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Rage is bubbling underneath my skin, threatening to spill over. I want to smack this bitch so hard her head rolls.
“But—” she interrupts my thoughts. “I understand it. I will say this, Tillie, you have a very loyal bunch around you, I won’t say anything else.”
I look to Gabriel “And what have you got to do with all of this?”
Gabe smiles. “I’m here to make sure things run smoothly, Tillie.”
“What?”
“—He’s a Peacekeeper, Tillie,” Nate mutters, running his hands over his face. I can see underneath the cool façade that Nate is filled with wrath. Someone is going to die tonight, and that someone better be Hector.
“Peacekeeper,” Gabe says, unbuttoning his suit jacket. “There has to always be one Peacekeeper. When I die, or lose my mind, someone else will be assigned. I keep the peace between The Kings, The Rebels, and The Circle, as well as the civilians. I am untouchable, and anyone who dares harm me will be wiped out, as well as their entire family. So, people usually follow the law.”
“Right,” I mutter. “But what—Puer Natus?”
Gabriel stills. “Not now.”
Nate shifts around just as the SUV comes to a stop. I look up and notice we’re at Bishop’s house.
“Hector is home. I suggest you get this done, thoroughly.”
I glare at Gabe. “Haven’t you failed your job?”
Gabriel smirks. “So quick to jump to the next conclusion.”
Nate swings open the door, grabbing onto my hand and dragging me out.
“Will be here, son…” Gabriel says just as Nate slams the door closed.
Nate drags me up the stairs, through the front door.
The lights are out, and even though I’m well aware that the sun is going down outside, it seems darker in this house. Twin stairs lead up to the second floor, a crystal chandelier hanging above our head in the foyer where black and white checkered tiles lay beneath our feet. Nate pulls me behind him, leading us through a high archway where I can see flames flickering, throwing light around the dark room.
“Well, well, well…” Hector says smugly, and we both turn to find him reading a book on a single sofa. “I did wonder when I would come face to face with you both. Didn’t think you’d be bold enough to confront me in my own house, though.”
Nate takes a seat on the sofa opposite him, unfazed. “Really? Because I’d say that you should know exactly what I’m capable of, Hector, since you know… you’ve seen me in action.”
Hector twists his cigar around his mouth, grinning. “True, son. Very true.”
Nate hasn’t taken his eyes off him, and when I don’t move, his hand finds mine instantly, yanking me down beside him. “Is it true?” he asks Hector.
Hector seems to ponder over his words, like he’s tossing up whether or not he’s going to answer honestly or dance around in lies. “Yes and no.”
“Elaborate,” Nate seethes, his lip curling around his teeth. He looks feral, like he’s about to pounce on his prey and rip it to shreds.
Hector leans forward, reaching for his whiskey glass. “I want to show you something, and then you can decide what that means and what you want to do with it, but let me warn you both, not because I have to, but because I look at you like a son, Nate… under any killing of a Hayes, especially me, there is a bounty out for one-hundred million dollars to whoever kills the person who killed me, and then extra for the head of their loved ones. The duty will not be done lightly. If they catch you, they will make sure that the people you love, or persons.” He grins, his eyes flicking to me. “Will be tortured while you’re alive, for you to watch.”
Nate stills.
“So be very wise with how you continue this plan. You’re not a juvenile. Tillie is smart, I trust you will both make the right choice.”
Nate’s jaw clenches. “Just show us what you need to.”
Hector picks up a remote control beside him, as if he knew we were coming. That bitch Scarlet. He pushes a button and the large TV that’s hanging on the feature wall ahead of us turns on.
The screen is blurry at first, like someone is wiping the lens, and then it’s on my sister’s face, like it’s turned around.
“I hope you can see this!” Then it turns and a click sounds, and suddenly I’m facing everything that’s in front of her.
“Call Hector…” a female voice says, and I recognize it instantly.
It’s silent, and then my sister murmurs. “We’re here. The camera is set up, we’re about to proceed.”
Silence, and I see the front of Khales as she stands in front of Peyton.
“That makes no sense….”
She must hang up the phone because now Khales looks confused. “What!”
I see that they’re in the driveway of Nate’s house, and it makes my stomach curl.