The Rejected Luna’s Prince By Aurora Archer
Chapter 44 – A Man Of Many Names
(Willa)
Cali grabbed the phone, letting out a breath before she plastered on a smile.
“Yes?” She stood up the phone clutched in her hands.
“I’m doing this your way, which is a first for me,” a low voice sounded over the speaker.
“John, how nice of you to call,” Holden rolled his eyes, “But how can I be sure you didn’t just bribe the bartender for my information?”
“You can’t,” I leaned forward in my seat, tracking Cali’s movements. The room had fallen completely silent, “But I don’t know many who would cross him. You said yourself they would end up dead.” Cali chewed her lip and nodded once, “So, you want to meet?” The man went on.
“Yes, somewhere outside the city. Tomorrow.” Cali’s voice didn’t waver, I would have been consumed by nerves. I admired her steady confidence.
“I know just the place. I’ll send you coordinates when this phone reaches outside the city-.”
Cali shook her head, “This phone is untraceable. I’ll text you on this phone when I’m outside town, and you send me the coordinates.”
He was silent for a long moment, and I held my breath, worried this deal would be off and we would be back to nothing.
“Okay,” He breathed.
“How will I confirm it’s you? That you’re the person you claim to be?”
After another long pause, I even felt Caspien tense up next to me.
“I’ll bring confirmation.”
“Your passport,” Cali snorted, and the guy on the phone laughed once.
“Some men that only answer to me.” He responded as if that meant anything.
“And I have to take your word for it?” Cali asked a playful note underlying her hard tone.
“You do.”
It was Cali’s turn to pause.
“See you tomorrow, John,”
“I want to know your name-,”
Cali hung up, somehow getting the upper hand on the a*s*sa*s*sin king himself.
She sat back in Holden’s waiting arms, her face passive, but I could see an amused glint in her eyes.
“If only we had some leverage, some collateral,” Caspien idly stroked my thigh, and I welcomed his comforting touch.
“He doesn’t have a mate; my sources say he’s not marked,” Griffen said, looking at Cali, “That John guy, was he marked?”
“I didn’t look,” She chewed her lip and shook her head, “I don’t think so, though,”
“I heard a rumor he killed his own mate,” I spoke up, and Caspien chuckled once behind me.
“Fairytales, love,” he said, brushing his lips to my temple.
“Don’t patronize me,” I scoffed, but scooted back into his touch.
“If he does have someone, she’s probably locked away, with all of those that surely want him dead, she would be the first target.”
“He’s always surrounded by his enemies,” Holden shrugged, “Keep your enemies close and all of that,”
“Wait,” Cali jolted up, and Holden almost spilled what was left of his drink. Again.
She paused for a moment and chewed her lip, deep in thought, “The old woman,” she whispered.
“The bartender?” Griffen asked.
Cali nodded once, still seeming lost in her own mind “There was something weird about her, something off. I noticed it immediately.”
“She does seem to have an in with The Silent a*s*sasin.” Griffen nodded, “But would it be enough? I doubt he has much affection for his employees.”
“No, that’s not exactly it.” Cali said, “It was her that was weird, her mannerisms. She was watching him, us, almost jealous,” Her brows tugged together, “Her movements, her actions, they seemed so out of place, so jarring.”
“How so?” Caspien stopped rubbing my thigh, and I nudged him to continue.
“Sorry,” He whispered. I could feel his smile on my neck, and it sent a shiver coursing through me.
“She seemed young, acted young,” She shook her head again, “I can’t describe it.”
“Your age is only a number or whatever,” Holden shrugged, trying to grab his mate’s hand and pull her back to him.
“If I were him, I would hide my mate in plain view,” Nora mumbled, her eyes closed, “No one would think he was that s.tupid, and it would be so obvious no one wouldn’t think to look there…” She trailed off. Griffen tucked the blanket in around her for the tenth time.
“You think this old woman is his mate?” Caspien asked, his voice sounded incredulous.
“I don’t know,” She shrugged, “But I don’t think she really was an old woman. Is that even possible?”
“Yes, magic,” Holden nodded, “I’ve heard of some shapeshifter types too,”
Cali turned to him, shifting on his lap, “You’re joking.”
“He’s not,” Griffen said.
“And all I got was a puppy in my head?” She crossed her arms, downing the last sip of her drink.
Caspien chuckled once. I could feel the vibrations on my back.
“I think I’m in with the wrong crowd,” Cali went to fill all of our drinks before she stopped hers up.
“You’re in this for life, baby,” Holden said, nothing but affection in his eyes as he looked at her.
“So, we take the woman as a bargaining chip?” Griffen got back to the point.
“It’s a stretch,” Caspien said.
“This whole thing has been though,” I added, “We still don’t know who we are dealing with and if he’s even the right guy. He could be someone used as a diversion,” I shook my head.
I trusted them, I did, but dread curled deep within me. There were too many variables. I wanted whoever tried to take Emmett gone, and I had never felt so much hatred or anger towards another before, not even Nolan. But I couldn’t risk losing any of them on a hunch.
“His features check out,” Caspien said, running his nose along my neck, helping me come back to the present moment and away from my swirling fears.
“I’m sure there are ways to change an appearance,” I muttered, but I let him distract me.
“Let’s go with what we have now,” He whispered, I nodded once and he wrapped his strong arms around me enveloping me in his steady warmth.
“Do you think she would be there again?” Griffen asked Cali.
“She said she knew everyone there.”
“Can it be done?” Caspien asked Griffen. I remember him saying once that Griffen was pretty much his spymaster.
Griffen looked down. His eyes seemed to dart back and forth, and he muttered something before turning his dark gaze back to my mate, “I think so,” He loosed a breath, “But I can’t guarantee it; there are too many variables and no time to work through them all, or even many of them.” He shook his head once, seeming annoyed.
“If you think it can be done, I want safety to be the top priority,” Capien said.
“I’ll do it as safely as possible,” Griffen responded, “But you know the situation. I’ll do it myself.” Griffen nodded once, resolutely.
“Don’t they know who you are?” Cali asked.
“I’ll be there,” Griffen spoke mostly to himself, “Either way, I’ll lead.” He nodded once again before standing up.
“Want help?” Caspien asked.
“I got it, I just need to talk to some people,” Griffen looked at his sleeping mate, “Can you guys watch her?”
“She’s not a dog,” Holden said.
“Well..” Cali replied.
“We can watch her,” Caspien said, and Griffen relaxed a bit before leaving.
“Now we need to figure out what happens after we have her,” Caspien leaned forward a bit, “Let’s finish planning.”