“After very careful deliberation, we have decided that it is time for the Zumas to take their place on the eighth seat,” Sean said, motioning for Andres Zuma to move.
To her credit, Finley didn’t show a flicker of fear. Instead, she placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder, guiding her to leave her seat, and the two of them took a step away from the table.
The gentle sound of water dripping in the background contrasted harshly with the reality in front of her. Such tranquil ambiance had no place as the backdrop of this scene. Visions of Ayden being ripped from Finley’s arms as a knife slashed against her throat filled Adria’s mind.
She knew Finley would not go quietly.
Adria wondered if the woman had come with a plan. Or if being in the eighth chair had caused her to feel shielded from this possibility.
She could see it in the mother’s eyes. The first person to come near Ayden would die.
Finley didn’t have a weapon to speak of, but Adria knew well that didn’t mean safety. Finley’s expression caused a deep-seated feeling to stir in Adria’s middle. That fierce, protective motherly instinct. A family ready to die for each other. It was as beautiful as it was unsettling.
Sean’s voice was calm, seeming to pretend he didn’t feel the monumental shift in the room. “Mrs. Lovetts, you have displeased the Triune with your inability to finish your tithes.”
“You mean my refusal to slaughter children in their sleep,” Finley said, her voice calm, and yet it carried a weight that caused murmurs to break out throughout the table.
It wasn’t often that they learned of the other family tasks or tithes. Had the Triune really requested her to murder children in their beds?
Alessandro stood. “The task you were assigned would have put the spotlight on a high-level official. Your failure to act has pushed this individual further out of reach.”
Finley squared her shoulders, shooting daggers at Alessandro. “Killing innocents for the greater good is anexcellent cover for ineptitude. Has the Nine lost so much of their power that it now takes killing children to maintain balance?”
Adria watched Alessandro’s calm expression crack, a shadow crossing over his friendly demeanor, and Kaydon’s words came into her mind.“I don’t trust that guy.”
Helen stood, her shoulder brushing against Sean’s. “The Triune has agreed to look into other avenues to bring this individual out of his current post. We agree that the task was distasteful; however, there must be a reaction to an outright tithe refusal. There was a vote. A removal from the Nine takes a three to nil vote. A chair demotion only takes two to one. The votes cast were for the latter punishment.”
Adria tried to hide the surprise on her face. One person on the Triune had stuck their neck out for Finley, and by the way Helen was looking at Finley, it was no surprise who.
There was no relief on Finley’s face. The woman was a trained professional. The only clue that she felt anything at all was in the subtle relaxation of her grip on Ayden’s shoulder as the two made their way to the ninth seat.
Sean clasped both hands together, his sour expression calming. “Which brings us to another announcement. It is a great honor to invite Mr. Winters to ascend at the table.”
Adria could hardly contain her shock. Her gaze immediately focused on Helen, who was still standing next to Sean, her face tight.
Callen’s chair scraped against the floor next to her as he stood and moved gracefully to accept Alessandro’s outstretched hand. Helen shifted toward Adria.
She was being demoted. And Callen was being promoted.
What has he done to deserve a promotion?
Everyone at the table turned their gaze on her, and Adria was embarrassed to realize she had said the words out loud.
“Mr. Winters has provided the Triune with valuable intel that is need to know,” Sean said, eyeing her. “Helen understands.”
Helen, taking her seat, squeezed Adria’s thigh under the table. A warning.
“I am thrilled for Mr. Winters. His ascension is well deserved,” Helen said.
The meeting continued, but Adria felt herself slipping in and out of a daze. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, drowning out the voices around the table. She had entered this meeting, sure of her position. The boys had been trained and sold, giving her the gift of two Oppositions without a tithe. Except now there was a new complication.
Callen was a member of the Triune.
CHAPTER 2
NORTH CAROLINA
Adria’s mind turned during her and Eric’s flight back. Her thoughts raced around all the complications Callen being in the Triune brought. Not even the North Carolina skyline or the feel of the leather in the backseat of her Maserati Grecale brought her peace.
