A Usual Suspect: Fractured Conclave - Book 1 by Vanessa Nelson

Author:Vanessa Nelson [Nelson, Vanessa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-06-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter twelve

Bohort’s father stared down at Hallie. She couldn’t help looking back with some interest. She’d never been this close to any member of the world’s Conclave before now.

Calibum Jacobs was wearing a black suit that looked as if it had been made for him. It probably had. He was more than wealthy enough to afford it. He wore a crisp white shirt under the suit, and the harsh contrast of black and white drew any natural colour out of his already pale skin. He looked almost shockingly old. The man that Hallie remembered from the television news had been full of life and vigour. The man sitting in the chair in front of her seemed a hundred or more years older than his last television appearance. There were purple smudges under his dark eyes and his white hair was thin, swept back from his brow, which somehow only emphasised the lines and shadows of his face. He was thin to the point of being gaunt, cheeks sunken in. He was glaring at her. He looked as if he hated her. Of course, he believed she had killed his son.

He should have been impressive. Or, more impressive than he was. As it was, he looked frail and old and full of negative emotion. She couldn’t trust that impression, though. He didn’t need to be physically strong to harm her. He had people to do that.

She’d been still and staring for too long. The security officer next to her kicked her in the ribs. She’d been right about his nature.

“Get up,” Bully ordered.

Not wanting to be kicked harder, Hallie managed to get her feet under her and rose unsteadily to her feet. Her body was sore from the earlier running and being on the floor of the van, but upright and sore was far better than being on the floor being kicked or worse. She brushed her tangled hair back from her face, wanting to see clearly.

The security team that had grabbed her from the street was standing in a loose half circle a few paces back from her. A half dozen of them. All hochlen. She could tell that even though they were standing still. She wondered if she should be flattered that so many had been sent to collect her. But they had probably just been careful. No one would want to fail the head of the family. Girard was standing outside the security team’s grouping, carefully to one side and about equal distance between her and Calibum, looking less than pleased. Standing next to the investigator, a clear pace closer to Calibum, was another man who Hallie assumed must be the new voice she’d heard outside. Someone important in the household, based on the way he had spoken and the fact he was closest to the old man. He wore a dark suit, once-black hair peppered with grey. The way he was standing, with his back upright, perfectly balanced on his feet, suggested that he had been working security for most of his life.

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