She’s part of the family now.
The air crackles with tension – a storm rolling and tossing around Eli and me. I can’t stand it any longer – inside that stone building is the man who threatened George and Eli’s lives, who broke into the manor and hurt my cat, who killed my father, who pushed my head into a pillow and—
I step into the doorway. My shadow blocks the moonlight casting a rectangle over the beaten-earth floor. For a moment, I’m blind in the gloom, and panic licks at my chest.
A light flickers. A man coughs. A large oil lantern splutters to life, illuminating the aquiline features and cold blue eyes of a man I once regarded as family. He clutches Gizmo against his chest, a knife held to her throat.
“Welcome, Mackenzie,” Brutus purrs, his voice like broken glass. “Or should I say, my dearest niece, Claudia.”
40
Eli
My gaze flicks from Claudia to the man holding my cat hostage. They’re related, all right. He has the same cold, blue eyes like chipped sapphires, the same proud nose, the same bloodthirsty smile. His fingers tighten around Gizmo, and she hisses and slashes at his face with her claws.
Hold on, girl. I’ll save you.
I notice a strange pattern of scars on the back of Brutus’ hand. It looks like a tattoo image – a sword wreathed with a vine, one of the insignias from the club – but it’s not made with ink. The design has beenburnedinto his skin.
My finger slips from the trigger. I’m ready to rush forward and offer myself in Gizmo’s place. I’d rather he slit my throat than lay a finger on her, but I know if I move even an inch he’ll drive that blade into her flesh.Don’t hurt her. Please don’t—
“Brutus,” Claudia’s voice is even. She steps toward him, deadly calm.
“I’m surprised it’s taken you this long to find me.” He coughs again, his words slurred.
As my eyes adjust to the light, I force myself to stay calm, to think my way out of this. Nothing makes sense. I can’t imagine this hardened gangster squatting in a shed like an animal, yet that looks like exactly what he’s been doing. I observe the objects surrounding him – a camping stove, empty cans, a sleeping bag, water containers, a foul-smelling bucket in the corner, as well as packages of expensive cigars, expensive vodka, and – sitting on a small silver tray on top of an upturned crate – some small grey rocks that look like cement mixture.
Shit.
He’s high on grey death and he’s got my kitty.
“I’ve been busy. Contrary to what you believe, you’re not the center of the universe.” Claudia glides closer, her body so still and her eyes so steady I barely notice the movement.
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Brutus chuckles, staring down at the squabbling kitten in his hands like he only just noticed her there. “I know exactly why you’ve come. Oh, Aaaaantony?” he calls out in a singsong voice. “My loyal tribune. You’ve done well. I’ll reward you when we return—”
Antony steps out of the shadows – there must’ve been a rear entrance to the shack. All I can see of him in the gloom is his hard grey eyes glinting and the flickering lanternlight striking the barrel as he points his gun at Brutus’ face.
Brutus’ eyes bug out as he sees the gun in Antony’s hands. “What is this?”
“Something we should have done a long time ago,” Antony growls. He clicks off the safety.
“Not yet. Put the kitten down, Brutus.” Claudia tilts her head to the side, her golden hair spilling over her shoulder. “We’ve a few things to discuss.”
Brutus shakes his head, a crazed smile spreading across his face as he cradles Gizmo against his chest, using her as a kitten shield.
“Gizmo?” I call, the panic clawing at my chest. “Come here, girl.”
Gizmo’s head whirls around. Her tiny paws slash and scratch as she tries to wriggle free. Brutus grins and holds her by the scruff of her neck, the knife pressing into her fur. I see long cuts on his arm from where she’d got him. “Fancy something as tiny as this spilling so much blood? It reminds me of you, Claudia. I knew from the moment Julian placed a screaming baby into my arms that you were born to be the queen of bloodshed.”
“Born to be a queen?” Claudia scoffs. “You didn’t believe that when you buried me alive.”
“And yet, here you are, still breathing, proving me right.” Brutus inclines his head. “You have me surrounded. You want your revenge, and I respect that. You want to get even for what I did to dear Julian. His brand still marks my skin, you know. His punishment for daring to question the great Imperator.” His voice rises to a singsong pitch. He sounds completely out of it. “You might even believe you won’t face consequences, but I know the truth truth truth. All the ugly secrets daddy never told you. Before one of your trained monkeys spills my blood, allow me to make you this offer.”
“Not interested.” Claudia tosses her hair, and it’s such a classic Mackenzie move it makes my heart clench.
“You will be. I’ve taken the empire Julian built and made it great beyond his wildest dreams. My brother was an admirable leader, but his insistence on ludicrious rules and moral codes meant he’d eventually be conquered by more unscrupulous men. He placed this mark on me and yetI’mthe most powerful man in Emerald Beach. I did him a favor by conquering him first. Isavedhis legacy. What use is his moral code in a criminal empire?” His whole body jerks with loud, barking laughter.He’s fucking out of it.“You of all people understand me. That is why you should rule as my queen.”
The temperature in the shack drops ten degrees. Silence envelops us as Brutus’ words hang in the air. My gaze flicks to Claudia’s stony face, her icicle eyes shining in the darkness. Behind her head, I fancy I see a shadow moving, a flash of golden light, but it’s gone in an instant.
