“Brotherhood. It sounds organised.” Gabe sipped his coffee and then grimaced. It had gone cold. “We need to know more about that house and who owned it before. I want a proper history. I also want more information on the church above the temple in Florence. And we need more on Amato’s contacts. Is there anything we can do in the meantime?”

“I will scrutinise the manifesto and inscription to make sure we haven’t missed hidden meanings, but we should also explore places along that northeasterly line.”

“So, we need a map. A big one.” Gabe reached for his phone. “I’ll get Niel and Shadow to pick one up.”

Ash lowered his voice, looking through the partially open doorway to the hall beyond. “How do you think Nahum is holding up?”

“He’s okay. Worried about Olivia, of course, and his daughter. It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it? Even now. And of course, we can’t forget that Amato knew the sex of the child, either.” Gabe raked his hand through his hair, exasperated. “I must admit that I’m worried, too. Nahum likes her more than he’s letting on.” That much was obvious. Over the New Year, he could barely take his eyes off her.

“I can tell. He’s fretting, and that is very unlike Nahum.”

“He’s really excited by this whole opportunity. His past marriage was not based on love. He endured it, but this thing with Olivia… He says it was something that just happened, but it was more than that—for both of them. Now she’s pregnant, well, that’s something else.”

Ash gripped Gabe’s shoulder in an attempt to reassure him. “Olivia is strong and smart, and has plenty of friends who know the paranormal world well. If anyone can handle it, she can. I like her, and she fits in well with us. She already feels like part of our family. You know that I never had children?” Gabe nodded. He and Ash had known each other reasonably well in their old life. “It was never anything I missed, you know? But I am looking forward to being an uncle. These are strange times, Gabe.” He smiled. “But good. We must not mess it up. We would all be devastated if anything happened to Olivia or our niece.”

“I’m beginning to think one of us should be with her right now, considering what we know.”

“Then send Nahum back to London. It should be him.”

“He wanted to come with us!”

“Bravado. A need to be of use to us, and play down his feelings for Olivia, but I think we both know where he needs to be now. So does he.”

Gabe laughed for the first time in what felt like months. “It could be quite a reunion.”

Ash rolled his eyes. “They will dance around each other for days. Go tell him, I have work to do.” And with that, he turned to the computer, and Gabe went to speak to their brother.

Harlan was in his kitchen making breakfast when someone pounded on his front door. He went to open it, knowing exactly who it would be.

“Maggie! I’m not deaf!”

She grinned, looking bright-eyed and cheerful. “You might have been lying in.”

“And had I been, you would have woken me up!” He swung open the door to let her in. “As it is, I have already been to the gym.”

She inhaled deeply. “Bacon! Delicious.”

“Yes, there’s enough for two.” He led the way back to the kitchen. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“I can’t just visit my friend?”

“Of course you can, but you don’t.” He started the coffee machine. “I presume you want one of these, too?”

“Yes, please. And you’re very mean. We go out for drinks and coffee sometimes. It’s not always about work.”

He wagged a finger at her. “But it is today, I can tell.” She had an air of purpose about her. And something else. “Did you go to Storm Moon last night?” A flush of guilt swept across her cheeks, and he smirked. “Yes, you did. Chat with Grey, by any chance?”

“I chatted with lots of people.”

“And yet you look like a naughty schoolgirl caught up in a crush.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What are you insinuating?”

“Maggie, it’s okay. You like Grey. I can’t blame you. He’s a big, good-looking unit. Handy with weapons. Dry sense of humour. Doesn’t mind prolific swearing, either. Just your type.”

“I don’t have a type, and no, I don’t like him. I mean I do, but not in that way!”

“So why are you blushing?” He passed her a coffee, enjoying her discomfort. Teasing Maggie was always fun. Better, even, than teasing Olivia, and that was lots of fun at the moment.

“I’m not blushing!” She snatched her coffee, narrowly missing scalding herself. “I like Grey, of course, as I do all of Storm Moon’s staff. It’s a fun place to hang out.”

“Has he asked you out yet?”

“No! He doesn’t need to.”

“You’re a modern woman, why wait? Ask him yourself.”

“Harlan! Pack it in!”

“But I’m enjoying myself.”

“Fuck off!”

He roared with laughter, and then reached into the fridge to get more eggs. “I knew it!”

“We are changing the subject.” Her sunny disposition had vanished, replaced by a scowl.

He wasn’t giving up that easily, but he shrugged. “Shall we talk about what you want from me, then?”

“Peace and bloody quiet!”

“And?”

She stood at the kitchen window, sipping her coffee as she watched him over the rim. “I wanted to ask you about your Rome office. The Orphic Guild’s, that is.”

“Does this relate to a certain church and country house in Florence?”

“It might.”

“I thought Jackson was looking into that.”

“Jackson is looking into the church, and something about northeastern directions. I’m helping in my spare time. I have resources, but they’re limited. I need more background on Amato’s country house, and it’s not the type of thing I can really ask the local police about. I have no connections there, nor with the local councils or whatever they call them in Italy.”

“Herne’s horns! I go to the gym for an hour, and so much is going on! You better bring me up to speed.” He started to crack the eggs. “Scrambled okay? Your eggs, I mean, not your hormones.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Harlan!”

“I thought that was funny!”