Penn whistles. “Expensive insurance policy.”
“The central pendant contains a tracking device,” I explain, closing the box. “If anything happens tonight?—”
“You’ll know exactly where she is,” Penn finishes. “Smart.”
“With Jax escalating his surveillance, she needs protection.” I hand him the box. “Deliver it personally. Tell her it’s a gift for the ball. Don’t mention the tracker.”
Penn pockets the box. “And if she asks questions?”
“Tell her I’ll explain everything tonight.”
I wait until Penn exits with the jewelry box before making my move. With two hours remaining before the masquerade, it’s time to test the waters.
I find Blaze first, cleaning his custom Glock in the weapons room.
“Jax seems on edge lately,” I say casually, examining a tactical knife from the wall display.
Blaze’s hands never pause in their practiced movements. “You noticed that too.”
“The surveillance on Aurora. The emergency meetings. It feels... desperate.”
He reassembles the firing pin before looking up. “Leaders who feel threatened make mistakes.” He doesn’t elaborate further, but the implication hangs between us.
In the monitoring center, Grayson reviews security footage with cold efficiency.
“The Marcus Chen situation,” I begin, referencing Jax’s former right-hand man. “Was that truly necessary?”
Grayson’s eyes remain fixed on his screens. “Efficient, perhaps. Necessary? No.” He pauses a beat too long. “Jax’s definition of loyalty has narrowed considerably in recent months.”
“And if definitions continue to narrow?”
“Then eventually, no one meets the criteria.” Grayson finally turns to face me. “Even you.”
I find Ari in the social operations center, reviewing dossiers for tonight’s event.
“These additional security measures for the Vipers,” I say, sliding into the chair opposite him. “An overreaction, wouldn’t you say?”
Ari’s elegant fingers tap the table twice, his nervous tell. “Jax believes himself infallible these days. Questioning his judgment has... consequences.”
“And your assessment?”
“My assessment?” Ari’s smile is diplomatic, practiced. “Is that the organization functions best when power is balanced.” He leans forward slightly. “Recent events suggest the scales may have tipped too far in one direction.”
I don’t push further. I don’t need to. The message is clear in what remains unsaid.
None will openly stand against Jax yet. But the fractures are there, hairline cracks in their loyalty that could split wide open given the right pressure. And when forced to choose sides, I know exactly where they’ll stand.
Not with Jax. With me.
My phone vibrates as I leave the monitoring center. It’s Grayson.
“We have a situation,” he says the moment I answer.
“Elaborate.” I move to a more private corner of the corridor.
“Jax has personally added fifteen names to the guest list for tonight’s masquerade. Unknown entities. Not in our database.”
My grip tightens on the phone. “When?”
