Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Clearly, Lewis was the leader of the conspiracy against the shadow riders. Now that Rogan was dead, more than ever, Geno believed he would be determined to kill every shadow rider he could. By bringing his cousins together in a crowded theater, he made them appear to be easy targets. The Boutlers would believe that the Ferraros would be enthralled with the performance of Geno’s fiancée, arrogant and secure in the knowledge that they were shadow riders, and no one could get to them. Brielle was still trying to unravel Lewis’s actual location. He was communicating with his nephews but in short bursts, difficult to pinpoint when the transmission was being bounced all over Europe, the United States and Canada. She and Bernado, Val and Dario’s other investigator, were working on ferreting out his location together.
Amaranthe had easily solved the problems they had with the Archambaults. Geno, Stefano and even Elie had been agonizing over when to give them the report on what was transpiring, but Amaranthe simply raised an eyebrow and said she was sending in her report immediately and Geno and Stefano should do the same.
She pointed out that not a single Boutler was an active shadow rider taking rotations. They had trained when they were younger, but they were no longer working. In fact, they had faded from most people’s memories. This was an attack by nonriders on multiple shadow-riding families. It didn’t matter why. The present generation had no knowledge of crimes committed by their parents or grandparents and wasn’t responsible for what other family members had done in the past.
There was a brief rustling at the heavy velvet curtain behind them. Instantly, Geno was out of his seat and in front of his brothers, gesturing for them to give him room. They did, standing, spreading out to allow themselves fighting room as well. They had ensured no shadow could find its way into the boxes other than the one Lorenzo stood guard in.
Priscilla Clake, wearing the uniform of an usher, came hesitantly into the box looking strained. She stopped the moment she saw Geno looming in front of her. Nervously, she glanced first at Salvatore and then Lucca before her gaze tracked back to Geno. Clearly, she was terrified.
“I have to talk to you, Mr. Ferraro,” she whispered. “You’re going to think I’ve lost my mind, but please listen to me. I would have gone to Miss Aubert, but I couldn’t get near her, not before her performance. I don’t have much time. Someone is going to try to hurt her. Or you. I know something bad is going to happen tonight. These horrible people have been blackmailing me and a couple of the other girls.”
There was a little sob in her voice. She pressed her hand over her mouth and made a visible effort to pull herself together. “They insisted I usher tonight. That means they’ll tell me I have to do something I’m not going to like. If I don’t do what they tell me to do, they’re going to put a video they have of me all over the internet. I’m not willing to let them hurt your family or Miss Aubert. I just don’t know how to stop them. When I heard Ms. Marchel had been murdered and Jenny implied you had killed her, I knew it was them. And I knew they told Jenny to get everyone to believe it was you. That’s what they wanted us to do, get everyone to believe you were stealing from them.”
Geno nodded his head. “Thank you, Priscilla. It had to have taken a great deal of courage for you to come up here and tell me all this. I’m glad you didn’t try to stop these people on your own. Have you met any of these people face-to-face?”
She shook her head. “Jenny has. Several times. She’s bragged about it. I didn’t want to. I knew as soon as I sent the video that I’d made a big mistake.”
Geno deliberately dropped his voice another octave and used a much more compelling tone. “Everyone makes mistakes, Priscilla. When you’re young and someone does their best to persuade you there’s only one way out, you believe them, but it isn’t true. When this is over, we’ll help you resolve the situation.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t find a way to stop them.”
“If you’re right and they’re that ruthless, they would have no problem harming you. It’s best you just do your work, enjoy the show, and if they contact you again to do something you find uncomfortable, come up to the box immediately and stay with us. Don’t talk to them or say anything to any of the other ushers. Just come straight to this box.”
Priscilla nodded. “I have to go. I know they’re watching me. They’ll send Jenny to ask why I came up here.”