I level a long look at him. “You let your Bride bring in a bodyguard.”
He shrugs and grins. “She won’t be a problem.”
“You don’t know that.”
“In fact, I do.” He sinks onto the arm of the couch next to Gabriel. “As I said last night, she’s loyal to my lovely Bride, not to Ciar.”
“You don’t know that,” I repeat. “You can’t afford to take anything for granted. We’re the ones who pay the price if you fuck this up.”
Donovan shakes his head. “Trust me on this. The only thing she cares about is Mabel’s safety. As long as I don’t endanger that, she’ll work with me.”
Yeah, I don’t trust that shit, but it’s obvious that Donovan has made up his mind. With so many moving parts, I have to trust him, even if I don’t trust the bodyguard. “Fine. But she steps out of line, you’re accountable.”
“Deal.” He drapes his arm over Gabriel’s shoulder and tugs on his hair.
Cohen is the last to arrive. He looks the way he always does—intense. We all had our ways of dealing with exile. Donovan uses jokes to deflect tension. Broderick plans things down to their finest detail in an effort to exert control in an uncontrollable world. Cohen simply cuts down both problems and threats, often literally. Giving Winry to him was a risk, but she’s also the Bride least likely to inspire him to identify them as a problem needing to be fixed.
Once they’re all seated, I begin. “We got through stage one. This is where the real work starts, because taking the faction was easy, but holding it will be significantly harder.”
None of them say anything. We’ve gone over this plan a thousand times. I’m only repeating what we all already know. “You have to win your Brides over, at least enough to ensure good behavior. If they at least appear happy, it will make their factions hesitate to strike against us. They make good hostages, and the Bridal contract should be enough to ensure we have a year before things escalate, but we can’t take anything for granted. The Amazons and Mystics broke faith before; they might do it again.”
Donovan gives a slow grin. “The entire floor heard how happy you made your little Bride this morning. Working fast with that one.”
“Harlow is an asset, and she’s smart enough to realize it. We’re mutually aligned for the moment.” Something I hadn’t planned on, but I’m sure as fuck not going to let this opportunity pass.
“And Eli?” This from Cohen. He stares at me intently. “How does he feel about how mutually aligned you are with his woman?”
“She’s not his anymore. She’s mine.” There’s too much bite to my words, but if there’s one place I can be honest, it’s with my brothers. “Eli will serve his purpose as well. I’m leaving all of you but Cohen in the compound while we do this song and dance through Old Town. Cohen, pick a team. Three people. Any more and we look like we’re scared.”
Cohen nods. “I’ll take Maddox and Shiloh.”
At that, Broderick starts to life. “Not Shiloh.”
“Shiloh is one of our best, and you know it. Stop trying to shelter her.”
Broderick shakes his head. “No shit she’s one of the best. That’s not why she can’t go. Right now, she’s the only thing keeping Monroe in line. I can’t risk separating them for the time being.”
I blink. “Shiloh is keeping Monroe in line.”
“Yes.” He looks away, his jaw clenched tight. “Monroe has taken a shine to her.”
Reluctant admiration filters through me. Monroe works fast, doesn’t she? It took her a single day to realize that Broderick is holding a flame for his best friend and turn it into a weapon against him. “Is this going to be a problem?”
“I have it under control.”
If anyone’s capable of it, it’s him. He’s the most even-keeled of us, the foundation that keeps us tethered when things go sideways. “Okay. Cohen, take Iris instead.”
Cohen nods. “Will do.”
“For the foreseeable future, patrols need to be double the size to avoid getting ambushed. Eli’s people are still out there, and I have no doubt that they’ll take any opportunity to attempt to stage a rescue. They’ll also be undermining us at every turn.” It will essentially be guerrilla warfare, but it’s unavoidable. We knew the stakes when we moved forward with this plan.
Ezekiel clasps his hands loosely together between his knees. “I’ll get the schedules put together. What happens if the people decide to start pushing back when it comes to supplies and resources?”
“They won’t. Harlow will ensure it.”
He hesitates. “You seem awfully sure of her.”
“I am.” If our situations were reversed, I’d be giving Ezekiel the same look he’s giving me right now. Hell, I just did it to Donovan. I don’t hold his doubt against him. But it changes nothing. Harlow and I are on the same page. “She’s taken a look around and realized that the only people who pay the price of war—civil or otherwise—are those who can least afford it. She cares about them, so she’ll do what it takes to smooth the transition. For their sake.”