I look up, confused.
“She was telling the Orlov bouncer about you; she had some connection and was trading information about you for some deal involving her mom. Enzo wasn’t going to kill her right away because he knew tonight was a lot for you, that’s the only reason he asked. Not because of me or her or some meaningless kiss.”
I tug violently at the roots of my hair, dread and guilt knotting into something heavy beneath my ribs, when the sound of a bullet leaving the chamber splits the night open.
“No!” I scream, watching what was supposed to be my best friend take a bullet through her skull.
I can’t breathe, I can’t see. Agony slams into me so hard my legs nearly give out.
Elijah leans closer, his presence grounding me even as my pulse races. “Ace, we need to talk about what you saw with Dante. Enzo and I are trying to stop it. But we are doing it smart.”
I try to look at him, but the tears burning in my eyes make it impossible.
“I know you’re shocked but if your father realizes you know he will kill you. He’ll kill all of us for allowing tonight to happen. So get it together. There’s nothing to do until Enzo is in charge and your father is dead.”
I can’t decide what’s worse: discovering Dante—the man I called Papa—is a horrible man, or watching Gen die.
I hate living here. I hate everyone.
Enzo is going to try to fix things? Fix what? Fix how? I’m just supposed to wait and let these women suffer until Dante dies?
Elijah continues, “We have to tell Dante there’s a chance the Orlovs find out about you after tonight. With Gen and your little motorcycle ride it’s inevitable. He will punish you once he gets word they are going to come after you. He will want to prepare you so you don’t break under torture.”
“What does that mean? Why is it such a big deal that I’m a secret anyway?”
“It doesn’t matter, but it means we can use you too, to help make this place better. You have to understand what changes tonight, and when they eventually take you, you need to kill Nikolai. He will be the one responsible for you.”
“You’ve ruined everything,” I spit.
I can’t understand anything he’s saying, it’s like the words have no meaning.
“Focus, Aurelia. Focus your anger on me. All of it on me.”
I wipe at my tears hearing my full name on his lips.
“It was my idea to test Gen’s loyalty tonight. It was my idea to take you out. It was my idea to go to a club she would be tempted at. And it was my kiss with her that caused you to sneak away and get mad at Enzo.”
I listen, my jaw ticking, when suddenly all my frustration funnels towards the one person I thought I could never hate.
“Good, now tell me you understand Ace. You will kill Nikolai when the time comes. It’s the only way this works.”
Another tear falls at the thought of having to take a life. “I understand.”
Chapter 39
Nikolai
Present
Should I be taking her out of her very secure containment? No.
Should I be speaking to her at all? No.
Should I feel excited at the brush of her fucking fingertips? Absolutely not.
And yet—here I am.
I’m bringing her to my room. Not because it’s safe, not because it’s wise, but because I need time with her away from Adrian’s grating presence. Away from the eyes of my men. Away from the world.
