13
Claudia
Our discovery at Rothenburg ruins the rest of the Germany trip. We visit castles and WWII sites and museums, but I’m on my phone the entire time, racking up an insane roaming bill checking the security cameras at the house. George is busy too, searching online forums and putting feelers out on the dark web for more sightings of Mackenzie, but the few people who still care enough about the Malloys to post about it are only concerned with the media reports of my reappearance.
Antony’s distracted, too. He leaves Tiberius in charge of the tour and spends all his time on his phone, talking to various people in the gang. He tells me the plans for the main Saturnalia party are underway, that every criminal and lowlife in Emerald Beach will show up to see what happens to Brutus’ empire. I want to be back there, but we have one more stop to make before we can return to America.
I’m grateful when we finally board the plane to England. I think I’d like Germany much better if it didn’t think I was Mackenzie. Antony and George wave to us from the departure lounge – they’re taking a direct flight back to Emerald Beach. I force my mouth into a smile as I wave back. I know what Antony’s planning to do, why he’s so keen to be in Emerald Beach without me.
I’m so busy thinking about it that our plane is in the air before I realize I never sat down for a heart-to-heart with George. Some friend I turned out to be.
As the plane settles into its cruising altitude, Eli racks up a mafia movie on both our devices. “I thought we could watch this at the same time,” he says as he places the headphones over my ears.
The movie starts, but I’m a million miles away, lost in a completely different crime family. I can’t let Antony become the new Imperator – hecan’t. They’ll never let him escape.
I know what I have to do.
14
Gabriel
We touch down at Heathrow and enter the bustle of the arrivals lounge. Claudia tugs me toward a chain pub beside the baggage claim. “I want to try a real English pub.”
I roll my eyes. “Then stay far away from that pile of shite. I’ll take you to a pub, I promise.”
She rolls her eyes and dances away. Everyone’s in a good mood – the distance between Germany and Mackenzie’s creepy hideout makes our problems a distant dream. All except mine, which are barreling toward me like a freight train come loose from the tracks. Outside, we head to the car rental place, where Noah and Eli argue with me over our vehicle choice.
“Pick something sleek and modern,” Noah insists.
“It needs to be roomy and comfortable,” says Eli, aka Mother Hen.
Philistines. I plonk down my black card and return with the keys to a Jaguar Mark 2.
“What the hell is that?” Noah curls his lip in disgust.
“That, my friends, is the finest achievement in British engineering.”
“We havesuitcases,” Eli complains. “Claudia brought along every pair of shoes in Mackenzie’s mother’s closet. How are we supposed to all fit in this contraption?”
I tsk. “I thought you’d have more respect for such an important piece of history. This is the car Inspector Morse drives around in.”
“Inspector Morse is a fictional character.”
“He’s also a grumpy old clever person, aka, practically your twin.”
“Well, I love it.” Claudia climbs into the passenger seat. She swipes my aviators from my pocket and slides them up her perfect nose. “Let’s ride.”
That’s my girl.
I climb behind the wheel and give Claudia’s knee a squeeze. I cast a futile glance back at the airport. I’d rather be anywhere than back in Old Blighty, but at least I have Claudia by my side.
It takes me a few minutes and one hair-raising turn the wrong way on a one-way street to reacquaint myself with left-hand drive, and then we’re stuck in London traffic. I blast the playlist I made for George, tapping the wheel and singing along. Claudia keeps looking over at me as I sing. She’s got that hunger in her eyes, that ‘pull this car over right now so I can fuck you on the hood’ look, and I’d love nothing more than to acquiesce. But we have an appointment to keep.
I’ve made a career out of living in the moment, not thinking beyond the pleasure of the here and now. But my hands grip the wheel too tight and my breathing is fast and shallow – I know what’s waiting for me at the end of this journey.
We head out into the countryside. Claudia leans out the window, her eyes wide as we pass through quaint villages, rolling hills, and the towering spires of ancient cathedrals. Every time we pass a castle wall she asks if that’s mine.
Finally, she points to a grand medieval fortress jutting from the top of a hill, surrounded by two levels of curtain walls and a huge fuck-off moat and asks if it’s mine. My throat dries as I say, “Yes. That’s Blackwich Castle.”
