Elin dropped her keys and mail in the crystal dish on the mirror-and-chrome side table. Nena made a mental note to remind her sister to keep her keys nearby.
“What the hell for?” Elin had asked once, scoffing at her overly careful sister. It was easy for her to be flippant about security when she wasn’t the one directly engaging in the risky behavior.
Nena had replied, “For quick escapes.”
Elin let out a yelp when she noticed Nena sitting on her couch. It took her a second to regain her businesslike demeanor. She narrowed her liquid brown eyes, the color of chocolate. Her expression switched to mild irritation with the crook of a freshly arched eyebrow. Her regal frame and mahogany complexion thrummed with electricity.
She really does look just like Mum, Nena observed, waiting for her sister’s first words. Or wrath. One could never be too sure, but from Elin’s rigid stance, Nena thought the latter.
“Nena, what the hell? Say something simple and easy, like, Elin, don’t be scared; I’m sitting like a freak on your couch. Something like that.”
Elin took the one step leading down into the sunken living room, her heeled sandals clicking on the white flooring, then silencing when she reached the plush rug. She sank into the oversize mauve chaise.
“Wasn’t my intent,” Nena said flatly.
Elin waved her off, her rings catching the rays of sunlight in the brightly lit room. She gave Nena a stare down of gargantuan proportions while her finger subconsciously tapped against one of her front teeth.
“What,” she said, launching into the meat of what they had to discuss. “The. Actual. Fuck, Nena?”
News traveled fast. “Was a change of plans.”
“An unsanctioned change of plans. And Dad’s pissed, you know. And you know what that means, right?”
Nena inclined her head.
“Yeah, he and Mum will pop up in town. And you know how much I hate their pop-ups.”
Nena inclined her head again. Both knew full well that a visit from across the pond meant Elin’s carefree lifestyle would come to a grinding, albeit temporary, halt.
Nena squared her shoulders. “It was a good kill, Elin. This man was evil.”
Elin shot her a baleful look. “Aren’t they all? That’s your job now? To decide who dies and who not? Smith was not the mark.”
“The lawyer is insignificant. He’s a one-off, remember? You even said so. However, the other man—Smith—he would have sold out the Tribe, no question.”
“And you know this how?” Elin countered. Her face reflecting her disbelief.
Nena didn’t respond, and Elin flounced back in her seat in a huff. She didn’t stay there for long. She was too riled up, and when she was in this state, she had to move around . . . or smoke.
Before Nena could decide how to elaborate, Elin’s computer, the secure one, chirped with an incoming video call. They looked at each other, Elin wearing a smug expression and Nena a resigned one.
“Oh, it’s Dad, all right,” Elin said, answering Nena’s unasked question. “He’s big mad. Probably had Network track you here to call.” She gestured with her fingers that Nena should answer.
Noble’s face filled the screen, and immediately Nena saw the disapproval on his face. She managed a tiny hello before their father started in.
“What the hell happened, Nena?”
Nena flinched almost imperceptibly, waiting anxiously for him to unleash his fury at her and demand she return home to London so the Council could properly reprimand her. The sensible part of her knew Noble Knight had never raised voice or hand to her. He spoke gently, with love, even when correcting her misbehavior. And he wouldn’t change now. But a small part of her, the before part of her that had never died, feared that one day he’d turn out like all the other men she’d encountered after she was taken. She often woke up thinking, Today might be the day.
She didn’t think Elin had noticed her concern, but Elin had. The sisters made eye contact. Nena could read that Elin wanted to reach out and comfort her, but she wouldn’t. Elin knew doing that would make Nena feel weak. Nena tore her eyes from Elin and focused on the screen, her body hunching over in embarrassment. She was supposed to be the enforcer, the one who took care of business, not the one who needed taking care of.
In a softer tone, Dad was saying, “This will take some discussion with the Council members.”
Elin said, “But you have the final word as High Council.”
“The Tribe and the Council are not an autocracy.”