Primal God (The Defiant God Brotherhood #4)

Chapter 27

I stand in the backyard near the pool. Joao is to my right, and Diego is next to him. Clara makes her way toward me, with Lilith right behind her, dressed in white. My damn chest swells. It’s been two weeks since I told her I loved her. Since then, I’ve learned two things. One, I cannot go one moment longer on this earth without making her my wife. Two, we are indeed expecting another child together.

I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face.

I couldn’t be happier.

Lilith comes to a stop next to me, and I take her hand.

“You look beautiful, minha vida .”

And she does. She’s wearing a white gown that hugs the curves of her body. Her dark hair is pulled back. The only jewelry she wears is the engagement ring I gave her. Soon, our matching gold wedding bands will be on both our hands.

Fuck. How did I get so lucky?

The ceremony is short and sweet and to the point. We both agreed that we wanted nothing fancy. We just want to be together. Before I know it, Lilith is pronounced my wife, and I give her a chaste kiss. I know Joao is still coming to terms with the marriage, and I don’t want to do anything to make him uncomfortable.

He shakes my hand after the ceremony. “I’m happy for you, Dad.”

“Thank you, son.”

He dips his head to the left, where Lilith and Eve are chatting.

“How did the twins take the news?”

“Well.” I smile. “Clara asked if she could call Lilith mom.”

It was a moment I’ll never forget. It confirmed that Lilith was the right woman for me, because she said yes, with no hesitation, but also reminded Clara and Diego that it was okay to miss Serafina.

“I’m glad. The twins have been through a lot. You’ve been through a lot, too.”

“All is better now, son.”

He shakes his head. “I still can’t get over how much Raquel looks like Isadora and even Clara at that age. I guess the Santos genes are strong.”

We still haven’t shared the news that we’re expecting to anyone, of course, but I can’t help but wonder what our new baby will look like.

I ask my son, “So, does seeing your old man get married make you want to ask your lady a question?”

“God, no. I love Eve, but we’re nowhere near being ready to settle down like that.”

I laugh. “That’s fair.”

“I have to ask. Why didn’t anyone from the Brotherhood come?”

That has me pausing. “We both wanted a small wedding, but we also don’t want news of the marriage to break.”

“Because of Lili’s uncle?”

I nod. Joao is aware of everything happening within the Brotherhood. He’s even gone as far as reaching out to Adam Montgomery. The boy was more than happy to speak to my son, which is why I’m looking forward to the Brotherhood meeting being held tonight.

I say, “Lilith and I are postponing our honeymoon until everything is settled with her uncle.”

“Smart. Well, let me know if you need anything.”

“You’ve done enough, son. Thank you.”

“Eve and I are going to head out soon, but I’ll see you at the meeting.”

He gives me a quick hug before going to Eve’s side. Lilith makes her way to me, smiling.

“Everything okay?”

“Couldn’t be better.”

She says, “There’s something I want to show you.”

“Oh? Daddy is all ears.”

Her laugh rings out like bells. “That’s later.”

I let her lead me into the house, where Diego and Clara stand.

Lilith squats next to Diego. “Do you still want to do this?”

He nods.

Lilith looks up at me. “Diego has been making a lot of progress at therapy and he’d like to show you something.”

Diego looks at Lilith, who nods her head encouragingly.

“Hi, Papai .”

It takes me a moment to realize the words are coming out of his mouth. I look at Lilith for conformation.

Tears fill my eyes as I lower to my knees. “Hi, Diego.”

He smiles, leaning into Lilith’s side.

She hugs him and says, “Diego told me he wants to speak a little more. Clara and I have both agreed not to push him if he gets scared or still wants to be quiet.”

Clara sighs. “I don’t know why he’s scared. We’re safe now that we have a momma.”

This time it’s Lilith’s eyes that water.

“You’re right,” I say. “You’re both safe, and so are Isadora and Raquel.”

“Momma said Raquel is our sister now.” Clara pauses. “Are you going to have another baby?”

Lilith and I share a look. Has Clara overheard something?

“Why do you ask?”

“Because I think it’s only fair that we have another boy, so Diego has someone to play with, and Joao is too old.”

I smile. “Well, we’ll just have to see what we can do about that.”

Hours later, I’m at the mansion owned by the Brotherhood. I’ve just announced my marriage to the other Elite Members and voiced my thoughts about removing Alastor Wolfe as a member. We’ll have to wait for Blanc to return from a trip and then it will have to go to a vote, but I think I’ve provided substantial evidence for my case. Mainly, that he was planning on taking out Joao in Brazil.

The only question is why.

Why did he want my son dead? What did he think he would gain?

Members are arriving for the meeting, and I hope that even though Blanc isn’t here that he’ll call in so I can petition to remove Wolfe.

Alessandro slaps me on the back. “Can’t believe you did it.”

“And why is that?”

“I know how hard you’ve worked to be civilized,” he says with a snort.

“Fuck being civilized.”

The doors open, banging against the wall, and Wolfe stalks toward me, anger brewing in his eyes.

“Wolfe,” I greet. “Or should I call you Uncle?”

“You son of a?—”

“Careful,” Alessandro warns. “You’re speaking to an Elite Member, Wolfe.”

“I know who I’m speaking to. I demand to speak to Blanc.”

“Then I’m sorry to inform you that Blanc is out of town,” Irons says as he joins us. He turns to Alessandro. “He said to check your email.”

Like magic, both Alessandro’s and my phone ding. Pulling out my phone, I see an email from Blanc, saying he wants the Elite Members to gather immediately before the main Brotherhood meeting starts so he can speak to us.

Alessandro meets my gaze and says, “We should go.”

“Agreed.”

Wolfe grabs onto my arm, stopping me.

“We’re not fucking finished.”

I shove his hand from my arm. “We are. I married her, Wolfe. Not only that, but we’ve consummated the marriage multiple times. Lilith is mine. Now, fuck off.”

Irons steps between us and says to Wolfe, “You heard the man.”

Wolfe storms away, muttering that this isn’t the last of this. He’s wrong. This is the end. He just doesn’t know it yet.

When he’s gone, Irons says, “Congratulations on the marriage, Santos.”

“Thank you.”

Irons glances around and says to Alessandro and me, “Blanc is in danger. He received a letter from the killer.”

“How do you know about that?” Alessandro asks, reaching for the pistol tucked beneath his suit jacket.

Irons holds up both hands. “I’ve been helping Blanc. He’s worried about his family.”

Alessandro says, “He shouldn’t have said anything.”

“He should have, especially since you haven’t been able to find the person.” Irons gives him a slow smile. “We all know I have more resources.”

“Because you work with scum.”

His shoulder lifts. “Tomato, tomato.”

I ask, “Why does he think his family is in danger?”

“It’s not for me to say,” he answers, still smirking at Alessandro. “Let me know if I can be any more help.”

Alessandro glares as Irons walks away. “I can’t stand that fucker.”

I’ve never had a problem with Claudius Irons, but I can see how he might rub someone the wrong way.

We meet Brooks and Grant in the private room reserved for Elite Members.

Brooks grins. “Feels like I was just in here.”

Grant’s phone rings. “It’s Blanc.” He answers the call on speakerphone. “We’re all here.”

“My family is in danger. Aimée and I have taken the girls, and we’re going into hiding.”

Alessandro asks, “When were you going to tell us that Irons is helping you?”

“Now is not the time for that, Moretti! I’m aware of your feelings about him, but he knows what he’s doing.”

“He killed his brother! How can you trust someone like that?”

Blanc says, “Because you haven’t been able to do your job!”

That silences Alessandro.

I ask, “Does anyone know where you’re going in hiding?”

“Only Irons. And I do trust him.” Blanc pauses. “The four of you will have to continue on without me.”

“You know we’re trying to get someone voted out, right?”

Blanc says, “I don’t have time for this! Figure it out.”

The call ends and the four of us look at each other.

Grant says, “I’m worried about him.”

“Whatever he got must have been bad to send him into hiding.”

Grant is silent before saying, “We should go out there and get this meeting started. The sooner we do this, the sooner we can put our heads together and figure out who the fucker is that’s out to get us.”

I ask, “Have we considered letting the other members know what’s going on?”

The others are silent, making me laugh. “You’re kidding me?”

Brooks says, “Blanc thought this would be taken care of before now.”

“There are four dead Elite Members, with Blanc being the last remaining original member.”

“Well, yeah.”

I say, “Perhaps we should try a different approach, gentlemen.”

Alessandro says, “You know, I think I liked it better when you didn’t show up.”

But he’s smiling.

“Into a new era,” I reply. “That’s where we’re headed. No matter what.”

We return to the meeting hall, where the meeting is called to order with Brooks, the Face of the Defiant God Brotherhood, leading the way.

“Tonight, a special meeting has been called. Alastor Wolfe. Are you present?”

People look around the room, but I don’t see him.

Alessandro calls out, “Has anyone seen Wolfe?”

Someone answers, “He left.”

Unease churns deep in my gut. Why did he leave? And where did he go?

Another voice asks, “What has Wolfe done?”

I say, “Wolfe put a hit out on my son.”

Joao steps forward with Adam and Yemi Montgomery at his side.

Yemi says, “It’s come to my attention that Alastor Wolfe lied to me and my son. I’ve come to file a complaint against him and to let the Brotherhood know that we had nothing to do with his plan to kil Joao Santos.” He turns to me. “The only thing I can offer is my word and what Wolfe told me. He wanted your son removed from the picture to weaken you.”

My chest is tight. That piece of shit…

I ask, “And what does your son have to say?”

Adam steps forward. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, Elite Member Santos. The biggest is not standing up to my father. I have no desire to marry Lilith Wolfe, and I have no desire to be in the Brotherhood.”

“It wouldn’t matter even if you wanted to marry her.” I lean forward. “She is my wife. You will refer to her as Mrs. Santos from here on out.”

“I wish you both a happy marriage.” His throat bobs as he swallows. “Alastor Wolfe is a dangerous man. He confessed to me he killed his own brother when his brother discovered his secret.”

There are murmurs throughout the room. Lilith’s father was never very active in the Brotherhood. Not that I can recall, at least. But to know Alastor killed him… Well, that’s grounds on its own for removal from the Brotherhood.

“What was the secret?”

Adam says, “He wouldn’t say.”

Grant says, “Elite Member Santos, you said you have proof that Wolfe was trying to kill your son and fellow member, Joao Santos. What proof do you have?”

“I received an email with my son’s itinerary in it while he was in Brazil. After further investigation, I discovered that not only was Wolfe having my son followed, but that he had hired someone to kill him. The only reason my son is alive is because of a tip I received.”

Alessandro asks, “And who was the tip from?”

“From the same man who killed DeLeon and Smith.” I turn to face the members of the Brotherhood. “I don’t trust this tip. I think this man is playing with us like prey. We’re not fucking prey. We’re the Defiant God Brotherhood. We’ve tried doing things the old way, but now I suggest we try something new.”

Irons calls out, “And that would be?”

“That we help each other. The man killing Elite Members will eventually start looking at other Brotherhood members. He knows things. Things only another member would know.” I pause. “We need to find him before he takes us out, one by one.”

York calls out, “What does this have to do with Wolfe?”

“I believe Wolfe is working with the killer. We find Wolfe, and we get answers.”

Irons is the first to speak. “Well, this ought to be interesting.”

I turn to the Elite Members just as my phone rings. Lilith’s name flashes across the screen, but when I answer it, a man speaks.

“Should have kept a better eye on my niece, Santos.”

The call ends before I can reply.