Fiery Surrender

by Mari Carr

  Maybe they were hoping Juliette would throw him in a dungeon.

  When he’d joined, Franco had made the consequences of betraying the society very clear, but all these little rules—like how they had to go to the hotel after the binding ceremony—hadn’t been spelled out. He assumed that with time, he would have learned more of the intricacies, through attendance at society events and by getting to know other members.

  There was still too much he didn’t know about the Trinity Masters, something he’d made very obvious to Rich and Mina.

  Oscar had warned Langston he was too impulsive for his own good. Langston had pretty much signed up to join the Trinity Masters three seconds after hearing about the society—for a mixed-race kid from the south, an invitation to something like this didn’t seem like the kind of thing he could afford to pass up.

  And there had been the ménage marriage. He’d only really imagined one outcome of the marriage arrangement. Him with two women.

  Intellectually, he knew there was a possibility of a husband and a wife, and if he’d taken a hot minute to think, he might have tried to figure out how he felt about marrying another man.

  His objection last time he was in this room had been about trust—Juliette’s lack of trust in him. But had part of him secretly been pissed off because Juliette was forcing him to marry another man, something he hadn’t anticipated?

  Rich Blake.

  Langston glanced at the other man, who returned the stare. It was obvious Rich was stinking rich—ha—and had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He came off as arrogant and aggressive, a snob despite the Texas twang, the type to expect the world to bend a knee to his every command.

  Langston didn’t bend a knee to anyone, and there was no way in hell he wanted to spend the rest of his life with this guy.

  But according to the rules of this society, he was already married to Rich. Wasn’t he? There’d been something about coming back in a month.

  Langston shoved thoughts of being married to Rich aside. It was the one thing he hadn’t been able to drink away over the past week. Jack Daniels had failed him.

  Instead, he let his gaze slide over to Mina. She’d still been madder than a wet hen when he’d shown up earlier, but he got a sense she was starting to soften toward him, or at least not hate his guts.

  Mina had put her anger away and taken the time to explain a few things just moments ago. He appreciated that. He wasn’t used to feeling so in the dark. He knew he and his siblings had been blessed when it came to intelligence. As such, Langston had grown accustomed to typically being one of the smartest guys in any room. That didn’t hold true here, and it was frustrating the hell out of him.

  He took a deep breath as they stepped into the medallion room. Langston wondered if Juliette had picked this room on purpose. If she had thought bringing him back to the spot where he’d made a complete jackass of himself would somehow chasten him.

  Well, it worked.

  There was no way in hell he could initiate the conversation he was desperate to have with her here. It would only remind Juliette of what a dickhead he’d been at the binding ceremony. Besides, he wasn’t comfortable talking to her with Rich and Mina present.

  So he’d hear her out, then pray she’d give him a chance to talk to her alone after this meeting.

  He was overwhelmed by a sense of déjà vu as the three of them claimed the same seats they’d occupied less than a week ago, this time minus the robes.

  Juliette wasn’t here yet.

  “We should assume that she knows,” Mina whispered.

  Langston wanted to reach out, to take her hand to comfort her, but he didn’t feel as if he had the right. Her anxiety was almost palpable.

  “We haven’t done anything irreparable, Mina,” Rich said, his deep voice reassuring, confident.

  Mina’s shoulders visibly relaxed.

  Interesting, Langston thought. Mina and Rich said they hadn’t gone to the hotel together, yet it was apparent there was a closeness between them. Langston hadn’t considered the fact that they’d probably known each other prior to the ceremony. Though if they were both legacies…

  Langston’s sister, Sylvia, had been the one to explain that a legacy was someone whose parents had been members of the secret society, children who’d been raised within the confines of that lifestyle. Her husband Hugo was a legacy. Once legacies were of age, and if they’d proven themselves worthy, they were invited to join.

  At least that was how it worked in the Masters’ Admiralty, the European society. Given what Langston had seen of both secret societies, it seemed they operated under the same general principles.

  “You’re both legacies?” Langston asked quietly.

  Mina closed her eyes for a moment, then whispered, “Those are the sort of things we would know about one another if we’d been together. Yes, we are, but let’s not say anything else incriminating.”

  Rich merely stared at him, his body language telegraphing that if they all got in trouble, Rich knew exactly where to place the blame.

  The shadows at the far side of the room shifted, and a hooded figure appeared, seemingly from the darkness.

  That meant there was a secret entrance or door back there. Langston itched with curiosity. He wanted to explore this whole place again now that he knew there were definitely hidden doors.

  The Grand Master was wearing a robe, her face shadowed by a hood. Though he knew her name, and apparently Rich and Mina did, too, seeing her like this, a dark, imposing figure, Langston didn’t dare call her “Juliette.” That had been a mistake born of panic and desperation.

  She was, without a doubt, the Grand Master.

  Sebastian and Franco, wearing robes with their hoods down, followed, standing sentry on either side of her.

  The solemnity of the moment told Langton he’d been right to hold his tongue. This wasn’t the time or place to voice his concerns to Juliette.

  “All right then, Langston?” Franco asked, the friendly, casual question earning him rebuking looks from both Juliette and Sebastian. Not that the man noticed or cared.

  “Yeah. I don’t plan to start throwing any furniture today.” He’d hoped to get a laugh, but Franco was the only one who reacted, smiling.

  Langston liked Franco. They’d had some fascinating conversations during his orientation, though it occurred to him that perhaps Franco hadn’t gotten through the whole orientation packet. Was there a printed copy of the rules he could ask for?

  Still smiling, Franco said, “Well, it’s still early.”

  The other occupants of the room remained somber.

  “I appreciate you interrupting your honeymoon,” Juliette began.

  Langston hid a wince and exchanged glances with Mina and Rich, both of whom had schooled their features, managing to look merely curious.

  Rich took the lead, answering for the three of them. “Of course, Grand Master.”

  “I have an assignment for you,” Juliette continued. “Rich, Mina, you will remember my previous announcement about sometimes assigning newly formed trinities a task.”

  Langston had no idea what she was talking about, but Mina nodded.

  “A…friend has called upon the Trinity Masters for help.” Langston felt Juliette’s gaze on him, though he couldn’t see her eyes beneath the hood. “Your expertise is needed once again, Langston.”

  Langston narrowed his eyes, concerned. “My sister?”

  “Sylvia is fine,” Juliette said quickly, in order to set his mind at ease.

  Sylvia lived in London, and while Langston knew her husbands would give up their lives to keep his sister safe, it didn’t make the distance between them any easier. His big brother instincts were strong, and after a lifetime of protecting his kid sister, it was hard to let go.

  “You’re needed in Italy.”

  “Italy?” Mina asked.

  Juliette nodded. “Rather than interrupt your honeymoon, I am sending you to Italy together. Langston is needed by our al
lies for a consultation, but once that is done, the rest of the trip will be a romantic getaway for the three of you.”

  Langston opened his mouth and closed it, his previous plan for waiting to talk to Juliette forgotten. What was going on in Italy? It must be another bomb, but who, or what, was getting blown up?

  He glanced at the other two, and saw a softening in Rich and Mina’s tense body language when they realized Juliette hadn’t called them here to punish them for going their separate ways. As long as they didn’t say anything, Juliette never had to know, and they would just…what? Go ahead and get married?

  No. He’d travel to Italy, help the Masters’ Admiralty, and then he’d return here to talk to Juliette. Surely if he did as she requested, she would see that she could trust him, that she could put this marriage aside until…

  Until when?

  He was going to be placed in an arranged ménage marriage no matter what happened. And he would have no say-so in regards to his partners.

  He glanced from Rich to Mina, then considered himself in this same chair sometime in the future, sitting next to two different strangers.

  How would that feel any different from now?

  He sighed.

  Maybe it wouldn’t.

  “What kind of consulting work?” Mina asked.

  The Grand Master’s hood turned toward her. “Surely Langston told you about his recent exploits?”

  Mina blinked once, and for a moment he thought they were caught, but Mina cleared her throat delicately and said, “We’ve been a little preoccupied with…other aspects of the honeymoon.”

  Whoa. What a cool liar. Langston was seriously impressed.

  Her response appeased Juliette, who nodded. Then, to Langston, “Our friends in Rome have a bomb, and they were hoping you could tell them if it was made by the same person who tried to blow you up in Guam.”

  “Blow him up?” Mina demanded. She turned to him, eyes wide. “What do you do?”

  “You all really haven’t been talking, have you?” Franco said.

  “I’m an electrical engineer. Expert in explosive and improvised explosive ordnance disposal,” Langston said. “I’ve done some munitions and public safety bomb-disposal work, too. I like to build things. Build them and blow them up.”

  Rich grunted, a small sound of amusement Langston hadn’t expected of the man.

  Langston tried not to laugh at the outright shock on Mina’s face. He was used to people looking either horrified or seriously impressed when they learned what he did.

  “Of course I’ll go to Italy,” Langston said, feeling equal parts excited and concerned. “But if they don’t want to…” He gestured to Rich and Mina.

  The trip to Italy meant he might have a chance to see his sister and do what he loved—play with bombs.

  “I wasn’t asking,” Juliette said softly.

  Right. The Grand Master didn’t make requests, she gave orders. Maybe he should try one more time to talk to her alone. He still hated feeling like he was being pushed into the marriage because she didn’t trust him.

  “Grand Master, if we could speak in private, I wanted to—”

  “No.” This time the order came from Sebastian. “Your unorthodox entry and possible subpar orientation—”

  “Okay, that’s just rude,” Franco muttered.

  “—into the society may have given you the impression that this is a democracy. It’s not.”

  Langston stared at the man whom he’d started to consider a friend. The Sebastian looking at him now was a world away from the man he’d spent time with on Guam.

  Juliette continued as if he and Sebastian hadn’t spoken. “I’ve arranged for a private plane to take you to Rome, where you’ll be met by members of the Masters’ Admiralty.”

  The final two words hung heavy in the room. Rich and Mina glanced at one another, then both looked at him.

  For the first time, it felt like they were in it together, his spouses looking at him for information in a conspiratorial manner. Langston was shocked by how much he liked that feeling.

  The three of them would be forced to travel together, and while he looked forward to getting to know Mina better, Langston wasn’t sure he was too keen on spending time with Rich.

  “The members of what?” Rich asked.

  Juliette ignored Rich’s question, her focus on Langston once more. “I’ll let you fill your spouses in on who you’re meeting.”

  “Full disclosure?” Langston asked.

  Juliette nodded. “I think that would be best.” She turned her attention to Rich and Mina. “You’re going to discover—I hope you will, at least—some things on this trip that are confidential. They cannot be discussed or shared with anyone else in our organization, even your parents and siblings. Do you understand?”

  “I do, Grand Master,” Rich said.

  Mina nodded. “Of course, Grand Master.”

  “Good. Sebastian will give you the travel details. I suggest you return to the hotel and pack your bags. Your flight to Italy leaves tonight.”

  * * *

  Two hours later, Langston found himself at Hanscom Field, stepping aboard the private jet taking him, Rich, and Mina to Rome. The sun had just set. If they were flying commercially, this would be considered the red-eye, but given the lush accommodations awaiting him on the luxury plane, Langston figured sleeping comfortably wouldn’t be an issue.

  After leaving the library, the three of them had walked to the hotel together before going their separate ways to retrieve their luggage. Rich and Mina had beat him to the airport, both of them seated by the time Langston boarded the plane.

  Mina gave him a tentative smile when he claimed the seat across from her, Rich merely giving him a brief nod, acknowledging his presence.

  Yeah. This was gonna be fun, he thought sarcastically.

  The flight attendant served them drinks, then asked them to buckle in for departure before disappearing into a different cabin toward the front of the plane. None of them spoke until they were in the air.

  Then Langston unbuckled his seat belt and stood to explore the plane. There were two comfortable leather couches in the middle of the jet, as well as a fully-stocked bar. Opening a closed door beyond that lounge area, Langston discovered a bedroom with a king-size bed and fancy-ass bathroom.

  Mina peered over his shoulder. “Nice.”

  “Yeah,” Langston said with a grin. “I could get used to this.”

  Rich hadn’t bothered to look around, the man clearly at home in the luxurious plane. Instead, he’d walked straight to the bar and poured himself a glass of whiskey. He looked up when they returned to the couches. “Want a drink?”

  “I’ll have what you’re having,” Mina said.

  “Me too.”

  Once Rich had served each of them a glass of the expensive Scotch, he claimed the spot next to Mina on one of the couches. Langston noticed Rich tended to position himself close to Mina, as if to protect her from him, and it was getting on his last fucking nerve.

  “So,” Rich said once they were all settled. “What the hell is the Masters’ Admiralty?”

  Chapter Six

  Rich had held his peace as long as he could, but now that the three of them were alone, he was determined to get answers to all his questions. And he had a lot of them.

  “Well,” Langston began, “I think they’re the European version of the Trinity Masters.”

  “There’s another secret society?” Mina asked, though there was a distinct lack of surprise in her tone that matched Rich’s response to that news.

  “Yeah. Apparently they’ve been around since the Black Plague,” Langston continued. “My sister is a member.”

  “Your family is from Charleston, aren’t they?” Rich asked. He’d done quite a bit of digging into Langston Hayden’s background after last week’s ceremony. He had discovered Langston was actually a triplet, one of three boys. He also had a younger sister, Sylvia, whom he’d mentioned before when they were with the Gra
nd Master. Through his research, he’d discovered the sister, a renowned poet, had recently moved to London.

  “Been doing your homework, I see,” Langston said. “You’re from Dallas, right? Oil money.”

  Apparently Langston had spent the time apart this last week doing research into him as well. Perhaps they weren’t as ignorant about each other as they believed. Rich hadn’t shared Mina’s surprise when Langston revealed he was an electrical engineer, though he hadn’t realized quite how much the other man focused on bombs.

  “I am,” Rich confirmed, refusing to allow Langston the change of subject. “Your sister only recently moved to London. How was she tapped to join the Masters’ Admiralty?”

  “You checked up on my sister?”

  “I researched your whole family.” It wasn’t exactly a threat, but if Langston chose to take it as such, well, Rich could hardly be blamed for that, could he?

  “Enough,” Mina said. “You’ve both made your positions clear, but we don’t have time for this sort of posturing.” She looked back and forth between them. “I’m taking control of this conversation.”

  Rich grinned and touched two fingers to the brim of an imaginary cowboy hat.

  Langston looked surprised. “I think I should—”

  “The witness is directed to answer the question and will respond only to questions,” Mina said.

  “You tell him, darlin’,” Rich said.

  “Your editorial comments aren’t needed.” Mina sent him a scolding look.

  Damn. What would Rich give to have Mina Edwards as his wife? He sat with that thought for a moment, and then dismissed it. If Langston was able to convince Juliette to set the trinity aside, he wouldn’t just be rid of Langston. He’d lose Mina as well.

  That idea bothered him more than he cared to admit to himself. He’d always liked her, and was certainly attracted to her, and it was taking everything he had not to fantasize about moving them away from “friends” to “lovers” in his head.

  Rich still didn’t completely understand Langston’s reasons for objecting to the marriage—his comment about wanting Juliette to trust him was confusing—but given what had happened at the binding ceremony, Rich was reluctant to spend the rest of his life with the man.