Jodie stood up. “I’m Elle.”
Gabe grinned and shot her a two-finger salute. “I’m Elle.”
“I’m Elle,” Meghan said with a tender smile. “Always have been.”
“Me too,” Tye said.
Beckham’s eyes were appraising, as if seeing a different creature than the one he had left back on that patio on New Year’s Eve. As if she had molted her skin and come out as someone else entirely.
“I guess I didn’t understand my own philosophy on the subject. I am Elle,” he conceded to her, acknowledging her as the leader she had somehow developed into. “But it seems that you are now the heart of it.”
Chapter Eight
Reyna stood on a precipice. Her life irrevocably changed. Altered and rearranged. No longer was she on the sidelines of her life. She was in charge.
“We all know that the main goal is to take out Harrington and hamstring Visage. With Harrington out of the helm, we can go a long way toward reducing Visage to their actual purpose rather than stretching their influence as they have been doing the last decade. No more prisoners and medical experimentation under their headquarters. No more taking advantage of the poor. No more Blood Census or identity bracelets. Absolutely no feeding camps,” Reyna said. “Balance. Equality. That’s what we want.”
Everyone nodded. As if they were all getting back on the same wavelength after so much loss.
“Our first priority remains making contact with the safe houses and regrouping with the rest of Elle.” Reyna turned to Beckham. “You have someone good with tech?”
Beckham’s grin was a feral thing that sent chills down her spine. He gave her a look that said he wasn’t used to being ordered around. There were few he allowed it from. Very very few.
“Zoya,” he finally said.
She stepped forward. When she smiled, it was more like a grimace, her fangs revealed in all their glory. Reyna was glad to have never met her before she started working for the good guys.
“At your service,” Zoya said with a wicked gleam in her eye.
Reyna paused for a second before speaking. She didn’t know how she felt about ordering around Beckham’s army. But she’d deal with that later. “Zoya, work with Tye, Gabe, and Meghan to reach the rest of our group. Once we’re back to capacity, then wecan begin to form a plan as to how to stop Harrington.”
A well-thought-out and thorough plan. Not like the one she’d ad hocked together out of anger from Brian’s capture. One that would cripple William Harrington for good.
Zoya moved to speak with Meghan, Gabe, and Tye while Beckham addressed the rest of his inner circle. Katarina laughed at something he said and then dragged Philippé out of the room. Gerard melted into the background and stood like a statue. It was hard to believe this sinister vampire had been her driver. What had he been doing acting as chauffeur when he was Beckham’s second-in-command?
“Inspiring speech,” Genevieve said, appearing at Reyna’s side.
Washington was standing next to her. “It truly was.”
“Reminded me of the old days with Elisa,” Genevieve said with a dreamy expression on her face. It was as equally hard to believe this meek and demure woman was a vampire.
“Who is Elisa?” Reyna asked.
“Was.” Washington’s lips turned down. “My wife.”
Then he walked away.
Genevieve patted her arm. “I shouldn’t have brought her up. She and Washington were together many years before she passed on. She was a fearsome leader of the vampires. Had a vision for Visage much like yours. It was Harrington who manipulated it.”
Reyna sighed and stared off after Washington. “And he killed her for it?”
Genevieve nodded. “Unfortunately.”
“Sounds like a horrible loss.”
“It was. It truly was. Well, I must be getting back, but if you need anything at all, let me know. I will be around.”
“Thank you, Genevieve.”
