Page 190 of Breaking Rosalind
“Xero kept in touch with Britt for a few years,” I say. “He also has contacts within the Moirai who owe him favors.”
“Other assassins?” he asks.
“Support staff.” I set down my fork. “Mostly people not directly involved in the hits but janitors, cleaners, and people in tech.”
Nodding, he takes another sip of his shake. “So Xero could get the crystals into the Moirai?”
“I can set up a meeting and ask. If he’s poaching assassins before they graduate, then he also has a vested interest in taking the firm down.”
Cesare wipes his mouth with a napkin. “Are you sure you can trust him?”
“The only other way to get the mercury nitrovolucite where we need it is for me to return to the Moirai.”
“Set up the meeting,” he growls.
I down the second shot glass. “Then our next step is the Parisii Cemetery, where we’ll bribe a guard to pass on a message into the catacombs.”
SEVENTY-FIVE
CESARE
Shortly after finishing a surprisingly edible lunch of vegetables, nuts, and fungus, we get a call from Christian, who’s having trouble producing the sample batch.
I return Rosalind to the lab where she decides to stay the night to help the team produce the large quantity of mercury nitrovolucite we need to obliterate the Moirai.
Being around large quantities of drugs makes me antsy, even though I haven’t had a craving in years. Not wanting to take any chances, I leave Rosalind behind, stopping at the Parisii Cemetery before returning home.
I slip the guard five hundred-dollar bills along with the number of the burner phone I gave Rosalind. This Xero character might be more willing to cooperate with another disgruntled assassin than with a member of the Montesano family.
The text I got earlier was a summons from Roman to attend another family event. Since I’m no longer trying to torture Rosalind, I didn’t want to bring her along only for her to be insulted by Benito or to suffer Roman’s withering glares.
My brothers only see her as the woman who stalked Leroi, tricked me into ingesting drugs, and then passed on vital information about our security to the Moirai. They don’t see the beautiful, courageous woman who’s fiercely protective of the people she loves.
After the two of us take down the Galliano brothers and destroy the Moirai, my brothers will have no choice but to show Rosalind some well-deserved respect.
When I get home, Sofia directs me to the movie room. It’s one of the few spaces in the house that isn’t some shade of cream and ivory, with charcoal walls adorned with black and white photos of our favorite actors.
I follow Sofia to the room’s bottom tier, where she deposits a tray of milkshakes on one of the low tables in front of the twelve-seater sofa. One quick glance at the screen tells me they’re watching The Godfather.
When Roman was on death row, I used to dream about moments like these. Now, all I feel is a sense of impending dread. I glance at Leroi, the only man here who’s brought a date.
Little Seraphine curls into his side like a kitten, her bare feet tucked to the side. Leroi’s hand rests on her shoulder, his fingers playing with a strand of her hair, which has now faded to a pale blonde. Even my cousin, who only lived with us for ten years, shares more blood with Benito and Roman than me.
More than ever, I feel like the odd one out. It’s only a matter of time before those Galliano bastards reveal my secret.
Wincing, Leroi picks up a strawberry shake. I step forward, wanting to ask how his wounds are healing, but I don’t want to intrude on the family gathering. Instead, I take a seat on the farthest end of the sofa, keeping my eyes on the screen.
My phone buzzes with a text alert that sends my teeth on edge. I pull it out and glance at the screen, only to find a message from Rosalind telling me they tested a small batch of mercury nitrovolucite and are ready to begin full scale production.
Exhaling a long breath of relief, I turn back to the movie. It’s great that we’ll soon have the explosives, but I can’t help but worry that I haven’t heard from Matty Galliano since returning from Helsing Island.
Did Sofia land a fatal blow? It’s doubtful. Tommy would be baying for her blood, regardless of whether his deranged brother came at her with a knife. What if they’re planning something big?
“Where’s your little assassin?” Benito’s voice interrupts my thoughts.
My head snaps to the side. “She’s helping Dr. Cortese and her team.”
Seraphine leans up to whisper something in Leroi’s ear that makes him nod and grimace.