Aras knocks on the study room door three consecutive times, which results in the ongoing conversation on the other side to stop briskly. There’s a half-minute long silence, followed by firm footsteps approaching our way. The door opens with a smoothswish, and a wave of chilly, AC air whooshes out, bringing with it the smell of rich leather and cigar smoke.
“Aras?” Jedediah says, his expression slightly distorted. Whether it’s due to shock or annoyance, I can’t really tell.
He quickly glances around at me and the crew, then gives Aras a clinical smile.
Aras, the confident bastard, grins back at him, then slaps my shoulder. “Jed, meet my friend, Dorran. He’s an amazing boxer, and would love to have a chat with you over possible career options.” He gestures towards my crew. “And these are my guests. Potential investors and such. Do you have a few minutes to spare so we can talk business?”
Jed’s facial features relax, if only a little. His posture still seems a bit stiff, which means I’ll have to be on guard, in case he pulls a stunt on us.
“Of course,” he all but chirps, then steps aside. “I’m all ears.”
The six of us enter the room, and when I give her a faint nod, Varsha shuts and locks the door from the inside.
Jedediah notices that, but maintains that smile of his like a mask.
Selina is standing near the drink area, but says nothing as she assesses us all.
“Well, I’ll bedamned,” Cignette remarks, making me turn. She’s looking at a middle-aged couple who are sitting on a plush loveseat in front of a narrow bookshelf.
They stand immediately when they see her, and the woman offers Cignette a smile that makes the one Jed’s wearing seem laughable.
“Cignette, my dear,” she sings, then places a hand over her heart. “I was so sorry to hear about your uncle. I can only imagine how hard it must’ve been for you, losing both himandyour mother so suddenly.”
Cigs cocks her head to the side. “What are you scumbags doing here, of all places?” she asks, then looks at Aras. “Did you invite them?”
“They were brief sponsors forReigna couple of years ago,” he provides. “Why, what’s wrong?”
“I’m surprised they didn’t offer to buy your company, given that it’s a hobby of theirs.”
And then it clicks. These are theGoswamis. They’re the ones who boughtLurefrom Chase after Miranda’s death, and then shut it down completely to start a condiments business under a different brand label. Motherfuckers. They took Cignette’s dream from her and erased it from existence, and they have the gall to act all cordial with her.
“They’d be dead by now if they’d evensuggestedwanting to buyReign,” Magner states.
“Too bad I never got a chance to defend what was mine,” Cigs says, then unclips her holster before drawing her Glock from it. “How strong are the chances of the guests hearing gunshots from up here?” she asks.
“This room is soundproof, given its nature and purpose,” Aras replies, then smirks. “Have at it, Adler.”
“Perfect,” she says, winking at the Goswamis.
They gasp and all but scramble towards the door, but Varsha blocks their path, then crosses her arms and widens her stance as she lifts a brow at them.
“Aras, what thefuckis this?” Jedediah voices urgently. “What’s happening right now?”
Aras waves a hand his way, then takes a seat on the divan behind him. “Honestly? I have no idea either, but I’m intrigued. Let’s just sit back and enjoy the show, yeah?”
“We need toleave,” Selina hisses at her husband. “Now.”
“You take one step towards the door, and youdie,” I tell her. “So, stay put and stop talking.”
Jedediah has now understood the full extent of the situation. He pulls Selina close to him, whispering something to her when she starts shaking in confused terror.
“Your uncle wanted the highest possible price forLure,” Mr. Goswami provides. “And because we were looking to buy a place as well-established as your mother’s HQ, we bought it. We wouldn’t have done it had we known how much that company meant to you. Please, you have to believe us.”
“Why not forfeit it, then? Why the fuck did you shut it down instead of talking to me about it?” Cignette questions. “Even after Chase’s death, the two of you didn’t so much as reach out to me. If you had, we could have come to an agreement about the HQ. But you… you status-hungrypigswere too busy setting upyourown empire after destroying the one thatIhad dreamt of expanding.”
Mrs. Goswami’s lips tremble as she cries. “We’re…we’re truly sorry, Cignette.”
Cigs spits on the ground in front of them. “Lurewas my haven. It was mylife. There was so much I wanted to do with it, but you took that opportunity from me. And for what? To sellcondiments? Are you fucking kidding me with that?” Sheracks the Glock, and before I can so much as blink, she pulls the trigger, shooting Mrs. Goswami in the right side of her face.
