Adelaide’s eyes narrow, and she clicks her tongue. “It seems you’re not listening,” she says. “You’re all coming. You were the hardest to get on board, but once I have your agreement, your sister will follow, and the others won’t be far behind.”
A dry laugh slips from me. “So you manipulated Piper too? And Eleanor?”
Her silence says everything.
“I can’t believe you,” I spit, disgust burning up my throat.
She doesn’t even look bothered. “So we’re agreed then. You’ll be there. Or…” Her mouth curves, mocking. “Is your hatred forhimso blinding that it outweighs your love for your sister?”
I shoot her a look. Every muscle in me tightens, I’m dangerously close to breaking her jaw.
She lifts her chin. “Tik-tak, Bellanti. I don’t have all night. As you know, a man has a rifle trained on your sister as we speak. One word from me, and she’s gone.”
My blood spikes. I move into her space, fury burning straight through me.
“We’ll be there,” I grind out. “Now call off your assassin. And don’t you ever threaten my sister again. Next time you do, I come for you.”
A triumphant smirk lifts the corner of her mouth. “Good. I knew you’d come to your senses.”
“Disappear before I do something we’ll both regret,” I warn. “I’m not joking, Adelaide.Leave.”
“So dramatic,” she says lightly.
She sends a quick text, slips her phone back into her leather jacket, and glances up at me. “I’ll see you on the twenty-ninth. Ferrum Syndicate’s party. I’ll send you the address.”
With that, she turns, climbs onto her motorcycle, secures her helmet, and tears off down the path, vanishing into the night.
And despite my fury, a heavy dread settles low in my chest.
Because something tells me this is the moment everything breaks, the core of our friendship collapsing brick by brick.
And I’m certain we’ll never find our way back.
Prologue 2
Octavia
The music is deafening, and the crowd even worse. I push through the trees edging the estate, letting the noise fade into the background because I refuse to grant this party a single ounce of my attention.
I’m too furious about being here at all, dragged into this mess against my will.
But that anger pales beside the rage twisting through me at the thought of my sister being here as well. I want her safe, always, not thrown into enemy territory like some pawn in Adelaide’s schemes.
This is a Ferrum Syndicate party, and we belong to the Thirteenth Circle.
If they discover us here, we’re fair game. They could put a bullet in any one of us and face no consequence, after all, we breached their territory.
My teeth clench as I move deeper into the swarm of bodies, losing any trace of my sister, and of Piper and Eleanor as well.
Adelaide slipped away the moment we stepped inside, and frankly, I couldn’t care less. She can disappear into the earth for all I care.
I scan the estate grounds again, and at last, my eyes settle on my target.
I have a job.
It’s the one small advantage in this entire night, something worthwhile amidst the manipulation of that cartel bitch.
At least I walk away with something.
