Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
“Mr. Blackstone, you and your brother are here,” the one in charge says to my brother gesturing for the first car. “Ms. Lombardi, you’ll ride with me.” He gestures to the second vehicle.
“Like hell she will and when you address my wife, you’ll refer to her as Mrs. Blackstone,” I tell the asshole and shove past him toward the second vehicle, not letting go of Amal’s hand until we’re both in it and I’ve closed the door.
I watch Severin slide into the first vehicle, and a soldier gets into the passenger seat. The befuddled man I just told off regains his composure and walks around to get into the passenger seat of our car.
“Will your brother be okay?” Amal asks in a quiet whisper. In the rear-view mirror, I watch the men who disappear into the van behind us as the vehicles drive away from the hotel all in a nice military-like row.
“Sev can handle himself. Don’t worry about him.” I reach over her to pull her seatbelt across her lap and click it into place before doing the same with mine. I see how she clutches the bag to herself. “Diary?” I ask her.
She nods.
“Where are we going?” I ask the man in front.
He turns and smiles almost politely, setting one arm across the back of the bench-style front seat. He glances at Amal, then at me.
“We will drive to Glenrothes where we’ll take a flight to the Isle of Elysium. It’s where The Society is headquartered in Scotland. Well, we have smaller properties throughout each of the cities, of course, but Master Robertson resides on the island most months of the year. He’s most curious to meet Mrs. Blackstone,” he says, making a point of using the name. “And, of course, eager to speak with the Blackstone brothers.”
“I’m sure.” I sit back keeping Amal’s hand in mine as we drive out of the city to the private airport about forty minutes out of town. “My Glock?”
“It will be returned to you upon your departure from the island.”
I don’t stop to think about how we’ll be departing.
Once we arrive at the airport, we’re escorted into a luxurious private jet. Soldiers stand sentry as we take our seats.
The man in charge sits in a chair facing us. He has a grin on his face I’d really like to punch off.
“What’s your name and function?” Severin asks him with his usual authority. The Blackstone’s weren’t nobodies in The Society. At one point we had quite some clout, but that was a long time ago.
“I’m Jameson, personal assistant to Master Robertson.” He reaches into the breast pocket of his jacket and hands Severin a card. He’s not armed from what I can see but I’m sure if it came down to it, he could shoot to kill as easily and precisely as any of the other soldiers.
Sev takes his card, glances at it and sets it aside like he can’t even be bothered to tuck it into his pocket it’s so unimportant. Well done, brother.
“I’ll have a whiskey,” I tell Jameson. “Amal, darling, would you like something to drink?”
“I’m fine. Thanks.”
I see Jameson’s irritation a moment before that smile stretches across his ugly face again. He gestures to an attendant to get me a whiskey. She asks Severin if he’d like something, but Sev gives a dismissive shake of his head.
“Cheers,” I say, once I have a tumbler in hand. I raise my glass to no one in particular and sip the drink.
“Early for that, isn’t it?” Amal asks me quietly.
“I’m on Devil’s Peak time.”
Sev leans his chin on his hand and watches out the window. Amal and I do the same and just under an hour later, I see it. The island. A rock rising from the Atlantic, its cliffs beaten raw by centuries of salt and wind.
As we begin our descent, I see the marina and a handful of boats bobbing in the wild waters. Air and sea are the only way on or off the island. This might get tricky.
“The Isle of Elysium is a private island in the Outer Hebrides. It is only accessible by private plane or boat, as you can see. You’ll notice what was once a ruined castle The Society completely rebuilt over time. We’ve been maintaining it over decades. Returning it to its former glory and more. We’ve also built housing for those members who wish to reside upon the island either permanently or as respite from the dullness of pedestrian life.” Jameson tells us, smiling proudly as if he built the place with his own two hands.
I admit though, the views are breathtaking with jagged cliffs and white sand beaches, the water shifting color as dark clouds give way to patches of bright sky and sunshine. Water crashes against these rocks and it’s hard to believe this is the same water that I often watch from the windows of my own home.