“No,” they said in unison.
“I pinged his com with an emergency message, but he didn’t respond,” Catarina said.
Worry pressed on my chest. It was unlike our serious older brother to fail to respond to an emergency, no matter what he was doing.
“Do you think it was Rockhurst?” Benedict asked. He handed me a martini and I took a grateful sip.
“Are they that stupid?” Catarina asked. Because she was the baby of the family it was all too easy to forget that she was a von Hasenberg in her own right. A razor-sharp mind hid behind her innocent face.
“I don’t think so,” I said, “but Director Bishop doesn’t agree.” I paused for a second, then clarified, “Well, I don’t think Lady Rockhurst is that stupid, but who knows about her children.”
Richard Rockhurst certainly hadn’t shown the best judgment when he had decided to go after Ada. My younger sister was far too clever for him.
“I was under the impression that House Rockhurst went on lockdown after Richard’s stunts,” Catarina said. “Lady Rockhurst was livid that he lost one of their prototype ships and forced them into premature war.”
“I’ve heard the same,” Benedict said. “But holding the von Hasenberg heir could swing the war in their favor if she thought she could get away with it.”
“Yes, but if she’s caught, then she has to face the RCDF as well as House Yamado and the lower houses,” I said. “It’s a risky move for potentially little reward. House von Hasenberg has six children. Father is ruthless enough to write one off, even if Ferdinand is his favorite. You know it, I know it, and Lady Rockhurst certainly knows it.”
Benedict and Catarina nodded. Father would fight to get Ferdinand back because anything else made the House look weak. But if he decided it was a lost cause, he would cut our brother loose.
The suite door opened and our oldest sister, Hannah, stormed in. Her pale blue gown flattered her complexion but did nothing to hide the thunderclouds in her expression.
She flopped down next to me, stole my martini, and drained the glass. “Sorry I’m late,” she said. “I left a dinner party in my honor. Pierre tried to stop me. He is furious,” she said with grim satisfaction.
Pierre was Hannah’s husband. Much like my own marriage, Father had arranged everything and left Hannah no choice. It was not a happy match. Now she lived to infuriate the man who had bought his way into our House.
“What do we know?” Hannah asked.
Benedict got her up to speed. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long because we didn’t have much to go on.
“So why Bianca and Ferdinand and not the rest of us?” Hannah asked.
“Perhaps they’ve heard that Bianca has a legion of spies,” Catarina said before I could answer.
Hannah and Benedict turned to me in unison. “Do tell,” Hannah drawled.
Once again Cat jumped in before I could speak. She told them about our morning with relish. It wasn’t too often that our baby sister got the drop on one of us, so she enjoyed their surprise.
“Had you heard anything about an attack?” Benedict asked.
“No, nothing,” I said. I didn’t mention the message I had decrypted. That would lead to more questions than I could answer.
No one knew that I could break encryption. Gregory had been as paranoid as he was brilliant, and as far as I could tell, he had kept his research secret. His lab—and our House—had been on a tiny, distant planet that wasn’t exactly a tourist destination. His family had long since moved away, but Gregory had kept the family seat because he liked the isolation. And the lack of prying eyes.
It was much more likely that I was a target because someone knew I dealt in information.
“Director Bishop said Ferdinand was in the Yamado quarter at a private dinner. He wouldn’t say with whom,” I said, “but I intend to find out.”
My siblings stayed for a little while longer, then began to trickle out. Hannah was the last to leave. She stopped me before I opened the door for her. Her expression was serious.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“If anything happens to Ferdinand,” she said slowly, “I plan to abdicate my place in line. I refuse to become heir.”
I blinked at her, thrown. If something happened to Ferdinand, and then Hannah abdicated, I would be next in line.
I did not want to be next in line. I barely managed my current responsibilities.
“Why?” I finally managed to ask.
“Pierre,” she said shortly. “I refuse to give that bastard any more power, over me or anyone else.” Fury darkened her face. “Do you know what he said when I told him about the attack on you and that Ferdinand was missing? He made a joke about how his lot is improving now that he’s married to the heir. He’s lucky I didn’t punch him in front of all of his so-called friends.”
She took a deep breath and shook her head. “I have every confidence we’ll find Ferdinand, but I wanted you to be prepared, just in case. Please don’t tell anyone else.”
“Does Ferdinand know?”
“Yes, we’ve discussed it.”
“Do you want me to do something about Pierre?” I asked seriously.
She pulled me into a hug. “No, but I appreciate the offer. I’ve got it under control.”
I thought about her words long after she left.
Chapter 4
I’d stayed up late last night looking for any sign of Ferdinand or the attack, but I hadn’t found anything. Ferdinand was scheduled to have a late dinner at a small restaurant in the Yamado quarter and he’d reserved the entire restaurant.
He never made it to the appointment, but interestingly enough, Evelyn Rockhurst had.
So why were the heirs of two warring Houses meeting in secret?
I’d sent Evelyn an obliquely worded message. Despite the late hour, she had quickly responded with a midmorning time and the location of a tea shop squarely in the middle of the Rockhurst quarter. Warring Houses weren’t banned from visiting their enemy’s quarter, but it wasn’t exactly encouraged, either.
If Rockhurst had orchestrated the attack, I would be walking into a trap.
Still, it was my only lead, and I wouldn’t pass up the opportunity. I requested a transport, then set about getting ready. I decided on gray slacks, a black blouse, and a pair of my tallest heels—Evelyn Rockhurst was statuesque and I needed us on an even playing field.
Arming myself would send the wrong message, but going to the meeting defenseless was also a bad idea. I pulled out the heavy silver cuff that concealed the best of House von Hasenberg’s shielding technology. This was the newest prototype—it no longer required a paired necklace to function.
I held the cuff to my identity chip for ten seconds, then clasped it around my left wrist. I felt a tiny prick as the embedded DNA tester sampled my blood. A subtle vibration indicated success. The cuff was now authorized until I unclasped it.
In standby mode, the cuff would hold a charge indefinitely. Once active, it was good for up to two hours or eight close-range shots. I wouldn’t activate it unless it looked like the meeting was a trap.
I left the suite and headed out the private family entrance. My transport was waiting, as was a security detail in a second vehicle. I waved at them and mentally apologized for the ass-chewing Ian was bound to give them once he figured out what I’d done.