Prodigal Thorn

Chapter 17

The following week was back to business, meaning training for my trials and after Naty's interference, I'd managed to make the dance team, which felt amazing just to dance. I still snuck some private practice time with Nate and if I wasn't already pretty flexible, Nate made sure I was. I'd just gotten home from a late practice when I'd received a text from my burner phone.

D: I'm in the Riverwood. We need to meet.
Me: ?? Send location I'll be there.
D: No need. There's a car waiting for you. Get in and don't ask questions.
Me: Really? You better atleast have food. I'm fucking starving, D.
D: Takeout on the way. Stop being a brat and move your ass.

Asshole. If I didn't love the guy, I'd gut him. I chuckled to myself before casually walking to the black town car waiting at the gate. "You must be my wheels?" I sighed at the driver and he gave me a small nod and opened the rear door. "Mr. Cross apologizes for the inconvenience, but you've been difficult to arrange a meeting with."

Riverwood was located about an hour away from Rosewood. I spent the drive taking care of a few Thorn business and texting the guys. We arrived at a modern mansion on the hills of Riverwood and of course, Devlin's armed guards at the gate. My driver opens my door and the guards nod in recognition. "Ms. Alexandra, nice to see you again." Marshall smiles, his eyes scanning the perimeter. "Where's Dev?" I asked, marching inside like I owned the place. Marshall huffs out a laugh and inclines his head, "his office, though he's in a bit of a mood."

I find the asshole in his office, ranting at whatever idiot failed him and I leaned against the door frame, my arms crossed and arched a brow. "Heard my uncle is being an irritable fucker." I teased and his eyes, more green than blue, snapped up to mine. A smile curved his lips and he motioned me inside his office. "Do what you have to on the inside. Alex just arrived and I'll debrief her on what we need, Evan. Keep me posted."

I dropped down casually in one of the chairs in front of his desk and smirked at him. "You didn't tell me you bought a freaking house, Uncle Dev." He chuckled and raised his brow in challenge, "you didn't tell me you had four boyfriends, Niece." Well he's got me there. "Technically your father bought this house as an investment property for you. I'm simply making use of it."

I reached across his desk, holding the picture he had on his desk of my cousin, who is in so much trouble it's not funny, but a deal's a deal. "I take it you've seen Claire around school? How's she adjusting?" I bit back a snort and sighed, my fingers tracing the photo of Claire and I before she'd left London. "We haven't really spoken too much, you know. Unfortunately, I've been knee deep in Thorn drama."

My uncle's eyes narrowed and he folds his hands under his chin. "You two still thick as thieves, I see. Don't think I'm not aware that Claire's infatuation with the Sinclair boy has gotten out of control. I do appreciate you handling the matter privately, but lying to me, Alexandra, is unacceptable." Yep, he was pissed. Devlin's never this formal with me.

I swept my red locks into a messy bun and rolled my eyes. "It's not like I knew she was here and she's terrified you'll send her away. Again." I shrugged. I felt bad for Claire, having to live a separate life from her father, who's supposed to be dead. I couldn't imagine never seeing my father. Uncle Devlin rubs his temples. "Have a daughter, they say. She'll change your whole life, they say."

"So why am I summoned, Dear Uncle?" I teased to deter him from sending his daughter away. "I have so much homework and I've been training for my trials."

"I need access to Nikolai's, Donovan's Michael's, and Weston's computers. My guy on the inside says their office computers run on an entirely different network and we're on a time crunch." Shit! I knew eventually he'd ask me to get inside information, but how the fuck am I supposed to do that?