alex walks into the lounge, and he’s holding his phone in his hand. “Fuck,” he echoes.
The front door bursts open, and Max is breathing heavily. He must’ve been doing weights at the gym.
“Lottie’s with Lachlan, but I don’t trust those fuckers. Theo has no idea how they got past our security system. We’ve been monitoring every road into Blackwell–”
“They probably didn’t come over a road. It would be very easy to suss out where our cameras are and bypass them completely,” I tell him. “A year ago, these guys were amateurs. But ever since the ball, they’ve been studying us.”
I sigh. “Alaric warned me this would happen.”
“It’s the first of many,” Alex adds. “Unfortunately.”
“So, what?” I ask, looking at Max. He and Lottie are the ones who’ve been planning the event tonight for weeks.
“They’re trying to scare us,” Alex says, running a hand over his mouth. “They want to intimidate us before tonight because they know we’ve planned something.”
