Page 94 of A Second Chance for the Beta

Annie wasn’t wrong. The moment we are in the safety of Liam’s office, Annie tells us what happened and what they found out. Silas adds a few details here and there. It’s mindboggling to say the least. This is just…

“I knew your brother was a vile man,” Liam says. “But I didn’t know the extent of your fallout.”

Something close to pain flashes in Silas’s eyes. “The fallout was worse than you could imagine,” he says. “I was betrayed by a friend, who alerted Aloysius. We both almost died during the fight that ensued out of it. I cannot forgive my brother for the things he has done, for the cruelty he has displayed, but all my bitter feelings aside, the truth is”—he looks at each of us—“he is very intelligent. And from my experience, he would never just go on a killing spree.”

“But he will kill Charlie the moment he knows she is his daughter?”

He nods. “He will try to.”

“Never,” I exclaim.

A smile curls Silas’s lips. “Your mate said the same.”

Liam is about to say more when my phone rings. It’s a suppressed number. I frown, looking at Liam who just gestures for me to take it. And I’m eternally glad that I did.

It’s Ella!

She is not hurt. She isn’t even a prisoner… or that’s what they want her to believe. She also verified Silas’s words and more. She believes that Imogen’s team attacking us and Aloysius’s lieutenant abducting her are two separate incidents. She also hints that they might not know how close we are to Silas.

We don’t have much time to talk and can’t talk openly either, but hearing her voice reassures me. And while I don’t like her to be there with this vicious vampire leader, I know she is momentarily safe.

Once I hung up, Liam nods at me. “She is doing the right thing, Dante,” he says.

“Your threat was a good thing, Alpha Liam,” Silas says. “Aloysius is not going to risk a war. I know none of you truly believe me when I say that, but he thinks only brutes and barbarians grab the weapons and lunge into battle. He believes more in a psychological war if you want to call it that way.”

“Does your brother know your whereabouts?” I ask Silas.

He shakes his head. “My brother has some tricks up his sleeve, but I do too. Sunset Hills is officially known as a werewolf pack and a coven of outcast vampires. My brother would never imagine in his wildest dreams that I, an ancient vampire lord and his brother, would call myself an outcast.”

“So, Ella’s intuition was right,” I say. “She also believes Imogen attacking Sunset Hills and Aloysius having her abducted are not connected.”

“We can easily find that out when we question the prisoners,” Liam says. “She has a point though. It’s true that the lieutenant—What’s his name actually?”

“Atticus,” Silas answers.

“It’s true that Atticus visited Imogen and the other mercenaries, but we don’t know what he wanted from them. He might have ordered the attack to distract everyone from Ella. But Richie has been spying on us for a lot longer. I’m starting to wonder if Atticus was always in the picture or if they have another client.”

“Liam is right,” Annie says. “If it’s true what Silas says about his brother, then why would Aloysius hire mercenaries to kill Charlie? They are hitmen, they are killers, not spies, and they are certainly not subtle.”

“Ella said that one of them carried a piece of paper with a drawing of her necklace,” I say.

“Of Ella’s necklace?” Annie asks.

Liam has turned silent.

“What are you thinking?” Annie asks him.

“Imogen had Richie spy on Ella and Dante,” he says thoughtfully. “When they lured him out in the bar, he followed the both of them… not Charlie. And Imogen’s attack was at Sunset Hills. Charlie was nowhere to be seen. I’m sure Aloysius wants Charlie. I have no doubts there, but I’m starting to wonder if Imogen’s team is truly targeting Charlie.”

We all stare at him in shock. “You think they are after Ella?” I ask.

“It’s an option,” Liam says.

We discuss this issue a bit further, deciding to question the prisoners properly, and also ask Richie once more for help when my phone rings again. Once more it’s a suppressed number, and it’s Ella again. She explains to me she is sitting withLordAloysius, and they are trying to figure out Charlie’s heritage.

Her tone is light and casual, but I know her well enough to hear a certain edge in it. She is playing a game with the powerful vampire lord. I just hope she is as careful as possible. She tells me that Aloysius approved of a warrior to be sent to her for support.

“Choose someone to your liking,” Ella says. “And make them wait at the gas station at the west entrance from town. A vampire will pick them up at 11:00 p.m. His name is Atticus, and he is easily noticeable by the fine bruise on his face.”