Every small mistake, delayed report, misplaced chip—I ripped through it. Because it was easier to destroy something I could control than admit what was clawing at me.
Nik found me near the back tables, sleeves rolled, a cigarette still burning between my fingers.
“Vince,” he said quietly, that calm dynasty tone that meantdon’t make me drag you out of here.“What the hell’s wrong?”
“Everything. Shipments delayed. Port deal stuck. Two crews fighting over territory.”
He waited. Because he knew that wasn’t the answer.
Nik’s eyes tracked me like he was reading my pulse. “You look like you’ve been chewing nails all morning.”
“Business,” I said again, too fast. Not the beautiful blonde with the flawless body and a habit of wearing ridiculous high heels.”
His brow arched. “Right. Business.”
He turned toward the surveillance monitors, rattling off instructions to a handler. “There’s a dynasty event tonight. Some gallery opening. I was going to send one of the boys, but?—”
“What kind of event?” I cut in.
“Art gallery. High class. Dynasty wives, heirs, collectors..”
That was all I needed to hear.
Madeline loved art.
And she never missed a dynasty showing if she could help it. I stubbed the cigarette out hard, ignoring the look he gave me.
Nik sighed. “Don’t even start.”
“I’m not starting. I’m going.”
He stared at me like I’d just grown another head. “You’re bleeding through your shirt and about to walk into a dynasty gala?”
I shrugged out of my jacket. “I’ll change.”
He pressed his fingers to his temple. “I don’t want to know.”
“Good,” I was already moving. “Then you won’t.”
“You’re out of your mind.”
Maybe I was.
But the truth was simpler than madness. There are some ghosts a Crow doesn’t exorcise. He hunts them. And I wasn’t done hunting her.
By the time I arrived at the place I already wished I hadn’t gone.
Misery.
That’s what it was. Pure fucking misery. Five minutes in that room and I already wanted to rip my own teeth out.
Lucky for everyone still breathing, I saw her.
Madeline.
It didn’t matter how much time had passed. One look at at her and…fuck. Her blonde hair was clipped to the side. And her body, perfect in that slow, ruin-your-life kind of way.
I forced my eyes away from her neck before my brain finished the thought of a collar. A white gold collar, sleek, metallic, something my hand could wrap around perfectly.
