EPI:LOGUE
A group of men are gathered around a round table via virtual reality.
The leader has yet to start the emergency meeting when one of the men at the table speaks out of turn, “What the hell happened? This is supposed to be a peaceful initiative.”
“Tell that to the millions who will die.” The man to the left of the leader chuckles. He can’t help it. The man is acting so self-righteous when he already agreed that the population must be controlled—with finality.
The leader presses a button, muting everyone’s communication abilities but his own.
“You know our plan never included nuclear destruction.” He presses the button again, allowing them to speak. “If you have further questions, we can discuss them, but I will not tolerate a lack of respect. That being said, we are working on handling the situation. We have assets on the ground at Dupree’s estate.”
“And what are they telling you?”
“Information is still sketchy, but from what we can gather, it was a business deal gone bad. The authorities are on the scene and have the place locked down, as one would expect when nuclear devices are at play.”
“Why did he even have them?”
“In case we needed additional persuasion for any country that would not comply.”
“If we went nuclear, the destruction to our world would last for years. We’d have nowhere to live.”
“If you have not prepared in the method we have preached, that is on you. The rest of us will live happily in our vaults until Arcadia rises.”
“What about his ring?” a man in the group asks. “He has no heirs.”
“Our rings, many of which have been handed down for generations, are an honor to be bestowed—when the time is right. As always, we will do everything in our power to recover it.”
“Are we still on schedule?” another man asks. “Dupree played a big role in our plan.”
“Of course we are. His role was fulfilled before his demise. Once Montrovia falls, the world will fall,” the leader says, signaling the end of the meeting by raising his cut-crystal glass filled with the rarest of all scotches into the air. “To Arcadia.”
GET BOOK 5: The Dauntless
BOOKS BY:JILLIAN DODD
The Keatyn Chronicles
USA TODAY bestselling young adult contemporary romance set in an East Coast boarding school.
That Boy Series
Small-town contemporary romance series about falling in love with the boy next door.
The Love Series
Contemporary, standalone romances following the very sexy Crawford family.
Spy Girl Series
Young adult romance series about a young spy who just might save the world.
By Jillian’s daughter, Kenzie Hart
Young adult travel romance.
ABOUT:THE AUTHOR
Jillian is a USA TODAY bestselling author. She writes fun romances with characters her readers fall in love with, from the boy next door in the That Boy trilogy to the daughter of a famous actress in The Keatyn Chronicles series.
She's married to her college sweetheart, has two adult children, two Labs named Cali and Camber, and lives in a small Florida beach town. When she's not working, she likes to decorate, paint, doodle, shop for shoes, watch football, and go to the beach.
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