I answered them honestly that I had been locked up and couldn’t tell them if there was some place for top-tiers like that, but I’d never seen it. I couldn’t think there could be with the way people reacted to what the land was like.
“I have been to a lot of places—dozens and dozens of top-tier family estates and only one cameclose,” Clare commented from the next table over. It wasn’t awkward for her to be there or like we were excluding her. She had blueprints and plans laid all out with Jasmine. “And Father was… You know. Grandmother too. That family—it was their thing.”
“Which family?” Jasmine asked.
Clare frowned. “I can’t remember. I’d have to think.” She glanced at me. “I’ll try and find a way to get Grandmother to tell me without acting like I care.”
“Good reason to still have contact with her. She does know where all the bodies are buried and tons of knowledge. That will keep us a step ahead.” I was glad I said it when she gave me a grateful look like I was trying to understand her or at least give her an excuse for what she needed.
Yeah, I was trying my best.
She was for me after all.
I nibbled on more food that Winter kept setting in front of us while sipping more drinks they wanted me to try while explaining how the land… Was the way it was? I didn’t go into where it started, but more what I knew worked and what was needed.
“You need like a fucking admin,” Gloria muttered as she rubbed her forehead. “Like right now. Just hearing all of that is exhausting.”
“We’re working on it,” I promised.
“Yeah, but this person is doing this and that person is doing that or all these people are helping when they can and—” she argued.
“We’re working on it,” Winter interjected, pointing between himself and several of his friends. He gave me a kind smile. “That was what I was saying about reaching out to people we know and the state of things being worse than we thought.”
“Other orphans,” Robin muttered, catching something I missed.
And it wasn’t because I’d now had several drinks.
I listened as the guys talked about the situation for people they’d known from different orphanages or from school. Things were definitely worse, and it wasn’t only the top-tier families who preyed on them, others seeing the potential in the plan. Onewas magically gifted and threatened by physically keeping their familiar hostage.
What could they do? Go to the corrupt police?
So now they were making a list and trying to find more people we could help get out of bad places.
“Look, hold up,” Gloria cut in. “I get where your head is and they’ll be loyal to her for saving their asses.” She gave Winter and his friends a hard look. “But she is a huge target and you’re talking about bringing other targets here. You just made this place—this place people now know about and will target and find out about this magic—all the more appealing.”
“Not here,” Winter clarified. “The huge parcel she bought that part of the council is going to invest in.”
“And yes, they’ll be loyal, but you’re also forgetting they were targeted becausetheywere powerful,” Danny added. “That’s a lot of power when Taylor and his people are good but lack the magic right now. We need that magic on our sideright now, so no more Conrads.” He muttered an apology when I flinched.
But he wasn’t wrong. Neither side was.
“Getting them out doesn’t mean you have to hire them, little sexy,” Winter reminded me. “Doesn’t even mean you have to be involved. I talked with Link and his guys are in off hours and keeping the proof for later. Some of these crimes have no statute of limitations. I agree with Taylor that it’s time to start getting people and pawns off the board.”
Yeah, easier said than done.
“Where do we house them?” I asked, knowing I would help but like… Logistics.
“Construction companies get temp housing up in a week on big, remote sites. The military does all of the time and Taylor knows people—military contractors that don’t ask questions to get started,” Winter answered.
“I can’t be the boss of all of this,” I worried.
“You’re not. This is where Councilman Oliveria is stepping in to be the scary, scary adult,” he promised. He smiled when I sighed. “I know, but what we found is bad. They all want to help even if it’s not the way they want to. And it can help you.”
Fair enough.
I listened to what was already done and people were being really smart. If we were to bring in more life to keep the magic pumped to such a high level—why not bring in the life that would help?
Like bugs, birds, and more that ate mosquitos? And ticks?
