Page 24 of The Maverick (WaterFyre Rising #7)
CHAPTER TWENTY
ATTIKUS
I sat at the table with a wide view of Orion’s yard. The magnolia tree was blooming. My yard had the Yoshina Cherry and Magnolia trees. More flowers surrounded his yard and home since Orion got married. More importantly, it was now full of dandelions, Elena’s favorite flower.
My head kept turning toward the other room, where laughter echoed.
“Sounds like they’re having fun,” Orion said, offering me a glass of wine.
Remington, Grayson, Royce, Arrow, and Forrest were all playing the demo for my Level Seven. An element was missing from my fantastical world, and I needed more time for the solution to come to me.
“Are you nervous?” I sipped the wine and let the warmth coat my throat. “Having two babies won’t be easy.”
“Scared shitless.” Orion smiled. “But Elena doesn’t know that. I don’t want her worrying about me.”
“It’s natural to be scared. This is a major life change. You’ll have mini versions of you and her running around the house.”
I recalled playing with my sister when we were younger. Five years younger than me, Amelia had looked up to me, wanting me to teach her how to draw and claiming I was better at it than her.
“Elena is the one having to deal with most changes. She has two humans growing inside her. That’s a miracle to me.
” I could hear the joy in Orion’s voice.
“I didn’t have any siblings growing up, so I’m happy my kids will have each other.
” He turned to the lounge area with the wide TV screen.
“I bet Forrest feels the same way. But he’s a doctor, so he can check up on Kiera more than I can with Elena. ”
“I thought you had a nurse coming here to examine Elena?”
He waved a hand. “I did, but Elena claims it was obsessive and unnecessary.”
“You’re also having a life-changing event with this marriage thing.” Orion tossed me a look. “I have to ask—is the contract tight?”
My best friend was being protective of me, and I appreciated his thoughtfulness. “Yeah. Don’t worry.”
Orion nodded and finished his wine. “I can see why you’re helping her.”
“Why?” I arched an eyebrow.
“Because she’s an artist like you and your sister.”
The truth of it hit me hard. I knew that was the reason, but I’d let it linger on the side. Facing it would acknowledge that I was no longer an artist. That my passion had died a long time ago. Those assholes took that passion away from me.
Of all the boys, Orion knew me best. Vanessa was like my sister and me—victims of a greedy and callous society.
I didn’t want her passion destroyed the way mine was.
I didn’t want her to lose her life and the opportunity to share her creativity with the world.
Amelia would have been an astounding artist if she were still alive.
She was more of a painter, and I was more of an illustrator.
Based on the art I’d observed, Vanessa had both skills.
I lifted my hand and wiggled my fingers. “I have drawn nothing since that day.”
“You should try again,” Orion said.
I lifted a shoulder. “Maybe.”
“Level Seven is the bomb . I can’t wait to see the last game.
” Grayson walked over, sat down, and grabbed an egg roll.
He wore a yellow stylist shirt that Natalie probably designed for him.
I’d hired his architectural firm to renovate my museum and other properties a while ago, and we’d become good friends.
He filled his plate with wings and the dumplings Audri had brought over.
“Not anytime soon,” I said.
All the boys came to the table, expressing their thoughts on Level Seven.
Remington pulled out a chair next to me. “Do you need me to look into Dr. Nico Messina?”
I told them about seeing him in Emmanuel’s social media feed.
“That would be great,” I said. “Enzo Stevens, Nico Messina, and Milton Kalkounis are all part of something big. I can feel it.”
“Enzo and Nico were just names on our list of Trogyn members, but now we’ll move them to the priority section.” Royce shoved a French fry into his mouth. He’d recently returned from vacation with Michelle and now looked like a tan Thor.
Each of the boys had taken a different angle into The Trogyn.
This crime syndicate was a colossal monster with ties to extremely powerful people with hidden identities.
We had to be careful how we attacked them now.
They knew about us, and I knew they were planning to hurt our families and businesses.
Remington had destroyed a profitable sex-trafficking warehouse.
Grayson destroyed an underground tunnel used to transport drugs and shit.
Royce had eliminated key members of their organization.
Forrest had closed down another sex-trafficking ring.
Arrow had brought down several elite members, including a Supreme Court judge and a European prince.
Orion had eliminated their money laundering business and life insurance scams involving multiple banks worldwide.
“Milton Kalkounis changed his name to Jean-Claude Dumas,” I said.
“The fuck? Why?” Arrow asked.
“Not sure. But I’m gonna find out.”
More laughter erupted, and the boys shook their heads while smiling.
“It sounds more fun over there,” said Grayson.
“You can join them.” Arrow slung an arm around Grayson.
“If they let you,” Remi said, his expression turning contemplative.
He didn’t need to say anything. I knew what he was thinking. We had to eliminate The Trogyn to protect the joy in that room.