Maverick scratches at his stubble. “That could work.”
A spark of hope ignites in my chest. “Do you think it would be possible to ask about my mother?”
The look the Rebel leader gives me is nothing short of pitying. “Requesting your mother would compromise your credibility. They may grow suspicious of your loyalty before you’ve even returned.”
My heart sinks. “Oh.”
He reaches up and cradles my face in his palms. “If there was a way to get your mother back without jeopardizing your safety, I would do it.”
I nod. “I know you would.”
He leans down and places a gentle kiss to my forehead. “Let’s go talk to Benji.”
Gabriel
Present Day
“Brothers should strive for unity and unanimity in all things. Quarrels only make way for weakness.”— THE ARTICLES OF BROTHERHOOD, N.A.L. 1 § 38
Five days. Fivefuckingdays, and we’ve heard nothing from Maverick. Not only are the other high lords breathing down my neck, but I’m starting to doubt myself which I almost never do. Every day that passes that Delilah isn’t back in my possession is like a noose tightening around my neck, slowly cutting off my oxygen and draining the life out of my future opportunities.
Granted, Gentry was right.
The response from other countries has been overwhelmingly positive. After the video aired all over the world, several countries reached out with their sympathies, even expressing interest in revisiting the possibility of negotiating trade agreements.
So while Delilah’s disappearance hasn’t beenallnegative, I—and my fellow brothers—agree that it’s time for her to come home.Hence, another meeting with the Northwest’s high lords to come up with next steps.
“The video has gained us some traction with the E.U., I’ll give you that. But until Gabriel’s wife is back in New Athens, we will continue to appear incompetent.” Dean once again is the first lord to express his disapproval.
“What did the recon team find on the island?” Gentry asks.
I shake my head. “Nothing useful. While it’s clear it was recently inhabited, there was no sign of where they might’ve gone next.” After we tracked the signal of the video call, we sent a military team to search the area, but we came up short. No Maverick, and more importantly, no Delilah.
“Can’t we just search the other islands until we find them?” someone asks.
I scoff. “Waste of time. There are hundreds of islands off the coast. We can’t spare the time or manpower.”
“Have we tried contacting Stetson again?”
I grit my teeth. “Obviously. It was a dead end.”
It took all of the Brotherhood’s resources to find a way to get a hold of Maverick the first time.Unfortunately for me, he was smart enough to get rid of any trace of that number after I managed to contact him a week ago.
“What about—”
My phone rings on the table, a video call from an unknown number flashing across the screen. “Get IT down here so they can track this call.”
Someone gets in contact with our tech department while the rest of the room quiets as I prepare to answer the phone. I slide my thumb across the screen, already knowing who I’ll see once it connects.
Sure enough, Maverick’s smug face fills the small rectangle in my hand. “Saw your little video, Gabe. Were you wearing makeup and everything?”
My hand squeezes the phone as I try to keep my cool. “Where’s my wife, Stetson?”
Maverick pans the camera over to show Delilah. Their surroundings reveal nothing of significance, nothing concrete for us to go off of. They could be anywhere. She’s seated on the ground, arms wrapped around herself. “She’s right here.”
“Let me talk to her,” I demand, hating how powerless I feel.
Maverick puts the phone in front of Delilah’s face, but she doesn’t look up. “I’m all right, sir.”
