Noah splutters. “You’re saying the Duke of Blackwich runs a drug empire?”
Cleo shoots him a disdainful look. “Of course he does. You think he can afford to keep that big old castle and all his land without the money from Grey Death?”
Shit.Shit.
I did not expect to be surprised tonight.
Cleo turns back to Gabe, pleading with her eyes even as he turns away in shock and disgust. “He did it all for you, Gabe, so that you’d have money enough to continue the Blackwich legacy. But then you refused him again and again. He gave you a final chance in England, and you spat on his kindness. But there’s still hope. If you and I go to him together, if we give him the baby he desires, then we can stop him before he—”
“So I was his delivery girl?” I interrupt. I don’t want her to distress Gabe anymore. “That’s why I was on the set that day.”
“Don’t be absurd,” Cleo smirks. “Oh, that’s right. You’ve got amnesia. You can’t remember anything from before your precious family disappeared. I suppose that means you don’t remember coming onto set that day.”
“Let’s pretend for a minute that I don’t.” I sit down on the edge of the bed. My arm brushes Cleo’s foot. My heart thuds against my ribs. I’m close to something more here; I can feel it. I’m close to the truth.
“Then you can die not knowing, bitch.”
Nope. I’m done messing around with Cleo. I reach for the scabbard on my belt. The sword makes a satisfyingwhooshas I draw it out and press the blade to Cleo’s throat.
“All right, all right!” she chokes out. “You followed me, okay? You incapacitated my usual runner and took his drugs so you’d have an excuse to talk to me. You wanted me to spread rumors on social media that you were dead. You said if I didn’t do it you’d tell the police about the Grey Death. So I did it. I even got the duke to get the police to stop investigating your stupid family. Then when you showed up at school I thought I was done for, but then you acted like you didn’t know me and Eli said you had amnesia so I just played along. I just wanted to get Gabe away from you. I was never going to tell anyone you were alive, because I don’t give a shit. I swear!”
“Good girl.” I stroke her cheek with the flat of the blade. She glares at me with defiance as silent tears roll down her cheek. “Was that so hard?”
“I told you what you wanted.” She strains and kicks again. “Now, let me go.”
I wag my finger at her. “Naughty Cleo. You don’t make the commands here. You’ll do well to remember that we have copies of your little jaunt in the hotel room. With backups. We own you now.” I tap my chin. “We’re not done with you yet. I couldn’t leave you without a parting gift. Noah, are you ready?”
Noah steps up beside me and drops the bag on the floor. He shuffles around inside and pulls out a blowtorch and a long metal rod. Cleo winces as Noah flicks on the torch and touches it to the shape on the end of the rod. A hot, acrid smell scents the air. Gabriel turns from the window, his face haloed in starlight. He watches Noah with detached interest.
“Do you know what this is?” I nod to the rod in Noah’s hands.
Cleo stretches out her long neck. To her credit, she doesn’t flinch or scream. “A b-b-brand.”
“Correct. It’s similar to the one I used on Alec LeMarque’s pretty face, only this one is for your hand. And it has a very specific meaning. It’s called thesacer, and it marks you for death.”
“But only an Imperator can use it, and…” Cleo’s face pales. She looks at me again. Her eyes dart to the tattoo on Noah’s bicep – the mark of my tribune. “No, that’s not possible. You can’t be—”
“Claudia August.” I take a deep bow. “Imperator of the August family. At your service.”
Her chin wobbles. “But you… you’re Mackenzie…”
“I have many names.”
“You’re not going to kill me?”
I give her an ice-cold smile. “The problem with you, Cleo, is that you never have to think about consequences. You flit from thing to thing with not a second thought about the trail of destruction in your wake. I could kill you. Or maybe I’d let George do it. She’d relish it. But it wouldn’t teach you a lesson. Now, for the rest of your life, you’ll have to look over your shoulder, because at any moment your pretty little life could be snuffed out. I think that’s so much more poetic than a quick death, don’t you?”
She doesn’t have a chance to reply. Noah hands me the brand. George and Gabriel hold hands and step closer, eager to watch. The bassline muffles Cleo’s screams as I hold the hot metal against her skin.
It’s the sweetest song I’ve ever heard.
43
Gabriel
My father.
I lean back against the wall, shoving open the window a crack to feel the bitter ocean wind bite my bare feet. I bring the joint to my lips and take a deep drag, but it does nothing to relax my jittery nerves.
