“How did your grandfather meet Jude?” I ask, resting my hand to the small of her back, and again she glances at me.
“He started off as an investor.”
“When?”
“When my grandfather stopped working with the Syndicate.”
Now that makes sense.
“I presume you must know he used to work for the Syndicate,” she adds. “He was best friends with my father.”
“Why did he stop working for them? Did they fall out?” Markov Tech is a company the Syndicate would have held on to. All I saw was that the contract was severed. Again, Philippe would have had to do that.
“No. That was Persephone. She found out about us and she cut the contract.”
Something inside me stills. “How the fuck could she do that?” I wasn’t aware she had so much power over her husband, or the Syndicate.
“My father’s wealth came from her family. All of it, and they had the controlling interest in the group. He had to do what she said. She threatened to destroy us, and I didn’t see my father as much anymore. No surprise there since he shouldn’t have been my father.” She speaks freely like she’s been dying to talk to someone.
Although I prompted the response, I’m surprised she’s being so open with me.
“Jude came along after. I think my grandfather needed the money, and that’s what started Jude’s control over us. I don’t really know more than that. I was too young when it happened and everything I know my mother told me. I doubt she knew much either because my grandfather wanted to keep us out of business.”
“What about Eric? Was he close with Jude?”
She pauses for a moment like she’s considering the question but it’s not a hard question to give an answer for.
“I don’t know, but maybe? I only saw what people wanted me to see. It can’t be a coincidence that Jude is working with the Order and Eric’s a member.”
I can see we’re on the same page.
“No, it can’t.”
“Jude doesn’t have a tattoo.”
“That’s because he could be a leader. They don’t have anything to mark their membership.”
At that she turns to face me, eyes wide. “You think so?”
“I know so. What could Eric do Olivia? What would make them keep him alive?”
“He could do anything. Make anything, hack any system, conjure something like magic from thin air and walk-through doors that are supposed to be locked. People say he was like my grandfather, but he was so much more.”
My nerves spike and that’s a fucking rare thing. She just however answered my questions. If Eric could do all of that, the Order would definitely want him.
“The only two people who know about Eric in this house are you and me.” I felt she should know that.
Her gaze locks on to mine and for a moment I forget we’re standing naked together in the shower.
“You sound like you believe me. Like you believe Eric’s alive,” she mutters.
“I don’t believe anything until I see it.”
The hope fades in her eyes. “Jude didn’t send me here. You must know that by now. If he sent me to kill you his men would have gone to the club or something linked to you.”
“I already came to that conclusion.”
“And you’re still keeping me here?”