“One of the names on the list was yours. One was the president. There are a few others on it, such as Petyr Blazevic and a guy we found in Norway—theDominatusaccountant, Lief Holmberg. Each one was to face a test that would stretch them to their limits.”
Bear shifted his weight from one boot to the other. Resigning himself to telling the whole story. “Also on the list were your mother, Amara, and Bruce.”
“A power couple.”
“We had to take several players off the board. We knew if we could control the outcome of the tests, we could ensure the person we wanted was sworn in as the new leader. We went to the president with a plan to make sure it was her that ended up in charge. I mean, she’s a public figure. She has a solid reputation and is gaining popularity. If we paired her with one of the men on the list, she could land in the top spot.”
“And you believed she would be a good fit as their leader?”
Bear looked at her. “We told her that if she became dangerous, we would take her out.”
“You threatened to end the life of the president of the United States?” Jax asked him, a dark look on his face.
Bear said, “We’re at war with these people. This is how we end the war.”
“What about Jax and me?” Kenna asked. They’d certainly thought through the plan. She wanted to know to what extent they’d done that.
Bear sniffed. “We knew what the test was going to be.”
“The killer was hired to take out the baby and Crystal and kidnap Ellayna so I’d have to find her.”
Bear nodded. “That’s why we sent you the contract, so you’d understand.”
“You intercepted and saved their lives.”
“We’ve been keeping them safe. But we need that tech to finish the job. We have to make sure the president gets the vote. That’s why she’s getting married tomorrow to the Norwegian accountant. The software will manipulate the polling and ensure a win.”
“You’re going to rig the election,” Stairns said.
Bear nodded. “Then we controlDominatus.”
“What about Shawn Terrance, Marcus Neerwood, and Wallace Lofton. Three men dead because of this.” She shifted her weight on the chair, and it started to rock, which meant she had to keep hold of the shotgun.
“There’s aDominatusasset onto us. She’s trying to find information about my team so she can stop us,” Bear said. “I’m hoping she finds the faction first. They’re the ones who shot at you and Zeyla.”
Kenna wasn’t going to admit she’d met the asset. “Who planted Zeyla’s prints at the murder scenes?”
“TheDominatustest had to strip you of your team. That’s why Zeyla was taken out of play. And likely Maizie, too.” Bear looked like he was about to lose his cool.
“Your people? Working forDominatus? That’s who is doing all this, putting me through my test?” The asset had to be Sylvia Caughton. Kenna had been played on more than one front through this whole thing. “They should’ve told me so I could let them know where they could shove their test.”
Bear said, “I’ll send a team, and they’ll get Maizie back. These are my people who went rogue. It’s my responsibility to clean up the mess.”
He had to know they’d spoken to the killer. After all, the team who took Maizie knew where to find them. “We have an IP address for the person who hired the contract killer to take out Ellayna’s family.”
“Chicago?”
She frowned. “How did you know where the IP address would lead?”
“The person behind all this is the interim Grand Master. The governor of Illinois,” Bear said.
She couldn’t picture the man’s face in her mind, but she could imagine what kind of person he was. “Of course, it’s a governor.”
“The president is getting married in Chicago tomorrow. The governor will be officiating. They’re going to force the vote right after the ceremony and get the GM to swear them in as the couple in charge of allDominatus.”
“Honestly,” Kenna said. “I don’t care what they’re doing. I don’t want anything to do with this. You should have told me they were going to be testing me. I’d have made it real clear where I stand on being considered as the new leader ofDominatus. The answer is no.”
The only thing she cared about was Maizie.
