Hidden Devotion (Trinity Masters #5)(39)

Standing across from him was a slight figure in a black robe. The Grand Master.

A heavy gold chain hung from the Grand Master’s shoulders. The robe completely concealed the person’s identity and added a menacing note to the whole event. This scene would not be out of place in a horror movie—if that robe concealed a demon instead of a powerful human. That absurd thought was enough to shake him out of his anticipatory paralysis. Franco took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. He was ready.

“Francisco Garcia Santiago, do you understand the rules and privileges of the Trinity Masters?” The voice was gravelly, but strange sounding, as if the person were artificially lowering their voice.

“I do.”

“You will live by our laws and rules, dedicate yourself to both the United States of America and the protection of the Trinity Masters.”

“I will.”

“You will marry in the secret way of the Trinity Masters, accepting two others into your life, and protect them and the secret of your trinity, placing them above all others.”

“Quick question, can I, uh, tell you my preferences? I mean, maybe you’d appreciate some suggestions?”

Silence.

Franco shifted. “Sorry, forget I said anything. What was the question again?”

“You will marry in the secret way of the Trinity Masters, accepting two others into your life, and protect them and the secret of your trinity, placing them above all others in your life.”

The Grand Master’s voice had lost some of its gravelly quality, and there was a distinct note of exasperation. Strange, it almost sounded like…

“I will.” He rushed the words, wanting to make sure the Grand Master knew that he was committed.

“Francisco Garcia Santiago, lost legacy to our order, welcome to the Trinity Masters.” The Grand Master extended a gloved hand, placing it on the altar. When it pulled back, a gold ring awaited.

Franco picked it up and slid it on his finger. It was nearly identical to his grandfather’s, but the gold was shiny and new.

“Thank you, Grand Master.” Franco dipped his head in a small bow.

When he looked up, the Grand Master was gone.

Juliette was waiting for him in the locker room. She’d had to rush to shed the Grand Master’s robe and chain and make it back here before Franco did. Luckily she was familiar with the network of halls and secret doors that connected the smaller and less public areas of the headquarters.

“Did you join?” she asked him when he entered.

Franco held up his hand and grinned, showing off his ring.

She answered his smile with one of her own. “I’m glad.” That was certainly the truth.

“I may have done something stupid.”

“Uh-oh, what did you do?”

“I asked the Grand Master if I could help pick my trinity.”

“Oops.” Juliette forced herself to wince rather than sigh in exasperation. In the ceremony, she’d had to fight the urge to take off her shoe and smack him upside the head with it.

Juliette was trying to imagine how her father or Harrison would have handled the situation. Hopefully intimidating silence was appropriate. Considering how strong-willed most of the members were, it couldn’t be the first time someone had said something like that, or asked if they could have some input into their trinity. The awkward way Franco had done it was uniquely him. She wanted to both hug him and smack him.

And that was one of the reasons she was starting to have feelings for him. Very serious feelings for him.

Franco took a seat on the bench beside her. He carefully picked up one of her hands in his.

“Juliette, I need to ask you something.”

His blue eyes searched her face, and Juliette’s stomach tightened. Shit.

“Are you the Grand Master?”

*****

“Dead. He should be dead. Have him murdered.”

Juliette looked up from her stack of papers. Franco was sitting cross-legged on the floor of the Grand Master’s office sorting through files. His hair was standing up from where he’d run his hands through it. His glasses were on crooked and he was still half-wearing the robe, which was now rumpled. He looked somewhat crazy.

When she’d admitted to him that she was the Grand Master, her primary feeling had been relief. Because he was so new, Franco had been impressed and interested, but not completely intimidated or shocked. That’s what she needed, to be treated like a normal person.

The other thing she needed was help with all these files and records.

“You want me to have my brother killed because the paperwork isn’t in order?” She set down the file she was holding and stretched her arms over her head. They’d been in here for hours. The first thirty minutes had consisted of Franco darting from cabinet to cabinet and box to box, commenting on the wealth of information. The second thirty minutes had been Franco getting increasingly irate as she pointed out the issues she was having finding and organizing the materials she’d brought out of storage in her quest to figure out why Franco’s grandfather hadn’t been called to the altar. When she got to the secret boxes in the Victrola, Franco had descended into wordless sounds of horror.

“Isn’t he supposed to be punished for breaking the rules?”

“He was punished, that’s why I’m the Grand Master.”