“Hey,” he said. “I was just looking for you.”
I blinked away the tears in my eyes and looked away. “What?”
But then creaks and footfalls fell behind me, and Kai and Rika both stepped out of the stairwell, too.
I groaned.
David backed up, looking questioningly between the three of us, but he carried on. “Okay, great,” he said, nodding. “Everyone in one place. Perfect.” And then he looked down at me. “Gabriel needs you for a few moments. Bring them into the guest house.”
And he turned to leave.
The guest house—I grabbed his arm, narrowing my eyes. No. That’s where Gabriel took problems to deal with
them away from prying eyes.
But David just laughed under his breath and leaned in to whisper. “It’s okay. Everyone will leave in one piece. I promise.”
Traipsing past the terrace and the flickering lights of Vanessa’s welcome celebration getting underway, I led Kai, Will, and Rika around the pond to the guest quarters. It was more like a starter house, the size much bigger than any apartment my mother and I ever lived in. Kai and Will had been there before. It was where Damon always took his friends on the rare occasion he invited anyone over.
This way, no one ran into his mother. Or saw me. It was fully furnished and decorated with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a great room. What did Gabriel need them out here for that he couldn’t take care of in his office?
Beautiful glass panes surrounded the front of the house, and I spotted a few men inside the cottage. My pulse quickened. What was going on?
I fought not to spin around and get them out of here. This didn’t feel right.
But David said they’d be safe. He wouldn’t lie to me.
Before I could make up my mind, though, the glass doors opened wide.
“Kai!” my father boomed from inside as Ilia held the door open for us. “Come on in!”
Kai walked around me, my feet still rooted to their spot. Rika and Will followed, and I finally moved, sticking my hands in my pockets, my fingers sliding into place on the grips of the blades I hid there.
“How do you like it?” Gabriel held out his hands at the massive room. “Just refurbished. I thought I’d make it your and Vanessa’s home when you visit. It’ll be nice to have some family around again.”
Ilia closed the door behind me, and we all stepped farther into the room. Three men loitered behind my father, spread out casually, but they were moving. Albeit slowly as to not attract attention.
But they had mine. They were positioning themselves around us. Ilia stayed at my side, while Lev and David were absent, probably on an errand somewhere.
“What do you want?” Kai stopped behind a cushioned chair, looking at Gabriel. “We’re heading out.”
My father moved behind a desk and picked up a black fountain pen, holding it out to Kai. “Just the small matter of a signature.”
I let out a breath. He wasn’t in danger, after all. This was just about the stupid contract that Kai would never sign. I’m guessing he didn’t hand in the one with the signature I forged yesterday morning in anger.
“Send it to the dojo,” he told my father. “If there are no more changes to be made, I’ll sign.”
“You’ll sign now. Vanessa is here, and the wedding is being planned.” He looked at Kai, all patience and pleasantries now gone. “Now.”
Kai took a step. “How do I know you didn’t slip in a contingency that I haven’t seen? I’m going to take my time to read it again before I agree to anything.”
My father dropped his hand and shot a glance over to Ilia, nodding to him.
What—
“Sorry, kid,” Ilia mumbled.
Huh?