the need for his presence if it meant his brother could remain with his new spouses a few days longer. He settled back in his chair, arms crossed.
Sebastian sat forward, forearms on the table. “If we’re being frank, the other reason you’re here,” he looked first at Oscar, then at her, “is because Mr. Campisi is comfortable with you.”
Selene resisted the urge to sputter. “I’m a theoretical atomic physicist. You’re saying my expertise is secondary to a discussion about a nuclear bomb?”
“A bomb that doesn’t work,” Sebastian pointed out.
“Pardon?” Percival, who already had excellent posture, went even stiffer. “It doesn’t work?”
“We told you about the engineered flaw.” The Grand Master gestured to Luca. “Mr. Campisi has confirmed that it was intentional, and that he designed the bomb under duress.”
Percival frowned. “Be that as it may, we believe it is in the best interest of both organizations for Mr. Campisi to return to Europe with me—”
“Not possible,” the Grand Master interrupted. “Luca Campisi is a member of the Trinity Masters.”
Percival looked like he might shatter, he was so tense and stiff. “Pardon? That’s not possible. Since when—”
“About an hour ago,” Franco said cheerfully.
Owen winced, but then his expression smoothed out. “It’ll be fine, Percy. The task force means that whatever information I have, you have.”
Percival didn’t seem appeased. “I very much doubt that you will be given all the information.”
“And your admiral tells you everything?” Owen asked mildly.
“Luca is ours,” Sebastian said briefly. “He’s intelligent, resourceful, and cunning. All traits we look for in our members. The Grand Master identified his potential and offered him membership. It has nothing to do with the Masters’ Admiralty.”
“What a load of shite,” Percy muttered loud enough that everyone in the room heard him.
“Imagine what he’ll be able to do when he’s not all alone,” Oscar said quietly. “When he’s got us at his back.”
Everyone looked at him. Beside her, Luca had gone perfectly still. Selene reached for his hand under the table and squeezed it. Oscar’s words had caused a little lump in her throat, so she could only imagine what Luca himself was feeling.
While Selene had been the one to suggest they continue “practicing ménages,” there was no denying she had feelings for Luca and Oscar. Walking away from them at the end of this nightmare was going to be…difficult.
No. Not difficult.
Impossible, her mind whispered.
“Watch your tone in the presence of the Grand Master.” Sebastian was staring down Percival.
“Grand Master, if I may?” Owen leaned forward, as if he could physically intercept the tension crisscrossing the table.
She nodded to Owen.
“And may I talk freely about the MPF?”
“Yes.”
Owen looked at Percival, then to her, Luca, and Oscar. “For the first time in our histories, the Trinity Masters and Masters’ Admiralty have a formal mutual aid agreement and a way to take action against any threat to both societies.”
“The Bellator Dei doesn’t know about the Trinity Masters,” Luca said softly.
“Something we didn’t realize until they brought you in,” Owen acknowledged. “However, the Bellator Dei and their associates have made moves on U.S. soil, so they are now a threat to all of us.”
Percival had composed himself. He cleared his throat and Owen motioned for him to take over. “Mr. Fraser and I are the joint heads of this combined task force. The Masters Protection Force.”
“MPF,” Selene said.
Percival nodded. “This is the first time we’ve been called on to act, and our original mission was to apprehend Mr. Campisi.”
“Well, you did a shit job of that,” Oscar said, sounding weirdly cheerful. “A computer nerd and an academic did that for you.”
“Not helping,” Selene hissed at him.
Owen’s lips twitched. “Now that we know that Mr. Campisi—can I call you Luca?”
Luca nodded.
“Thanks,” Owen continued. “That Luca isn’t really a member of the Bellator Dei, our focus has shifted.”
“There are two main issues,” Sebastian said. “One that matters more to the Masters’ Admiralty, and one that’s more pressing for us.”
“We need to dismantle the Bellator Dei,” Percival said, making it clear which was their priority.
Beside her, Luca stiffened.
“There are innocent people in that cult,” Selene said hotly.
“They beat children, murder people,” Oscar added with a snarl. “We need to get those fuckers, but rescue the kids.”
“We are not proposing slaughter,” Percival said. “But the Bellator Dei has grown many heads since we disposed of the man who was manipulating them.”
“What?” Luca demanded. “Who was it? How did you—”
“Go back and read the earlier books,” Franco said.
“Dismantling the Bellator Dei, and helping people who were brainwashed or coerced by them,