Page 87 of The Echo of Forever

How could I hold her accountable for some shit she couldn’t even remember? From here on out, I wasn’t letting her out of my sight, though.

Fuck the bullshit.

“You were passed a message to meet privately, and someone intercepted. Thewho, is still being investigated, but I can tell you the message sent had come from Solomon Fairchild, his mother’s twin brother.”

I waved my hand, not interested in this part of the story.

“What exactly did we commit to?”

He sighed but knew not to push too hard. I wouldn’t hesitate to kill him and everybody within the checkpoints.

“Your bloodline is the true power structure of Everwood, the real governing body. Technically, you’ve only gone through the ceremony that binds you two together by Fairchild law. Rest assured, neither have given up your freedom or pledged loyalty to the family.”

Forever and I exchanged glances.

“Right now there’s a power struggle happening behind the scenes,” he went on, drawing us back. “The bodies that makeup the collective are vying for more control and have been since before your father’s murder, Demetrius.”

More pieces of the puzzle connected.

“My dad used me to try and kill his mother,” Forever said, removing her hand from mine. “Does that mean they know she’s a Fairchild?”

He shook his head and addressed me instead of her, something I didn’t care for but decided to address after we got what we came for.

“Solomon is certain there’s a traitor amongst his circle, leaking information to the other side. Soleme never fulfilled her duty to infiltrate. Your father unknowingly exposed her later, and the collective killed him with plans to kill her next until she left. Going back to her family was the only way to keep everyone safe. Right now, her sacrifice doesn’t hold the same weight as before.”

I chuckled and pulled Forever into me.

“And he wants my wife, to what? Risk her life eliminating his enemies?”

The way Lucien looked at her like she was an important piece on his chessboard made my trigger finger itch.

“Solomon is requesting she resume the contract her father issued,” he said carefully. “But use it to find and eliminate the traitor within his ranks.”

“That would require more about Soleme and his inner circle.”

He pointed to the hand she held the thumb drive.

“That’s everything you need. All of it accumulated during the time you two were apart.”

Everything about this made me uncomfortable.

“What does she get out of it?” I asked, knowing Forever well enough to prepare for her acceptance.

This time, Lucien looked at her when responding.

“The right to eliminate whomever stands in the way of your investigation. Right now, as it stands, Solomon Fairchild is the head of the collective. His decision-making power extends to you.”

Forever pulled me back, far enough from Lucien to give us privacy.

“What’s on your mind? I can feel how against this you are.”

She was staring up at me like she used to, like my concerns mattered the most to her.

“There’s an invisible threat in the mix, who’s steps ahead of us, baby. I’m not feeling that part of this. Too many variables I can’t control.”

Too many opportunities for me to lose her again.

“I agree,” she said, nodding. “It’s risky, but not if we use our resources.”