I nod, having known it all along.
“Give me the details,” I take a seat behind my desk, opening the laptop.
“I’ve sent all files to you,” Dean advises, “Voicemails, texts, it’s all on there.”
I look up to see Dean looking a little nervous.
“What else.”
“There are more people involved but we don’t have their names. I can’t find their details anywhere. Hank is the one who hired the hitmen to attack Olivia but it’s obvious in the message it was more than just him.”
My nostrils flare, “It’s okay.”
“How is this okay?” Bast bursts, suddenly standing, feeling just as slighted as I am. “These fucking members answer toyou.You lead this whole fucking thing, and they think they can do this?”
“It’s okay,” I answer, opening the text log Dean managed to get hold of. “Because the things I am going to do to Hank will have him singing like a canary. We will know who is involved and when we do, the purge can begin.”
“It’s about time the council changes,” Killian says, “We adapt, or we’ll be dead.”
I nod in agreement, eyes scanning over every text thatwas sent and received.
They had been trying to get Olivia for weeks, never finding the right moment until Hank spotted her wandering off alone at the event at the hotel. The hitmen were on standby, close always, in case an opportunity presented itself. And it did when she decided to take a minute for herself.
I click out of the message and open the voicemails.
“What the fuck am I paying you for!?” Hank’s distinctive voice sounds through the speakers. “Why hasn’t the girl been acquired yet!?”
Acquired.Like she’s some object to be used as a pawn.
Hank sighs, “Be on standby. An opportunity will arise where she is alone. We need her alive.”
He hangs up and I flick to the next message.
“Olivia has just walked from the event hall. Follow her, you know what you need to do. I don’t care what you do to her, just keep her alive.”
That’s the only two messages available so I go back to the texts, trying to dig through them to see if there is anything Dean may have missed, a hint at another name or names that may have been involved.
It’s just a lot ofusandwebut no names. That’s enough to tell me there are others but not enough to say who.
I’ll get him to confirm them all.
I can guess at least two, but it could be more. The council is riddled with snakes and thieves which havebeen allowed to continue for too long. The leader before me turned a blind eye to all the traitorous ways the council has been allowed to work but with me, I will not let it stand. I’ve needed a reason to purge, and this is it.
I just fucking hate that it’s my wife they’re targeting.
Why?
Why Olivia?
What are they hoping to gain by going after her?
I close down the messages and shut the laptop, steepling my fingers beneath my chin.
“Call a council meeting,” I order, “I’m not sitting on this.”
“When?”
“For right now.” I get up, turning toward the window. Olivia is upstairs right now and the threat against her is present, it’s right fucking there. I want it done. Over with. “I want them in the council room within the hour.”
