Chapter Ten
James glanced at hisphone for the millionth time.He’d texted Kleya and she hadn’t responded to the message.Which wasn’t like her at all.He planned to go to Lark’s kitchen at lunch to apologize for his thoughtless words because he never meant to hurt her feelings.Yes, he’d been honest with her, but he never meant to shun her or hurt her feelings.
His cell rang and he picked it up quickly, disappointed when he saw his grandfather’s name.
“Yes?”he answered.
“I’m at our warehouse at the harbor.Get here as quickly as you can.”
Then David hung up.Why did everything seem off?James instructed his PA to move his meetings around, and then he was speeding down the freeway to the Kaneera City Port.Like many of the old money wealth, the Roarke clan had their hands in the pocket of the shipping trade and David ran that section of the company.
James got out of his car and stared up at the warehouse as his grandfather came to stand next to him.
“What’s the matter?”
“This is your test.”
Finally, James thought, trying to keep his focus on what he had to face, rather than on the fact that Kleya hadn’t texted him back.
“What can I expect?”
“A good leader sacrifices for his people,” David answered in a cautious tone.
“Cryptic bullshit,” James muttered.
“All I can tell you is that Landry failed his test.”He cocked his head in a knowing gesture, saying without words what happened to the Sessions family.“So, all you have to do is not fail.”
“Care to tell me how?”
“All I can tell you is to follow your instincts.”
“What happens if I fail?”
“Our place in the Coalition will end in the only way it operates, and a new person will be chosen.These protocols were put into place long before Howard took the reins.”
James knew exactly what that meant.Too much rested on this fucking test.He nodded, acknowledging the heavy price he’d have to pay if he failed.
“Follow the lights to the end.”His grandfather held out his hand.“Give me your gun.”
James hesitated for a moment, not liking the fact he had to go in weaponless, but he had no choice but to turn it over.Then David gestured to the door.
“Good luck.”
