Returning to the stateroom I’ve claimed, I pull out my laptop and review my emails. By now, the world believes that I died. I know Dixie will be telling Sigil the truth, but in the meantime, I need to lay low. My death allows me to do some digging and shifting. Especially since I can spend this time pretending to be Maxim. Maxim gave me the perfect cover when he decided to sail to St. Petersburg instead of taking a faster mode of transportation.
I spend the next few hours crafting emails to restructure Maxim’s organization. I shift men who are loyal to me into positions of power while thrusting Maxim’s most faithful men into areas that will weaken their influence. When I return to New Orleans and announce Maxim’s death, I want everything in place so there’s no chance of an uprising.
A knock on my door precedes Dom’s entry.
“Everything under control?” I ask him, even though I already know the answer. Dom has never let me down.
Dom has been my right-hand man since I found him fighting off three of my father’s men outside a bar one night. I came upon the brawl and was impressed with how Dom, who appeared younger than my eighteen years, handled himself. He had all three men unconscious before I could intervene. When he turned to me, ready to fight, I held my hands up and offered him a chance to explain himself. That’s when I heard the whimper.A young girl, no more than ten, cowered against the side of the building. She had the same white-blonde hair as the boy and the same sky-blue eyes. Without considering that the young man might attack me, I kneeled in front of her. She whimpered again, but she didn’t seem frightened of me. Her eyes slid to the boy who came to kneel next to me.
“What’s your name?” I asked her.
“I’m Dominic, and this is my sister, Dina,” the boy says. “If you touch her, I’ll kill you.”
I smirked at him, but simply shook my head. “I have no doubt. But I have no intention of hurting her or you. I’d like to hear your story, but maybe we should get out of this dirty alley. It’s no place for a young lady.”
“I have to get back to work, or I’ll lose my job,” Dom says.
“You work here?” I ask, looking at the bar with contempt. It’s one of my father’s businesses.
Dom glares at me. “What of it?”
“This place is a dive,” I said, shaking my head.
“Yeah, but it's the only place that will hire me and let me keep my sister with me.”
“What if I made you a better offer?” I ask.
He eyes me suspiciously. He takes in my expensive clothes, shoes, and watch, then nods.
“Great, let’s go somewhere to eat. I’m starved. What do you guys like to eat?”
We ended up at a local place known for its gumbo. Once we were seated, I pressed Dominic for his story.
“My parents died less than a year ago. I had to drop out of high school and get a job so we wouldn’t lose our apartment. We’ve been dodging social services ever since. I can’t let them take Dina from me.”
I grin at the girl as she slurps her food. She has splashes of broth on both cheeks. “What happened tonight? What did those guys want?”
“Her. One of them was pulling her outside when she cried out and got my attention. I rushed outside to save her, which is when the other guys jumped me. I couldn’t let them have her.”
“You were impressive. I know those guys, and they aren’t weaklings.”
“She’s my sister.” That was all Dominic said. “Dina, go wash up, baby. You have food all over your face.”
She grimaces at him, but slides out of the booth. “Can we go get beignets after this? Please?”
I chuckle at her enthusiasm.
“They aren’t open yet,” Dominic tells her.
She pouts as she turns toward the restrooms. I watch her slouch away and make a silent promise to get her beignets.
“I think if I had a sister, I’d fight for her just as hard. Do you know who those guys were?”
Dominic shakes his head.
“They work for Maxim Zoloth.”
I watch the color drain from Dominic’s face when he realizes the level of trouble he’s gotten himself into.
