When We Met

CH 27 Logan

The dim candlelight flickered across Daniel's weathered face as we pored over the parchments strewn about the desk. His brow was furrowed in concentration, eyes scanning the notes we'd made detailing our plan to sway Yelena and her nephews to our cause.

"This won't be easy," I said, raking a hand through my dishevelled hair. "After what Noah and I did to Yelena's nephews, earning their trust will be an uphill battle."

Daniel nodded slowly. "Yes, that it will. But I've become quite close with Yelena in my role as her guard. An old man like me counselling her may gradually sway her mind."

"I can only hope." I blew out a weary sigh. "The nephews are the real challenge. Getting through to them is the key, but how?" My gaze fell on the scribbled name - Roalsine. "That maid...she's important to them, I can sense it from the way Alejander and Mateo guard her so fiercely. If I can win her over..."

"You think she carries sway with the young masters?" Daniel stroked his whiskered chin thoughtfully.

"It's the best avenue I can see. But it will have to be done delicately." I straightened in my chair, staring into the wavering flames. "We'll need to play the patient game for now - follow my father's orders, all while ingratiating ourselves through small gestures of loyalty."

Daniel's eyes narrowed. "Be cautious, Logan. Should your father catch wind of this..."

"I know." My voice dropped low. "He'd have both our heads without hesitation. That's why we must tread carefully. For now, you focus on Yelena. I'll seek a way to gain the maid's trust, and through her, hopefully an inroad to the nephews."

My throat tightened as the daunting scope of our quest settled in my mind. Gaining their allegiance was a long shot...but if I could convince them my father was the true enemy here, we may stand a chance.

I met Daniel's gaze, my jaw setting grimly. "This is our path forward. Failure is not an option if we want to see my father's reign ended."

Daniel gave a resolute nod. "Then we press on, no matter the obstacles." His calloused hand gripped my shoulder firmly. "You have an old man's wisdom at your side. We'll prevail, Logan. Have faith."

As his words lingered in the flickering shadows, I couldn't help but feel a faint spark of hope kindle inside me. With Daniel's guidance as my trusted soldier, perhaps this seemingly impossible endeavour wasn't so impossible after all.

Over the next few days, Daniel and I put our newly hatched plans into cautious motion. While I focused my efforts on finding an inroad to the elusive maid Roalsine, Daniel turned his attention to the more frontal campaign of eroding Yelena's long-held animosity toward me.

On the surface, we remained ever the obedient soldiers, carrying out my father's orders without a hint of insubordination. But in those unguarded moments, when the shadows lengthened and voices hushed, we procreate furtively feeling out weaknesses, sowing small seeds of doubt and reassessment.

For me, the path toward Roalsine proved maddeningly circuitous. The maid seemed to take pains to avoid my presence, no doubt wary of my family's reputation and violent history. But I noticed the manner in which Alejander and Mateo hovered protectively around her, their eyes narrowing with suspicion anytime I drew near.

The dank corridors reeked of mildew and despair as I made my way down the cramped cells. Up ahead, I caught a tantalizing glimpse of Roalsine's russet braid whipping around the corner of the main cell. A smirk played across my lips as I quickened my step, formulating a plan.

Rounding the bend and entering the main cell, I feigned a clumsy stumble, letting out a harsh curse as I crashed against the slimy stone wall. "Blast it all!"

Within seconds, Roalsine appeared, Alejander hovering protectively at her side with one hand pressed against the small of her back - as if to whisk her away from any potential danger. Her hazel eyes met mine, equal parts wary and defiant.

"You should watch your step, your highness," she said, a mocking lilt to her voice. "Wouldn't want you breaking that royal neck with your clumsiness." A daring smirk played across her lips. "Then again, maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing."

I chuckled darkly at her brazen words, straightening up and allowing my gaze to brazenly trail over her curvaceous figure. "Just as much of a fiery bitch as I recall, even after weeks in these cells."

Her eyes narrowed, but I pressed on with a disarming grin. "No need for concern, my dear. Although..." I gave an exaggerated wince, clutching at my knee. "Perhaps you could assist an injured man? Maybe rub some soothing ointment on this poor, bruised limb of mine?"

I held her stare, letting the unspoken suggestion linger between us like a taut cord. Alejander bristled, his hand forming a fist ready to punch, but Roalsine raised her hand to quiet him.

"Of course, Your Highness," she purred in sugared tones, taking a deliberate step closer until her feminine curves pressed against my chest as the guards stood outside waiting just incase I needed any assistance in the cell. Her lips grazed the shell of my ear as she whispered, "I'd be happy to assist...by cutting out my own eyeballs before tending to you."

The biting words, delivered in that sultry murmur, sent a frisson of dark arousal lancing through me I turned my eyes to the rest of the peel in the main cell and I couldn't locate the purpose of me being in here 'Where is Mateo' I thought. Our faces were mere inches apart now, her defiant hazel eyes locked onto mine in an unwavering clash of wills and desire.

"Such fire," I rumbled in appreciation, allowing my gaze to roam shamelessly over her face forgetting the reason I came. "I can't decide if I want to tame you..." My tongue darted out to trace my lower lip. "...or make you burn even hotter."

Roalsine held my stare, her lips pulling into a feral grin. "I'd like to see you try."

The challenge hung thickly between us, thrumming with tension and the intoxicating promise of forbidden delights. Alejander shifted ready for battle beside her, as if I'll fight them here with all their soldiers in one cell, given they are weak and can't function still I'm not a stupid man, but I was utterly transfixed by this snarling wildcat of a woman.

"Oh, I have no doubt I'll try," I murmured, allowing my fingertips to ghost along her arm with the barest caress. "And I'll enjoy every delectable second of it."

With a final scorching look laden with unspoken promises, I brushed past her, forcing my gaze forward to search for Mateo, despite how my blood simmered with arousal. As the sound of her footsteps followed behind me. "Where is Mateo I need to speak with him privately." " not like he had a choice but he was taken a few moments ago by your brother and father" Alejandro spat as the words out and looked at me with such disdain. I looked stunned but quickly covered my surprise and looked out of the cell and Daniel, this can't be good.

I made my way out with a final glance at one of the nephews and the women who held so much power and walked out with Daniel to my side telling me what my father ordered Noah to do.

"The woman has suffered much at your father's hands," he rumbled quietly as we made our way to the private cell where Mateo was being spoken to or in other words tortured. "But I sense a willingness, however reluctant, to at least hear me out when I gently question some of her thoughts and plans for the London gang that she has here".

I gave a sober nod, keeping one ear cocked for any approaching footsteps that could overhear. "We're making inroads then, however narrow the path."

"yes sir." His rheumy eyes glinted with resolve in the guttering candlelight. "But we must still exercise the utmost caution, Logan. Should your father sense even a whisper of what we aim to do..."

His trailing off said it all. My gut tightened, and I laid a hand on the old man's shoulder. "Then we'll press on as we have discretion and cunning as our allies until we've marshalled enough forces to make our move."

The barest hints of a smile creased Daniel's features. "You have fire in your spirit, my boy, I'll give you that. Let's pray it's enough to see this sceptical endeavour through to the end."

As we parted ways once more, I entered the private cell to find Mateo hanging from the ceiling Noah looking feral and him as father sitting on a chair fit for a king asking the questions he wants answers to. This was going to be harder to explain.