I wonder if she knows about Mackenzie’s role in his death.
Fuck. This can go so wrong.
Constantine looks from the woman to Antony. I can see the wheels turning in his mind. He doesn’t want the August family to be destroyed – he knows Nero and Brutus already have lucrative agreements, and from the twist of his lip I think he’s beginning to see that in the battle over the August family spoils, he’ll lose to Nero. Better to be one of three and have someone in the August family loyal to him, then go down to two and tip the balance of power away from Dio.
He turns to Nero. “I say that Antony should take over the family. The rules are outdated. We didn’t anticipate this situation.”
I can see Nero thinking. It’s strange to watch them andfeelmy father’s teaching kick in. I read their body language, their tells, and I see their moves laid out like chess pieces on the board. I’ve memorized their gambits. I know exactly what attacks they’ll send against each other.
But they haven’t counted on me. And I’m about to swindle the win from under them.
Only, I’m not so sure I want to win this game.
Antony’s talking now. He has his back to me, facing the rest of the men around the table. “…loyal service to Julian. When Brutus took over, I remained loyal, even though I did not agree with his methods. I’ve proven that I hold the oath in the highest regard. As Imperator, I will—”
I step out of the shadows.
Antony whirls around. His face, when he sees me standing there, will haunt my nightmares for the rest of my life.
He’s shocked.
He’s terrified.
He’s fuckingpissed.
The bodyguards spring into action. Ten barrels point at my face. It’s disarming, but I’m ready for it. I know I need to keep my cool. If I so much as bat an eyelid out of place, I’m dead.
“Don’t shoot,” Noah calls.
He and Eli step out of the shadows to flank me, pointing their weapons at Nero and Constantine. Antony’s face is a mask of fury as he studies Noah in the Barbarian mask and puts it all together. His fists clench at his sides, but he can’t say a thing without giving me up, givingusup.
“You can shoot us, but you can’t guarantee we won’t take out one or both of your Imperators before we go down.” Noah’s voice rings hard and clear through his mask. “We don’t want a firefight. All we want is for you to listen to what she has to say.”
“Hello, gentlemen.” I incline my head to the Imperators. “I know my entrance is unconventional. If I might have a minute of your time, I have a proposition I think you’re going to want to hear.”
“How did you get past the guard?” Constantine demands.
“You mean this guy?” Gabriel appears in the doorway, dragging the dead guard from outside. He drops the body at Constantine’s feet. Candlelight glints off the blade protruding through his eye socket.
To his credit, Constantine keeps his surprise in check. I feel a little jolt of pride that I’ve managed to sneak up on the king of death.
I slip the knife from my sleeve. “While I speak, remember that I hold this in my hand, and I’m deadly accurate.”
“Who are you?” Constantine demands.
“You’re that heiress from Harrington Hills who disappeared. Madison something.” Nero cocks his head to the side. He regards Eli with his usual wry amusement. “She’s my stepson’s girlfriend.”
“She’s so much more than that,” Eli says.
“Some people call me Mackenzie Malloy, but that’s not my real name.” I smile. “I’m Claudia August.”
The room falls instantly silent. My name is a magic spell, an incantation that renders dangerous men mute.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Nero chokes out. “You’re not Julian’s daughter. Brutus killed her five years ago.”
I touch my hand to my sleeve. “I’m willing to submit to a DNA test to satisfy you. But when you hear what I have to say, I don’t think you’ll need it. My father told me that if I ever needed to call on the Triumvirate for help, I could give you this.”
I motion to Gabriel. He steps over the body and produces a cardboard box from the shadows, presenting it to Nero with a flourish. Nero undoes the ribbon on top and lifts the lid.
