Chapter 0202
“If we just ask Julian, is what you mean to say,” Julian cut in. He sauntered closer and cast Nicholas a dagger–sharp glare.
“Since I’m the only one with an evil–enough brain required for truly investigating the
underground.”
“You aren’t evil,” I said at once.
Julian’s gaze softened somewhat looking at me. “Thank you, dear. But what I mean, is that I’m the one who can think like them.
Scheme like them. You two are too innocent and pure.”
Nicholas straightened. “I’m perfectly capable of strategizing their movements.”
“Oh? Then you know where they’re hiding and what their plans are?” Julian laughed. “What a relief! I thought this might be much
more difficult than all that.”
“Jullan,” I scolded, but he ignored me now.
“Someone as high and mighty as you, brother, has no idea what it’s like to slither around in the dark.” Julian’s voice chilled, icy.
“The people we are dealing with have no concept of right and wrong. They only know selfishness. They’ll push anyone aside for
their gains.”
I worried my bottom lip. I didn’t want to tell Nicholas that I agreed with Julian. Nicholas was a beacon of light and good, always
abiding by the rules. I couldn’t imagine him lowering himself enough to even Imagine himself a member of the underground.
Julian, however, loved his schemes. He always seemed to be playing some kind of game, and was
easily ten steps ahead of me at any point.
“You would know more about using people,” Nicholas said.
“And you would know about selfishness, but that alone hardly helps us here,” Julian replied.
Quickly, I sidestepped, coming directly between them and blocking their sight of one another.
t’s enough, I said. This argument gets us nothing. We need to keep our heads together,” I said to To Julian, I added, “We need to
place our differences aside. That’s the only way we might stand
Binding them and stopping thems
Julian, please.”
Since he was the one who could strategize the best out of us three, I needed him to keep his head clear and focused. We were
depending on that. I tried to convey all of that in those two little words.
He lowered his head, looking properly shamed for a moment. When he lifted it again, his eyes were clearer. He nodded at me,
and I knew he finally meant business.
I stepped back so we could all see each other once more.
“Protecting Elva will always be my primary focus,” I said. “But after that, I’m desperate to find out my sister’s level of involvement
in the organization. She could be voluntarily Involved. She could be there
against her will If she needs saving, I want to save her.”
“We will save her,” Nicholas said, and I drew comfort from his reassurance.
“We’ll find out the truth,” Julian said, and that sounded like a promise too.
I was grateful for them both.
The problem is, we aren’t even certain where to start,” Nicholas said.
“See? This is what I meant, Nicholas. You have no imagination,” Julian said. Before I could scold him
again, he quickly moved on. “We have a lead. A miserable oaf who I wish we could avoid, but who has too
many entanglements to this whole thing to be innocent.”
I dreaded the name I knew I was about to hear.
Julian glanced at me and winced, as if in apology. Then he said it.
“Our dear Uncle Terry.”