Will clenched his jaw, angry at the man’s words. Adam Watanabe had been with the Chicago commandery for only a year, for chrissakes. What the hell did he know about anything where Will was concerned? Who the hell did he think he was, lecturing his commander about his past when Watanabe was clearly running from his own ghosts?
But even as he fumed over Adam’s assessment, Will had to admit that the most infuriating part of it was that the man was right.
* * *
Jacob sat alone in the back of the limousine, peering out the window as the scenery flashed by in a blur. But his mind wasn’t really on the rolling hills or the breeze off the ocean. He’d been summoned. And had been instructed to come alone.
That couldn’t possibly be good.
His grandfather was in a rage, foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog since news of the explosion in Boston had hit the media, and audio from the local police caught the bomber proclaiming to be a follower of the One True Master before martyring himself.
He’d have to have a lovely little chat with Stefan and Demetrius about their lack of discretion in their choice of sacrifices and their blatant implication of Jacob in the crime. Really, they couldn’t have just scooped up one of their own nutjob fanatics to take up the banner? When you’ve somehow convinced people that you’re the freaking anti-Christ, you’re bound to get some believers who are willing to do whatever they’re asked, to become martyrs as an act of faith and loyalty just to feel like they’ve played a role in helping your destiny. Power was the ultimate aphrodisiac. Hell, Jacob had his own version of that going on with his wife. He had no delusions whatsoever about whether or not she’d stay with him if he gave up his ambitions.
When Jacob finally arrived at the abandoned observatory that served as the meeting place for the Illuminati, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly, forcing his pulse to slow and assuming the aloof demeanor that had failed him once eight months ago, giving his grandfather the mistaken impression that he was insignificant.
How quickly the man’s opinion had changed in recent months. The old geezer had long outlived his usefulness. Soon Jacob would remove him permanently from his position of power, proclaiming himself as One True Master. His Faithful already believed him to fulfill that role. He just needed to make it official.
Jacob nodded politely to the driver before buttoning his suit jacket and strolling into the observatory as if he owned the place. They might as well start getting used to the idea now.
The last time he was here, he’d been broken, defeated. His attempt to locate and appropriate the Templar treasure for the Illuminati had failed miserably. And his grandfather had seen his failure as just another reason that Jacob was a disgrace to the family name, not fit to assume his rightful place among them. So, instead of storming in triumphant, to demand the respect and deference he deserved, Jacob had come crawling on hands and knees to beg forgiveness.
But never again. Never again would Jacob get on his knees for anyone.
He struggled to suppress a grin as he jogged down the stone steps that led into the bowels of the building. The cold, dank rooms belowground were perfect for these meetings. So secretive . . .
Antiquated.
When he took over, he’d make sure the entire place was renovated and restored. He wasn’t going to lurk in the shadows. Jacob wasn’t meant to be hidden away in some dark corner. He would take the world by storm—a bright beacon of hope that would bring order to chaos.
“You’re late.”
Angus Stone’s voice echoed like a cannon, bouncing off the walls.
Jacob tsk-tsked dismissively. “You summoned me at a moment’s notice from my honeymoon. I had a few things to finish before I could tear myself away.” He smirked at the old man. “After all, a good lover always leaves his woman satisfied.”
“I don’t give a damn who you were fucking,” his grandfather ground out, leaning forward from his perch in the shadows to reveal his furious expression. “All I want is an explanation regarding the explosion in Boston. Do you know how many of our trusted allies died in that incident?”
Jacob scoffed. “Really? You’re going to mourn the loss of that bastard Hale and his cronies?”
“Hale served a purpose, Jacob.”
“Oh, yes,” Jacob agreed. “He was very good at taking money from us and banging hookers and trusting naïve up-and-comers whose own ambitions turned out to be problematic. That was a problem, by the way, thatIsolved. You’re welcome.”
“I didn’t ask you to have Tad Ralston murdered,” Angus spat. “There are better ways to handle things.”
Jacob gave him a tight smile. “Well, we’ll have to agree to disagree on that one.”
“Jacob, you have always been a spoiled, petulant child. I blame your mother for pampering you and filling your head with grandiose ideas of your own importance.”
Jacob clenched his fists at his sides at the mention of his mother. She’d died when he was still a young man. Poisoned. He had his suspicions that it hadn’t been one of his father’s enemies behind her death as the official Alliance investigation claimed. He’d always suspected his grandfather’s hand in it. The man had never liked her, had always seen her as a distraction to Jacob’s father.
“We didn’t come here to talk about my mother,” Jacob said, forcing his tone to remain civil. “You summoned me here to discuss Boston.”
“Very well then, here it is. You will make no further moves against the Alliance without my permission,” Angus Stone ordered, his bushy white eyebrows knitting together in a livid frown, his face flushed, verging on purple in his outrage. “I thought I had made thatabundantlyclear. But in case there was any doubt, I am telling you plainly, your days of running your own rogue operations are over. If you weren’t my grandson, your insubordination would’ve already cost you your life.”
Jacob laid his hand across his heart. “Your compassion and mercy are touching. Truly.”
“Is this ajoketo you?” Angus Stone roared, the sound deafening in the small chamber. “I assure you, this is nothing to be taken lightly. My influence only goes so far, Jacob. There are others who believe I have been too lenient. Others who wield far more power within our organization than I do. They are watching.”
