elbow. He was carefully stirring something in a large bowl. Rhys was classically handsome with tan skin, close-cropped blond hair, and light eyes.
Next to Rhys, Veronica Karim was supervising his work. Tall and slender, with warm brown skin and long black hair, she was beautiful. If she and Rhys ever decided to have a baby, the universe would probably implode from the cuteness overload. She had on loose charcoal pants and a deep violet blouse. She caught sight of us first.
“Lady Bianca, I hope you don’t mind that we’re using your kitchen,” she said with a smile. Her voice was low and melodious.
“That depends. Do I get to sample whatever you’re making?”
She laughed. “Of course.”
“In that case, carry on. And it’s just Bianca.”
Ada held out an arm toward Rhys and Veronica. “Bianca, meet Rhys and Veronica. I know you’ve worked together before but I don’t think you’ve met in person.”
“It’s lovely to finally meet you,” Veronica said.
“Likewise,” I said.
“Sorry, I would greet you properly but if I mess up this strawberry whipped cream I’m afraid Veronica won’t let me have any of the shortcake she made, and her food is not to be missed,” Rhys said with a charming grin.
I thought I’d grown immune to looks and charm, but Rhys was putting that theory to the test. I wouldn’t want him for myself, but he certainly was easy on the eyes.
“The whipped cream comes first,” I agreed with a smile.
“How long are you staying?” Ada asked.
“I jumped twice on the way here, so the FTL drive cooldown will take almost twelve hours,” I said. “I want to be ready to go by then, but you don’t have to stay that long because I’m also going to need to sleep. I’m sorry I woke you all up so early.”
Surprisingly, it was Loch who waved off my words. “What happened?” he asked.
I brought them up to speed while Rhys finished the whipped cream and started slicing fruit. By the time I was finished, brunch was ready. We carried the food out to the table on the balcony and sat in the gentle afternoon sun. A light breeze carried the briny scent of the sea and kept the temperature pleasant.
I ate lightly, my stomach queasy thanks to the headache. Rhys hadn’t been joking—Veronica was an excellent chef and everything tasted amazing. After eating what I could, I sipped coffee, lost in my thoughts.
Rhys broke the silence. “I haven’t heard anything about your brother’s disappearance other than what’s been reported on the news, but I’ve got a few people asking questions. If it really is the Syndicate then I might get a lead or two. I’ve worked with them before.”
“Have you heard anything about their upcoming party?” I asked.
Ada turned to me with a dark look. “Don’t even think about it,” she warned. “They already have Ferdinand. Are you going to serve yourself up on a platter, too?”
“That wasn’t my intention, no. I’ve been on a Silva ship before.” Ada blanched, but I kept going. “I know how they operate. They are driven far more by money than politics, and I have no problem buying Ferdinand back if that’s what it takes. I just need to track one of them down. Assuming it’s soon, the party is the best option.”
“It will be a tricky deal to pull off,” Veronica said.
“I know, but if I don’t try, Ferdinand suffers.”
“Marcus and I will come with you,” Ada declared.
“No,” I disagreed gently. “This is not a case where more people mean more safety. And if things really do go south, I’ll need someone who can bail me out. You can’t do that if you’re locked up with me.”
Ada opened her mouth to argue, but Loch beat her to it. “Bianca is right,” he said. “One or two people can slip in quietly, but take a team and it looks like an invasion.”
They shared a look before Ada sighed in defeat. “Very well. We won’t go with you, but we’ll be close. And at the first sign of trouble, we’ll bring the invasion.” Her smile was sharp and just a little bit scary. My little sister had changed in the two years she’d been gone.
“Thank you,” I said.
We discussed plans and options until I could barely keep my eyes open, but it all boiled down to one hard truth: if I couldn’t find Silva, I wouldn’t find Ferdinand. We talked about contacting them electronically, but in the end, we agreed that tipping them off early would be a