No one said a word.
The words just hung in the air.
The Twelfth Family.
Bella looked at Father Gabriel.
"I thought the twelve founding families were destroyed, " she said.
The old priest shook his head. "No, " he said.
"They disappeared."
"There's a difference, " he added.
Leo frowned. "You knew they were still alive?" he asked. "I hoped, " Father Gabriel said. "I never knew for certain, " he added.
Another explosion shook the room.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Marcus turned to one of his guards.
"Hold this position, " he said.
The guard nodded. "What if they break through?"
Marcus's answer came quickly. "Then we make sure no one leaves with that memory card, " he said.
His eyes settled on Leo.
It was not a threat.
It was a promise.
Outside the room the soun
