Kill pulls his phone out when it chimes with a text alert, his expression turning serious before he sets it down. I arch an eyebrow in question but he subtly shakes his head while Heather obliviously enjoys her ice cream. My spider senses are tingling and somehow I know this might not be good news. When it comes to the Prophet and his family there’s never good news. I have a funny feeling it’s about him but Kill wants to let her enjoy herself before he brings it all crashing down.
Chapter Thirty-Six
KILLIAN
We sit watching her eat her ice cream blissfully and the last thing I want to do is snap her back into the past. Heather takes a bite of her cone and stops chewing, lifting her gaze to mine, then my brothers, before coming back to me as she swallows hard.
“What’s going on? Again, you are having a conversation I can’t hear.”
She’s a fucking bulldog when she wants information so I know there’s no point in holding off any longer.
“Is this the Prophet?” I ask, showing Heather the photograph Benji sent only moments ago.
She nods, her eyes marred with confusion.
“What’s with the costumes?”
There are three people in the image, all of them wearing long white robes. The women with him are wearing face coverings, only their eyes are visible.
Shrugging my shoulders, I admit, “I have no idea. Maybe he wants to look the part of a crazy cult leader.”
Taking my phone, she zooms in and out on the photo.
She points to the woman beside him.
“That’s my mother, but I don’t know who the other woman is. She looks young. Do we know where this was taken?”
I take my phone back and show her the text message from Benji.
Benji:I need verification of the people in this photo.
Me:I’ll show it to Heather and let you know. Where was this taken?
Benji:Kansas City. At a Morte Mafia party.
She stares at the message, her eyes filled with confusion and disbelief.
“I don’t understand. He’s supposed to be in hiding.”
Carter glances over her shoulder at the photo.
“Morte gives him protection, a false sense of security. Maybe it’s a good thing. Cocky men get themselves killed.”
Heather nods in agreement, but I can still see the wheels turning.
I take her hand and she glances up at me as she exhales a long breath.
“We have a plan, baby. Please don’t deviate from it.”
Squeezing my hand, her eyes soften as she promises to do what I’ve asked.
“I won’t. I’ll stay with Bella while you thin out the numbers. Then I’ll get to handle questioning my mother and the men, like we discussed.”
I tuck her hair behind her ear and stroke two fingers down her cheek.
“Exactly. We know you have been waiting for a long time, but patience is how we do this and keep you safe.”
Leaning over, she kisses me quickly and pulls back with a sparkle in her eyes.