Delinquent taxes on properties we have held for decades. Properties that were grandfathered in under agreements made long ago.
They are rewriting history, erasing our protections, and trying to strip us bare.
"I just need to think," I say again, moving the letter aside. "We have Dad's funeral tomorrow. Mom is wandering around this house lost, and now this."
"We need to just go in guns blazing," Declan says, pacing in front of my desk like a caged animal. "Find Cormac and kill him. And if we can't find him, start killing his crazy followers until he crawls out from whatever hole he's in. Get Octavian's hacker on it, too. Fucking throw everything at it."
I lean back in my chair, arms crossed, watching him.
"That's not a plan," I say.
"It's a plan alright," Declan fires back. "A damn good one, too."
"Look, I'm working on it," I say, leaning forward. "I just need a little more time. I want him just as bad for what he's done to this family, our business, and both of you, but we need to watch our footing. This recent Shadowharbor attack shows how strategic they are. They want us desperate and out in the open. If we start swinging blindly, we fall into their trap."
Keira raises her arms into the air. "So what the hell do we do, Cal? Tell us."
Declan stops and stares at me. They are waiting for answers, and I don't blame them.
My fingers tap against the desk as I contemplate what to say and how to say it.
"I've got something," I say. "I need to see if the source is accurate before I bring it fully to the table, but…" I pause just long enough to choose my words carefully. "I have a ritual site. A meeting place. A location tied to the Morrígan Order. We need to check it out."
"Who told you this?" Declan asks, stepping forward.
I should say Cormac's daughter, who I have locked up above us.
I should tell them the truth.
But I don't.
"It doesn't matter yet. It might not even be real," I say. "I need to know if they can be trusted before I, we, can do anything about them."
Declan stares at me, and I can tell he doesn't like the answer.
I keep talking before he can respond.
"Tonight," I say. "I want you, Shane, and some others to go check it out. Bring Octavian, too. See what you can find. See if what I'm being told is true."
Declan's eyes narrow. "Okay, and what exactly are we supposed to find?"
I shrug, keeping my expression neutral.
"I don't know exactly. If we find anything, that will mean we have something reliable to work with, and then we can go guns blazing. My way though. Strategic, not fucking Rambo."
Declan snorts and shrugs. "Mine is more effective, but fine."
"I'll send you the details. It's near the harbor downtown."
Keira blows out a breath and stares at me with her arms crossed. "I hate this. I fucking hate feeling blindsided. Dad's funeral. Everything crumbling around us. And now we are relying on vague intel?"
I meet her eyes. "It's the only move we have right now."
It is not a lie, but it is not the whole truth either.
Keira studies me for a moment, then nods.
"Fine."
