“Gee, thanks.”
She laughs softly, her eyes warming a smidge. “The Six make up The Council—they oversee the empire. Once a year, they have a ball.”
“The Benefaction.”
“Exactly. It’s when information changes hands and deals are made. Legend says The Association was founded by five families. The sixth was added later for reasons no one knows. This year’s ball is special—the Carusos never attend, but they’re making an exception. That means something big is coming.”
She folds her hands on the table. “Elias is trying to understand how the network works. Your job as his wife is to make sure he looks good in front of The Six.”
“And if I don’t?” I think about his overbearing note from this morning.
“Word of advice.” Sofia leans in, voice turning to steel. “Don’t test his patience. Elias has given you more grace than I’ve ever seen him give anyone, but he has limits. Then things would get ugly.”
I breathe out slowly, images of his blood-soaked face slip into my mind.
She sets down an envelope. “Read it. It has background info. Photos of key players. Play the role. Survive. After all, that’s why you married my brother, right?”
Her words hit like ice water dumped on my head.
Yes. This whole marriage is a transaction. Sex and orgasms don’t factor into it.
I steel my heart and stare at the packet, dread threading a web up around my lungs.
This is just a transaction.
Don’t lose track of the terms.
Chapter 35: SHARKS AT THE BALL
I pace the foyer,the lighter in my hand. I stop, click it on, watching the flame appear. The routine should calm me.
It doesn’t.
I straighten my tux, fix my bow tie, and pace again.
In less than an hour, I’ll meet The Six. My hands ball into fists. Fury, my old friend, thrums under my skin. I imagine putting a bullet in each of them, watching with satisfaction as they drown in their own blood. Then I’ll destroy everything they own—tear their houses down, brick by brick, reducing their empire to a pile of ashes.
And that’s still not enough.
I blow out a breath. I’m getting ahead of myself. Focus.
Tonight, I have one goal: to find the kill ledger. Dalmat said a copy will be present. From what Aleksei found, this is an insurance policy. By exchanging copies of the ledgers, everyone has dirt on each other.
My phone buzzes. The Syndicate gives me an update for tonight.
Knight Ren
On standby with an AR-15. Winds are calm. Signal if things go south.
Bishop Seb
Sources said it’s small, palm-sized.
Pawn Alek
No shit, Sherlock. You think the kill ledger is in a cute notebook?
Bishop Seb
