Emiliana Cornelius

The Plan

"The first course of action would be to eliminate all threats close to the house at Port Orford." Jared stated. He held a file in his hands as he flipped through it. Lord Cornelius sat at the head of the table with Emiliana standing beside him with a hand on his shoulder and his placed on top of it. The rest of his children sat with their mates beside them with each couple's first child standing behind them. The plan for the war ahead had already begun to manifest. The broken table still lay in the middle in a heap.

"Threats?" Antonio looked at him.

"Yes. According to our scouts' report, Lucio has been building up a small army around Port Orford for a while. We couldn't know earlier because he did it too quietly, keeping the men in isolated estates with blood bags as food and not the regular hunting for fresh blood in order to avoid attention."

"How big is this army?" Zek asked.

"They are five groups. All on the outskirts of the town, two to the north, one to the south, one to the east and one to the west. We estimate about two thousand in all."

"That's a lot" Anna's eyes were wide in shock.

"He must have planned to use them to get Emili." Antonio replied, so much thoughts running through his head.

"Part of the group in the south are the ones that attacked Emili, that's where she drove through that night. They must have picked up her scent." Mia added.

"Lucio, that slimy bastard." Sam, Stella's mate, shook his head.

Emiliana's heart picked up as she took in the new information. That number of vampires could have killed her and Jake too and possibly her father and Mia. Lucio was so hell bent on killing her that he would kill anyone that got in his way, like he did her mother. The thought of anything happening to the people she loved because of her made her insides twist in anguish. She felt a squeeze on her hand and looked to see her grand father's eyes on her. Clearly showing he understood how she felt and also reassuring her nothing would ever happen to her. Lord Cornelius took his grand daughter's hand and placed a kiss on the back of her palm.

"There's more to the report." Jared closed the file and folded his hands across his chest as all eyes fell on him. "Another group were spotted inside of the town, a more sophisticated group."

"A hit squad." Dionigi gave Jared a knowing look.

"Yes. Lucio's personal hit squad. They are very good trackers and very strong."

"Definitely the kind i want to hunt down." Marco smirked, his huge bulging muscles straining through his shirt as he folded his hands across his chest.

"Same here." Luca added with a huge smile.

"Boys" Angela rolled her eyes at them earning chuckles from those around the table.

"So they all have to be dealt with." Antonio spoke. "And it needs to be done quickly, especially those inside the town. They pose a threat to Emili's friends." He added looking at his daughter to see her visibly stiffen at the mention of her friends. "No harm will come to them, I promise." Emiliana let out a sigh and nodded at him.

Footsteps were heard across the halls as Nevia walked in with Jake few steps behind him. His eyes fell on Emiliana as he stepped into hall and he smiled. Nevia went to stand behind his parents while Jake stood few feet from the broken table for all to see him clearly. All eyes were on him as they assessed him from head to toe but his stayed on Emiliana, making her blush and look down at her feet. Lord Cornelius had a faint smile on his face as he watched the exchange of looks between the two before he stood up and walked round to stand in front of Jake. He placed each hand on Jake's shoulders as he looked at him.

"On behalf of my family and I, thank you for saving my grand daughter. She wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. Thank you."

Jake went down on a knee and bowed his head. "It was the greatest honour to save her, my lord." Lord Cornelius pulled him back to his feet and with a small squeeze on his shoulder walked back to his seat.

"My son tells me you are a former foot soldier."

"Yes, my lord."

"Do you wish to return to wherever you came from or remain here and take up a new position in my army?" Lord Cornelius rested his interlocked fingers on his lap as he looked at Jake. "I will grant any you desire."

Jake looked at Emiliana. "I wish to remain here and serve the lady Emiliana for as long as she desires." Emiliana smiled shyly at him earning her a few amused looks from her family.

"Very well then. As of today I name you, Jake Colton, captain of the lady Emiliana guard. Your task is to keep her safe at all cost."

"I will defend her to the last, my lord." Lord Cornelius nodded at him.

"Jake." Jared called. "Antonio said you're a good tracker."

"Yes, I am, my lord."

"Then we will need you for the plan ahead." Jared stood up as he pulled a folded map and walked to Jake. He gave him one end of the map to hold while he held the other end and together they spread it for all to see. "This is the map of Port Orford." He gestured at the map and pointed to the top. "This is the outskirts to the north where the two groups are, barely ten mile apart so we will launch a double attack together. Angela and Aimone, both of you will take your men and hit both camps, you can decide who gets which camp, there about three hundred vampires in each. Angela you're in charge of this part."

"Yes father."

"Umberto, you take your men and hit the group to the east. Nevia, you take south and Rachelle, you take west."

"Understood." They all replied together.

"While Marco, Luca, Astore and Anita will head inside town with Jake to take down the hit squad."

"Yes" Marco pumped his fist in the air while Luca had an excited look on his face.

"Marco, we need one or two alive." Jared gave him a pointed look.

"That's no fun." Marco replied, his shoulders hunched in mock sadness.

"It's not meant to be fun asshead." Angela mocked him.

"And lastly Achille, you and your men will be rotating among all the locations providing reinforcements anywhere needed."

Luca chuckled. "That should be boring." Achille flipped the bird at him.

"Any questions?" Jared looked around.

"Umm- Why is Jake needed inside town?" Emiliana asked shyly.

"He's a good tracker and that's what we need to track down the hit squad inside town and eliminate them as quietly as possible." Jared explained.

"I'll be fine lady Emiliana." Jake smiled at her, his eyes shining with amusement.

"Yes, Emili, your lover boy will be fine with us." Marco added as he smirked at her. Luca burst out in laughter while the others tried to stifle their laughs but failed. Mia wiggled her brows at Emiliana shooting her a knowing look as she smiled suggestively. Emiliana blushed furiously as she hid her face in her hands, making Jake chuckle. Even Lord Cornelius had an amused expression on his face.

"Ouch" Marco held the back of his head as he turned to his mother who was now standing behind him. "What was that for?" He rubbed the back of his head.

"Stop teasing your cousin." Stella looked at her son with a playful stern look. Marco mumbled under his breath as he pouted at her.

"Say something?" she took a step closer to him and backed away shaking his head. "Good." She looked at Emiliana and smiled before she took her seat.

"Any other questions?" Jared still had a smile on his face. Noone replied. "Okay then. We attack tonight."