AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Devon returned with a box of papers. Franco ruffled through it and pulled out a newspaper clipping that said, USS Bluebird Sinks Spanish Ship. He handed the clipping to Weston.
He skimmed the article. “Where did you get this? I’ve never seen this news report, and I spent years finding every scrap of information.”
“It was in a box, hidden in a room, down a well,” Franco said cheerfully.
“It wasn’t down a well,” Devon murmured. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he stepped away from the table.
Juliette let her fingers hover over one of the certificates. “What happened to these children?” She shook her head. “I know the Trinity Masters has its issues, but I refuse to believe that my great-grandfather had a neutral ship gunned down so they could steal the art, and in the process willfully kill a bunch of children.”
Devon glanced at his phone. “Do any of you know a man named Tristan? Lee has him upstairs.”
“Sh— Shoot,” Weston muttered, changing the word at the last second with a glance at Marek. “We forgot Knight.”
Rose grinned. “He’s not going to be happy with you.”
“Knight?” Juliette asked.
Weston pointed up. “There’s one part of the story I haven’t quite covered.”
“What’s that?” Franco asked eagerly.
Weston flipped the folio closed and pointed at the lettering on the cover. “The kids were the children of members of the Masters’ Admiralty. The art belonged to them.”
“The Masters’ Admiralty,” Juliette breathed. “Shit.”
“Language.”
“I called Harrison, after we found this.” Juliette pointed to the folio. “He and I both remembered Grandfather mentioning it, and a few of our members have had contact with people who’ve claimed they were members of the Admiralty, but I don’t know much about them.”
“There’s probably a reason there isn’t any contact between the organizations.” Marek was frowning at the papers on the table. “Whether intentional or not, the Trinity Masters were responsible for either the death or kidnapping of these children.” He gestured at the table. “And to cover it up, they kept the art and wealth and used it for themselves.” He looked up. “Your great-grandfather was right to hide this information, Grand Master. You may be powerful on this continent, but the Masters’ Admiralty has history and power greater than you could imagine.”
Juliette stiffened.
Weston cleared his throat. “And it just so happens that a knight of the Masters’ Admiralty is waiting for us. Upstairs.”
Marek had to admire Juliette Adams. She could think on her feet.
He, Weston, and Tristan sat on one side of a conference table. Franco, wearing Juliette’s black robe, was seated behind the desk. The seated position hid how short the robe was on him, and if the shoulders seemed a bit narrow, Marek doubted Tristan would immediately think that it was because the robe was actually meant for a woman.
Juliette had twisted her ponytail into a bun and stuck pencils through it. She sat behind the desk, a laptop on her lap, as if she were taking notes. Devon, gun held plainly in one hand, stood to Franco’s right.
From here, Tristan wouldn’t be able to see that Juliette was actually dictating what Franco should say, the words appearing on the computer screen on the desk, the monitor angled away from the table.
Weston looked at his friend. “Congratulate me, man.”
“Why?” Tristan looked wary.
“I got married.”
Tristan’s brows rose. “To?”
“Rose and this guy.” Weston jerked a finger at Marek. He waved.
Tristan narrowed his eyes. “If you made me arrange a fucking private plane just so you could get married, I’ll kill you.”
Weston grinned, but then relented and shook his head. “No, though that would have been a good one.”
“Wait.” Tristan looked at Marek. “Did you join the Trinity Masters?”
