Chapter 116: The Hardest Things To Find, Hide Under Your Nose

Ezra pulled into the parking lot of the T-Max building, the imposing structure towering over the city's skyline. The moonlight reflected off its sleek glass exterior, casting a dim glow over the entrance.

He got out of the car and walked around to the passenger side, where Red was waiting. He opened the door and she stepped out.

"Thanks for setting up the meeting with Lilith." Ezra said, offering a genuine smile. "Your help is invaluable."

Red nodded, her expression unreadable. "Anything for the cause, Ezra. Be careful out there. I don't want my only source of ready vitality dying anytime soon."

Ezra watched as she made her way into the building before returning to his car. The engine hummed to life, and he sped off, pushing the limits of the legal speed as he navigated the nearly empty streets back to his mansion.

The night's events replayed in his mind. His enemies had been hiding under his nose the whole time. Not any more.

His grip on the steering wheel tightened as he remembered the arrow still embedded on his study wall. He grinned savagely, displaying his fangs.

The mansion came into view, its stately structure standing against the canvas of the darkened landscape.

Ezra parked in the driveway and hurried inside, his footsteps echoing through the grand hallways. He found Olivia and Gen waiting for him in the study, their faces reflecting the gravity of the situation.

"Good, you're here," Olivia said, motioning for him to sit. "We have a lot to go over."

Ezra took a seat, his gaze fixed on Olivia as she began her briefing. She spread a series of documents across the table, each one detailing the connections between Ascendant Capital and various vampire covens.

"There are five vampire covens and one individual currently connected to Ascendant Capital," Olivia began. "Two of them are investors who have a small stake in the company and receive dividends, while three of the covens and the single individual are debtors who owe the company significant sums of money."

Ezra leaned forward, his interest piqued. "Huh. Two factions. Continue."

Olivia nodded, her eyes scanning the documents. "The investors are relatively straightforward. They've provided capital and receive regular returns. Their involvement on paper is strictly financial, with no apparent ties to Macmillan or the Silent Hand. However, this isn't conclusive."

She paused, picking up another document. "The debtors, however, are a different story. These covens have borrowed large amounts from Ascendant Capital, and their connections to the late Macmillan are much deeper."

Ezra's eyes narrowed. "How so?"

"Macmillan was known for extending loans with very specific terms," Olivia explained. "He often used these debts to leverage influence within the vampire community."

Olivia tapped the relevant documents. "The three covens in question have been managing their repayments, but there are signs that Macmillan might have been using their debts to manipulate them or conduct other businesses with them."

"That also doesn't mean they're Silent Hand, you know." Gen leaned in, his expression thoughtful. "And the individual debtor?"

Olivia sighed, her expression serious. "She's a bit more complicated. Lady Amara owes a substantial amount to Ascendant Capital. Unlike the covens, she doesn't have the support of a larger group, making her more vulnerable to external pressures."

"Isn't that the Lone Lady?" Gen asked as she sat on a corner of the table.

"Lone Lady?" Ezra echoed.

"Lady Amara was an ex peacekeer who came to First City a few years before I did." Genesis explained. "She began as a subject under Count Vladimir and built a big business on her own."

"She's known for her solitude and reluctance to mix with other vampires, hence the name, Lone Lady." Olivia finished the story. "Now, we know where she got the money for it."

Ezra's mind raced as he processed the information. "Okay, let's go straight to the point. Which of these groups or individuals do you think had the closest ties to Macmillan and, by extension, the Silent Hand?"

Olivia pointed to one of the documents. "The Blackthorn Coven. They've been particularly active in the city's underground, and their leader, Veran, had frequent dealings with Macmillan. Their debt is also the largest, giving Macmillan considerable leverage over them."

"Which means that if they were Silent Hand, this could be them placing their assets under the new count in advance without raising suspicion." Ezra nodded, taking in the information. "And what about the other covens?" S~eaʀᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"The Xian and Maguire covens are also in debt, but their involvement seems more transactional. They owe money, but there's less evidence of deeper ties to Macmillan."

Ezra's gaze shifted to the document detailing Lady Amara's debts. "What about her?"

"Lady Amara's situation is a mystery." Olivia admitted. "Her debt is significant, but she has managed to stay under the radar. Her connections to Macmillan are unclear, but she's definitely someone to watch."

Genesis spoke up, his voice steady. "Do you think any of them are actively working with the Silent Hand?"

Olivia shrugged. "It's possible. The Blackthorn Coven is the most likely candidate, given their extensive debts and frequent interactions with Macmillan. But we can't rule out the others, especially Lady Amara. She might be more involved than we realize."

Ezra leaned back in his chair. The connections between Ascendant Capital and these vampire factions were complex, each thread leading to potential allies or enemies. The Silent Hand's interest in the company was becoming clearer, but the exact nature of their plans remained unclear.

"We need to keep a close watch on all of them," Ezra said finally. "Especially the Blackthorn Coven and Lady Amara. Their actions might give us a clue about the Silent Hand's next move."

Olivia nodded, gathering the documents. "We'll monitor their activities closely. Any sign of collusion with the Silent Hand, and we'll act."

Genesis stood, dusting her hands. "We've come too far to let them undermine us now. The Southside is ours, and we'll defend it."

Ezra looked at his companions. "I do know someone who knew about this before we did. Someone who knows more than we do. The problem is finding him."

Olivia frowned. "Who?"

"X."