Page 5 of Devoted

So did Nico and my brother, both of them instantly alert, both of them considering Valeria’s offer for the same reason as me.

Ensuring Emberline’s survival.

Still, no reason to look too eager.

“La Sala is impenetrable,” I pointed out carefully, walking the razor-thin line between cooperation and caution. “Every Dominico guard has been replaced with Blackwood’s thugs. And Giovanni will have every inch refortified, especially your father’s cell.”

I traded a look with Dante.

We both knew the manner of fortifications roaming the halls, and the Ashbound were hard to destroy. In fact, my brother was the only one who could manage it, which meant this wasn’t a simple in-and-out mission.

More like a burn the city to the ground mission.

“I am well aware of the challenges,” Valeria confirmed. “I received word from my spies that those black-uniformed guards watch every entrance. But I’m sure you will come up with something clever.”

Clever. Like she wasn’t asking us all to risk our lives to save her piece of shit father.

But I would crawl through broken glass to keep my family safe.

“I can get us inside,” I confirmed. Ember’s gaze snapped to mine, her lips pinching tight, her spine rigid. “But we’ll need a way into Venice without being noticed. And we’ll need a boat.”

“Of course, you do,” Nico chuckled, but Emberline glared in my direction as though I was stabbing a dagger in her back.

This is the only way I know how to save you, I wanted to shout, but the full attention of the room was on me, and I had to see this through.

Still, the hurt on her face haunted me, and the idea that she believed—even for a second—I didn’t have her best interests at heart… I swayed toward her, drew a shuddering breath.

I had to stay on task.

Had to keep her safe, the only way I knew how. Later, I’d explain how helping Valeria was our only way to survive.

Later, I’d make amends.

“La Sala has a secret entrance, accessible only by boat. Centuries ago, my father used it to smuggle prisoners and brandy in and out of the city. Nobody knows the dock exists, and I’m probably the only living person who remembers where the entrance is located.”

Valeria’s expression didn’t change, but her eyes brightened. “You’re sure of this?”

“Completely sure. And I can get us inside.” Hand in my pocket, I ran my finger along the edge of the cipher, the relic that would circumvent every magical protection on La Sala, even Blackwood’s. “The dock is close to where they’ll be holding your father. Should be an in-and-out operation, so long as we don’t arouse suspicions when we make our approach.”

So long as my brother doesn’t burn the entire fucking thing down.

Valeria studied me for a moment, then nodded once, precisely, like a handshake.

“Then I’ll leave you to make your plans. Let me know what you need from me,” she said. “Money is no object, and given we run a smuggling ring, we have many fast boats at our disposal.”

The rest of the day became a blur of strategy—timelines and options and contingencies and margins for error that narrowed down to nothing but chance.

To no one’s surprise, Emberline insisted on going, and Luca wouldn’t be left behind, and every rational argument I made was shot down. So instead of a stripped-down operation of me, Nico, and Dante—we were all going.

A nightmare of epic proportions, according to Nico.

As much as I didn’t like the risk, with Nico’s tactical experience and Luca’s ability to read minds, our mission had a higher probability of success. Once we were inside, Emberline’s skill at hand-to-hand combat—not that I intended for her to get anywhere close to the Ashbound or the fighting or those fucking soldiers—would be invaluable, while my brother…

Dante was our secret weapon.

But there were still variables to work out, and while I knew every inch of that building, if we were separated…

I curled my hand into a fist. Forced myself to focus.