Not at me. At Thea, who sits opposite me on our quiet table in the library.
“You wanted to talk?” she asks Thea, crossing her arms over her chest and zoning me out completely.
“Yeah.” Thea quickly glances at me. I bury my face in my notebook, giving them privacy. “I was going to ask you about… Kane’s father, Robert Berkeley.”
Now that Thea knows about Mason, I also filled her in on my mysterious night at 99 and the visit to the frightening Mr. Berkeley’s lodge. I can’t shake the feeling that I know him. He is not an easy face to mistake. That scar on his face, those haunting eyes, I can’t get him out of my head.But where from?
“Uncle Rob? What about him?”
Uncle?I know the three families are close. Didn’t realize they were close enough to be onUncleandAuntieprivileges.
“I heard a rumor that he lives in the woods,” Thea whispers, “which is curious because no one’s ever seen him.”
“Yeah, he’s not been very well.” Lottie sighs. “Getting worse for the last five years. Mum won’t let me visit now. Dad and Reginald see him sometimes.”
“So, Mr. Berkeley wouldn’t have been in London recently…”
“Oh no, he hasn’t left Fort for years. After his wife passed away, he was never the same. That’s why Kane has a seat on The Council. He sits in for Uncle Rob, even though Mason is the one who’s going to take over,” she chirps, her hand slicingthe air with every word. “I hope it’s after we get married so I can rub it in Hugo’s face.” She giggles.
My pen stills, the tip digging into my notebook, making a dent and blotting the white with dark blue.Did she say married?
“Isn’t he like four years older than you?” Thea side-eyes me. I start moving my pen in circles, keeping the pretense.
“So? I’m in no rush.” Lottie shrugs. “Besides, Fort Council men marry for power. Reginald set the bar quite high, you see. That’s why he is untouchable. I know Mason’s Grandfather Morelli wants him to marry someone from his network, but I’m not losing him to some Italian bitch.”
“So, you’re going to fight mafia princesses now?” Thea fake giggles.
“If I have to.” She shrugs. “But it won’t come to that. Aunt Alessia loves me. She never wanted Mason in the thick of it. I’ll get him sooner or later. Patience is my middle name.”
Lottie glances toward me, squinting.
Why? Surely, she doesn’t know about Mason and me.
“Hey, Gretchen. What are you doing here?” she asks, looking over my shoulder.
“Just dropping this off.” Gretchen, the barista, appears behind me and places a takeaway mug next to my notebook.
“Can’t collect your own beverage, your highness?” Lottie scoffs at me.
“Thanks, Gretchen,” I mutter, ignoring Lottie. I wonder if she would like to know her future husband has a standing order for said beverage that he has delivered if I don’t pick it up promptly.
Like an echo to my thoughts, my phone pings on the desk.
Mason
Meet me at the north wing entrance in 20
“T, I have to go,” I whisper to Thea, gathering my notebook and laptop.
“Are you coming to bonfire night at The Barrel?” Thea asks.
Lottie fixes me with a gaze hot enough to ignite.I was supposed to go to Mason’s house tonight. For the first time. But suddenly, I’m not in the mood.
“I have to catch up with Caden,” I reply with a pursed smile. “You and Penny have fun.”
I turn around and stalk away before I say or do something I’ll regret. The latte in my hand feels like a rock. One I unburden in the bin outside the library. Should I give Lottie’s words much weight? Probably not. But she doesn’t know about us—if there even is an us—so why would she lie? Either way, I don’t want to see him right now.
My fingers tap the screen, typing a quick reply to Mason as I dash down the stairs.
