by Mari Carr
“There is no place in the world more beautiful than Italy. I will personally plan their trip.”
“Thank you.”
“Italy, a couple days in the country, maybe Rome, then perhaps a day on the Mediterranean. It will be very romantic,” Sophia assured her. “And in exchange?”
Juliette looked around the table. They hadn’t had time to consult, though Franco and Sebastian were both frantically scribbling ideas. Rose had gone quiet. She was watching them, glancing between what the men were writing and Juliette, then looking away. But she was tense, a faint tightening along her jaw.
“I want the restrictions on Marek Lee’s passport lifted.”
Sebastian and Franco both stopped writing to look at her. Juliette, however, was looking at Rose.
Her mouth parted and she blinked, a vulnerable expression on her features that made her seem younger and softer.
“Passport restrictions…” Sophia asked.
“Marek chose love over duty, and you’re making him pay the price. He’s barred from entering the EU, despite having an EU passport. He hasn’t been able to see his family since he got married and joined us. Lift the ban. Allow him, and his spouses, to visit his family in England.”
“His spouses Rose Hancock and Weston Anderson.” Sophia’s tone was neutral.
Rose grabbed the phone.
Sebastian lunged for her, but she jabbed him in the throat as she put the phone on mute and stared at Juliette.
“Don’t waste this on me and Wes. Get Marek the chance to see his grandmother again. Even that is…” Rose looked away, as if uncomfortable. “That’s really nice of you, Juliette.”
“There are a lot of other things we could ask for,” Sebastian pointed out.
“There is no romance in your soul,” Franco declared.
“All of you shut up,” Juliette declared, grabbing the phone back. Sophia had said something, and she’d missed it. “And, Rose? It’s not wasted on any of you. You deserve to be happy.”
Rose nodded once and kept her chin down, her glossy black hair falling to hide her face. Being married to two men who loved her, plus slowly unpacking her relationship with her ex Dom, Caden, had done a lot to help Rose, but the damage was still there. Damage Juliette herself had been too blind to see.
“I’m sorry,” Juliette said into the phone. “The connection was bad for a moment. What did you say?”
“I said that yes, we will lift the restrictions on the passports for all three. I can guarantee Marek a visit with Ms. Jane Dell, but I cannot guarantee reparations or even face-to-face meetings between your people and…and anyone else.”
Rose was blotting at her cheeks, but then she slowly pulled the paper over, writing something on it. She held up the page.
“Is your husband still nearby?” Juliette asked.
There was a pause. “Yes.”
“Tell him…” She glanced at Rose. “Tell him that Wes misses him.”
On the other end of the call, a male voice snarled, “Fook!” The upper crust accent was gone. A moment later, a door slammed.
Sophia sighed. “My apologies, Grand Master.”
“No need. Husbands are difficult.”
“So very true. Especially if they aren’t adept at understanding their own feelings.”
“Do you ever wish you had a wife and a husband instead of two men to deal with?” Juliette asked conversationally.
“Frequently,” Sophia replied.
Juliette laughed, now feeling good about this call. Especially since, though she didn’t fully trust Langston, she did trust Rich and Mina, who were both smart, observant legacies. They would report back everything they learned in Europe. “We have a deal, Sophia?”
“Yes, Grand Master. And thank you.”
Juliette ended the call. Briefly forgetting Rose was in the room, she gave into the wave of relief that she’d made it through this and folded her arms on the table, dropping her head onto them.
Franco’s hand settled on the back of her hair, his touch familiar and comforting. Tonight was going to be one of those nights when she needed him and Devon curled around her, making her feel safe. Helping her forget the weight on her shoulders, all the things she’d never have because of who she was. Who she had to be.
“Thank you, Juliette.” It was Rose who spoke.
“Give us a minute,” Sebastian said, his voice hard.
Juliette sat up. “No, it’s okay. I just needed a sec.” Franco’s hand slid down her back, settling warm and heavy between her shoulder blades. Sebastian’s hand landed on her shoulder, and she reached up to give her best friend’s fingers a squeeze.
“You handled that great, Jules,” Sebastian said.
Rose stood. “What do you need from me? What you just did for Marek and Wes…”
“We need you to not start another war with them,” Sebastian snapped.
“Seb, play nice.” Juliette was too tired to smile. “But he’s right. I can’t have Wes pissing off Tristan, who is now Arthur, not when I’m about to send three of our people over there.”
“We’re going to let them borrow Langston?” Franco asked.
“Yes. First of all, getting lunatic bombers off the streets, even if it’s streets far away from us, is good for all. Secondly, we struck a bargain that was good for us.”
“And maybe a honeymoon to Europe with his new spouses will settle Langston down,” Sebastian added. “Shall I summon them?”
“Please do, and hopefully it does.” Juliette could have left it there, pretended her reasons were all virtuous. Instead, she reached out and curled her arm around Franco’s waist, leaning into him. “But also, maybe Mina and Rich can get us some more information about what exactly is going on in the Masters’ Admiralty.” Juliette rose, Franco’s arm sliding around her, his body warm and steady. “And where their fleet admiral is.”
Chapter Five
Mina resisted the urge to fidget as she stood on the steps of the Boston Public Library. Across Dartmouth Street was the open green space of Copley Square, and the squat but elegant form of Trinity Church. The wide steps of the library were scattered with people, some standing and chatting, others coming and going from the front doors of the massive library.
She scanned the other people on the steps, checking faces to see if she recognized anyone, if she saw any other members of the Trinity Masters. No one besides the members of the secret society knew that deep under the library was the headquarters. She didn’t recognize anyone, and her fear-laced irritation doubled.
Yesterday, she’d been summoned back to the library. But she hadn’t just been summoned on her own. The summons had specifically stated that she and her trinity were to return. The invitation had been delivered to the newly renovated suite at the Boston Park Plaza, and if she hadn’t had the presence of mind to ask the hotel to forward any mail or messages, she would have never received it.
She and Rich had spent the night after their disastrous marriage ceremony in the legacy house, then gone their separate ways. She’d gone back to Chicago, and Rich had spent a few days in Boston, making use of the otherwise wasted trip before he returned to Dallas. Langston had disappeared, and she had no idea where he’d gone. She also had no way to contact him.
She’d called Rich and told him about the summons, and he would be meeting her here shortly. Rich had said he’d deal with contacting Langston.
If their whole trinity didn’t show up, she wasn’t sure what the consequences would be.
“Mina, darlin’.”
She turned on her heel and watched as Rich made his way up the steps. He looked both polished and rugged in an elegant dark suit and overcoat with a close-cropped beard. She’d also seen pictures of him in a cowboy hat and boots, so she knew that it didn’t matter what he wore. He always looked powerful and in command.
“Where is he?” she asked as Rich stopped beside her.
He leaned down and she brushed her cheek with his. They’d been acquaintances a long time, but once
again, as with that night at the legacy house, she was suddenly more aware of him as a man.
Ignore it. He’s not really your husband.
“He’s on his way. I found his address and had the letter forwarded. I also called him.”
“What did he say? Did he tell the Grand Master what we did?”
“I’m not the lawyer here, but I’m worried that phrasing might be a mite incriminating.” Rich smiled, but it wasn’t an amused look as much as a resigned one.
“While flat-out denial might be our best course of action, it won’t protect us. The laws of the society…”
They shared a grim glance.
“Maybe she wants to undo the marriage,” Rich said.
“Why wait a few days?”
“Maybe Langston was finally able to tell her whatever it was he thought was so damned important, and that’s why there was a delay. Maybe the Grand Master agreed with his concerns.” Rich put his arm around her, clearly feeling protective.
“We should have gone to the hotel. We broke the society’s laws.” Her stomach was in knots. “If the Grand Master knows—”
“Hey.”
Together they turned, watching as Langston jogged up the steps, stopping in front of them. In the cool white light of a Boston afternoon, his cheekbones cast shadows on his lower face. His skin was medium brown, eyes a deep brown with flecks of gold, and he was bundled up in a pea coat and knit scarf. “What’s going on? Why are we here again?”
Mina wasn’t a violent person by nature, but for a moment, her hand tingled with the need to reach out and slap the selfish fool.
“What did you do?” she asked, her voice harsh.
Langston rocked back on his heels. “Me? What are you talking about?”
“Did you tell the Grand Master we disobeyed? That we haven’t been together?”
“No, I haven’t talked to her. But I was planning to come back to Boston when I got the letter.”
“Attempting to talk to her again?” Rich’s tone was cold, almost snide.
“My brother talked me down after the ceremony. Suggested my timing was shit. Told me to try again without being an asshole.”
“What, exactly, did you need to tell the Grand Master?” Mina asked.
She hadn’t expected him to answer, but to her surprise, he did. “I wanted to tell her that she could trust me. She didn’t have to make me get married to trap me.”
“Trust you?” Mina asked.
“Trap you?” Langston’s choice of words had only served to infuriate Rich more.
Langston shuffled a little. “I’m sure you two are nice people, but I’m not getting married just because—”
“You idiot,” Mina snapped. “You were worried she wouldn’t trust you, and your response was to destroy a binding ceremony?” Mina took a breath, tried to calm down. “Don’t you realize what will happen if she knows we disobeyed?”
Mina’s anger subsided as a look of genuine confusion covered Langston’s face. “How did we disobey? We took the vows. Did the hand thingy.”
Mina looked at Rich, who was staring at Langston, studying him with less anger than a moment ago. Neither of them spoke, the silence lingering a touch too long before Rich found his voice.
“We didn’t go to the hotel together.”
“That’s a rule?” Langston asked. “Jesus Christ. Is there a manual or something that y’all are working from?”
“Who handled your initiation?” Rich demanded.
“Y’all?” Mina drawled, curious about Langston’s phrasing of that statement, combined with his previous mentions of trust and being trapped. Did he not consider himself a part of the Trinity Masters?
Rich blew out a hard breath and switched his question. “How long have you been a member of the Trinity Masters, Langston?”
Langston smiled, his straight white teeth gleaming. The genuinely kind expression changed his whole face, and Mina sucked in a quiet, stunned breath. The man was quite handsome.
No, he was seriously hot.
“Well now,” Langston said. “I’d like to get into all that with y’all—”
“We don’t have time for a long, drawn-out story,” Mina said. “We have to meet the Grand Master in five minutes.”
Langston looked at her, then, and in true Southern-gentleman style, he gestured for her to go ahead of him up the stairs. “Sweetheart.”
Damn. She normally would have called him out for using a term of endearment when they were essentially strangers, but from Langston, it didn’t seem insulting. There was something inside of her that found it annoyingly charming.
Rich narrowed his eyes. Mina wondered if he was pissed that Langston had called her sweetheart or if he wanted to grab the other man and shake answers out of him. There wasn’t time now. They were in enough trouble.
Mina walked into the library and both men fell into step next to her.
They were about to face the Grand Master as complete strangers. Worse yet, Langston seemed completely clueless about any of the rules, so God only knew what he would say. He didn’t seem to understand their society. That thought had her steps slowing.
Ignorance of the law was not a defense, but everyone had the right to know the law and have it explained to them.
She glanced at Rich, then placed her hand on Langston’s arm, halting him just at the top of the entry stairway of the library. Two large lion statues flanked them as a handful of tourists posed for pictures.
Mina lowered her voice. “Langston. After the binding ceremony, newly formed trinities must spend time together. It’s considered a combination get-to-know-you and honeymoon period. Usually they go to a suite that’s been reserved at the Boston Park Plaza for a week. If the Grand Master knows we weren’t together, that we didn’t even try to get to know one another, we’ll be in trouble.”
“Did you all go there?” Langston asked.
Rich shook his head. “No.”
“All or nothing, huh?” Langston asked.
Rich glared at him. “We thought you might have gone to the hotel.”
“Y’all were avoiding me? I was avoiding you, too. I figured after I showed my ass the other day…” Langston glanced at Rich. “Sorry about shoving you, man.”
Rich nodded his head once, an acknowledgement of the comment, without a real response. Mina’s anger was muted by her confusion and curiosity. Langston seemed to know very little about their society. There was a story there, a mystery she wanted to pick apart.
Mina continued speaking as the three of them headed up the next flight of stairs, then navigated the labyrinth maze of the library, heading to the rare books room. “If the Grand Master has discovered we weren’t together—”
“Like I said,” Langston interjected, “I was going to head back here to see to her, but the letter came first. I haven’t talked to Jul—the Grand Master—since the ceremony.”
“We know the Grand Master is Juliette Adams,” Rich said slowly.
Mina and he shared a glance. Langston didn’t know basic rules and customs, but knew the Grand Master’s identity?
Langston appeared surprised by that. “Oh. Okay. Cool. Franco sort of made it sound like her identity was a secret from most of the society.”
“Franco?” Mina asked.
“Franco Garcia Santiago. And Seb said something about it too. Sebastian Stewart.”
“I know who Seb is,” Mina responded. Sebastian was a legacy like she and Rich. “I’m just curious…”
She didn’t have a chance to finish her question because they’d reached the very quiet rare books room. The absolute silence prohibited them from saying more. Even whispered, their conversation could be heard by anyone in the room. The librarian barely spared them a glance as the three of them walked to the far back corner, where the tiny closet that hid the secret entrance to headquarters was.
It was a tight fit with all of them in the small room as Rich slid open the panel, revealing the elevator. They climbed in together, silent as it descended
.
It no longer felt safe to continue their conversation. Mina didn’t believe the walls had ears, but she wasn’t willing to take that chance either.
As the doors slid open, Langston gently reached for her arm. “I won’t lose my temper again, won’t say anything to betray we haven’t been together.”
Mina blinked a couple of times, his hand—so strong and warm on her arm—distracting her for a moment. Finally, she found her voice. “Thank you.”
* * *
Langston walked with his trinity through the ornate hallways of the Trinity Masters headquarters. Christ. Was he really starting to think of them as his spouses?
No. He wasn’t. He couldn’t wrap his head around that yet.
After the ceremony, he’d flown straight home to Charleston and fallen into a bottle of Jack Daniels while Oscar shook his head and said “I told you so” a few thousand times. It wasn’t like his brother was taking pleasure in his misery. Hell, Oscar didn’t find pleasure in anything these days. Not since the love of Oscar’s life, Faith, had pulled his still-beating heart from his chest and stomped on it. Since then, it felt like Oscar had forgotten how to smile, how to laugh, and instead, he threw all his energy into his work, using it as an excuse not to have to live anything resembling a normal, happy life.
Oscar also didn’t pull his punches when it came to calling a spade a spade. When Langston had briefly been sober enough to explain what had happened, and what he’d done, Oscar had, once again, said, “I told you so,” and then informed him that he needed to get his ass back to Boston. If he wanted the Grand Master to trust him, he needed to prove himself trustworthy and make his case in a clear, calm manner.
Langston had been working himself up to that when he got the letter. He assumed Juliette had been calling them back to check on them, given that he’d been an ass. He’d had no idea that they could end up in trouble for not spending time together.
And if Rich and Mina knew that, why hadn’t they tried to contact him?
Why would they? You were an asshole.
