Demise (The Clans Book 13)

faces. Scanning through the rest of the Clan leaders, everyone seems very focused, eager to learn why yet another emergency Clan meeting has been called. But then there is Philippe and Carla.
His Italian wife isn’t one who wears her emotions on her sleeves often, but I see the red blotches across her face. Philippe on the other hand seems to be trying to be the strong one. Though, he’s here in this meeting, I have the feeling he’s somewhere else mentally.
“Thank you all for coming so quickly. I’ll get right to it. Philippe and Carla’s restaurant in Germany was attacked. Some sort of vehicle pulled up outside of the restaurant, opened the door, and fired. We believe it was a semi-automatic since so many people were hurt or killed. Nothing else would’ve been able to get that many rounds out. Unfortunately, ten deaths have been confirmed at this moment. Six of them being patrons, while four were Carla’s employees. Carla, I am so sorry for your losses.”
“Don’t be sorry, Mariana. Let’s just get whoever did this.” Carla hisses, her heart obviously filled with rage and sorrow.
“If it’s alright I’d love to offer some help.” Melody speaks up, who’s Mikel Lungu’s wife. They live in South Africa and manage our business ventures there, as well as Clan business.
Ion speaks instead of Mariana, which throws me off. “We’d appreciate the help. Our men are already on the ground, trying to get into the restaurant. The police showed up, so of course they’re posing some issues. However, I was able to get the plate number off the van from the security cameras.”
“The Steele brothers are personal friends of mine. As you know, they helped with Mikel’s disappearance a few years back. I’d like to call in a favor with them, to use them as a resource. We might deal with the upper levels of the criminal world, though they deal with a mixture. And considering what’s happened, I’m sure this was a vile person. If it were a message from a rival mob, the message would’ve been clear.” Melody tells the group.
“Someone’s been doing her research,” Davide cackles, getting a warning glance from Mariana.
“Thank you, Melody. This is very kind of you. We appreciate the help and will accept it.” Mariana tells her, getting a smile from Melody in response. Mariana glances over to Mircea, “Mircea, I want you to take lead on this. You have so much to prove to the rest of the Clan leaders. I think you sense we want blood for these losses.”
“I do. I’ll enlist the help of my brother, Sorin. Right off the bat I feel like this is an enemy that was lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike. If it’s alright with you, I’d like to interview all the Clan members to establish a timeline of who posed a threat, and any issues that we might’ve had as a group. I plan on going through the last twenty-five years.”
“Jesus. If you expect to go through that much, we won’t ever find who did this.” I snarl jolting forward in my chair, aggravated at his smartass attitude.
“You’re right, which is why you should help him move through it all a bit quicker. Don’t you think, Stefan?” Ion’s low voice indicates he’s upset at my outburst, though I don’t give a shit.
Leaning back I look to Ion, “As you wish,” but while addressing him, I see Bianca’s typically olive skin appearing more alabaster. Not quite ghost white, but damn close. Even from here, her skin has a clammy like shine to it.
What is wrong with her?
Her eyes drift to mine and lock yet again. Quickly I turn my head so I’m not looking at her, still furious by her actions. No. I’m not furious. I’ve been betrayed by the person I assumed I could trust more than anyone else.
Sucking in a deep breath, I only hope things will get better. It’ll be up to her, and however she decides to grovel. Then again, who knows if I’ll even want to give her another chance or talk this out. I don’t trust easily and Bianca shredded every ounce I had with her.

Chapter Fourteen
Mircea
A week. It’s been a week of interviewing, writing things down, trying to figure out where the needle in this massive haystack is. And I have nothing to show for it, besides, empty bottles of whiskey, notepads with dates, locations and names, and little to no sleep.
I’m at a dead end, and there’s nothing else to say about it.
Rifling through the notes I’ve placed on the dining room table of my apartment, I’m determined to see something I haven’t been able to thus far. After all of my interviewing, I discovered that most of those who wished to harm the Clans are dead. The list starts with Jonas Masterson and ends with Gabriele DiGiovanni. The part that screws with stuff the most? These enemies are either dead, or have been dealt with in a way where they should never want to come anywhere near the Clans again.
“Are you going to stare at that endless pile of notes all night long again, when you could be looking through research the modern way?” My younger brother chuckles from his armchair in the living room. A tablet sets on the arm of the chair and he taps away, coming to a sudden halt when I turn my attention to him.
“This way is as good as any, or have you interrupted me because something useful popped up?” I snap, rolling my eyes.
Sorin is only a couple years younger than I, but he has that ego that makes everyone think he’s a know it all. “Obviously I’ve found something.” He speaks so matter-of-factly, stands from his seat and hands his tablet over to me.
“What’s this?” I ask, looking over the screen. It’s a birth certificate from the looks of it. Obviously from Romania.
“You aren’t a fool. It’s a Romanian birth certificate, for Kronid Masterson.”
Masterson . . .