of her head. She wore a black turtleneck sweater, black-framed glasses, and minimal makeup. She was the image of classy, elegant, and wealthy.
She was in charge of the gathering.
She folded her hands on the table and leaned toward a microphone in front of her. “Okay, Kai. We’re all assembled. What is it that you want us to know?”
Kai glanced once in my direction before walking forward and folding his hands in front of him. The next two words had me swallowing because it wasn’t what I was expecting; they weren’t who I was expecting.
“Welcome, Council,” he said.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
The elegant woman leaned forward, folding her hands over each other, and regarded us. “You sent word two days ago to assemble. We’re here at this ungodly hour, and when we get done, I still have to travel home. I’ll be missing my granddaughter’s birthday party, so let’s hurry this along. Who do you have behind you?”
Kai pulled the bag off the guy.
His face was badly bruised, and swollen on one entire side. His lip had been busted and dried blood still caked on top. One eye barely opened.
I shifted farther back against the wall, because I recognized that eye.
“This is the security guard who approached a guest of mine on behalf of Bruce Bello.” Kai’s eyes narrowed as he waited for their reaction.
A few of the council members bent together, starting to talk.
“Okay. Okay!” The woman slapped her hand on the table, shooting the members a glare. “We’re here to listen to the Bennett family. Stop talking.” She regarded Kai again. “We’re all aware of Bruce Bello and that you have his daughter in your care. She’s the guest this man approached?”
“Yes.” Kai turned to the man. “You’ve been my guard for four years. Have you always been working for Bruce Bello?”
The man coughed, jerking forward.
We waited until he was done.
He lifted his hand to wipe his mouth. There was blood on it. He took a second to compose himself. “No. I was a faithful and loyal employee until I received a coded email from Bello just a few weeks ago.”
“And this email said?”
God. Kai was emotionless. His demeanor said each and every question he asked would be answered. This man had been tortured into submission.
“He had a picture of my daughter in a man’s arms. He was holding a knife to her throat. The email said I was to do what he wanted or he would kill my little girl.”
“And what were his instructions?”
“I was to kill his daughter to save mine.”
Kai lifted his eyes to mine at that very moment. No reaction. No shock. No remorse. No sympathy. He knew all this already.
He knew, and he hadn’t told me, but then again, why was I surprised? This was something my father would do.
“Any other instructions?” Still so cold, Kai turned away.
“Yeah.” The side of his mouth he could still use tipped upward in an ugly grin. “I was supposed to kill you, or as much of your family as possible. Bello said he would pay me good if I did.”
Kai folded his head down. “Thank you.”
The spokeswoman cleared her throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “And his daughter, Kai? I assume you’ve helped resolve that.”
“I have. She is safe.” He turned to the ex-guard/my father’s would-be hitman. “Your wife and daughter will be cared for. I give you my word.”
It took a second.
Why would he speak that way? Why wouldn’t he just say they were safe and being cared for, not that they would be cared for? Why did the man’s head jerk back, his eyes glistening with tears as he nodded.
“Thank you,” he said hoarsely.
Kai turned back to the council.
“Sir?”
Two men entered our room. Kai had been given a signal without anyone knowing, but it wasn’t them who spoke. It was the ex-guard.
He saw the men coming and leaned forward. “Sir, if I can say something?”
Kai faltered.
I held my breath.
I expected Kai to listen to him without emotion, being his ruthless, cutthroat self. He was the head of the Bennett mafia and no one else in this moment, but he didn’t turn to his past employee right away.
He looked to me first, and pain flashed in his eyes. It was there, then gone.
He grew resolved again, his face tightening up. Only then did he look back at the man.
A tear slipped down the man’s face. “I know what will happen to me. I betrayed you, and there’s a code. I broke that. For that, I apologize. I truly am sorry I