“Sister.” Milo’s voice is carefully neutral. He’s wearing a charcoal suit that probably costs more than most people’s cars, his dark hair styled to perfection.
Valen turns in his seat, looking back at us. “You look beautiful, Mara.”
“Thank you.”
Milo’s jaw tightens. “You’re playing a dangerous game letting them come tonight.”
“I’m playing the only game there is. And don’t lecture me about danger when you’ve been playing it your whole life.”
“That’s different?—”
“How? Because you’re a man? Because you’re the heir? Because Father actually gives a shit about your opinion? I’m so tired of being told what I can and can’t do—what’s safe and what’s dangerous—like I’m some delicate thing that needs protecting instead of a person with agency.”
Silence fills the SUV. Even the driver seems to be holding his breath.
Then Milo says, quietly, “You’re right.”
I blink. “What?”
“You’re right. I’ve been complicit in treating you like property instead of family, and I’m sorry. I should’ve fought harder for you when Father announced your engagement to Chase... when they locked you in that penthouse. I should’ve burned it all down instead of standing by and watching.”
“So why didn’t you?”
“Because I was scared. Because I’ve spent my entire life being told that loyalty to family means loyalty to the Syndicate, and questioning that means losing everything.”
Valen turns around again, watching us. Kade has gone very still, keeping his eyes forward.
“But things are changing, or they need to. Because what they did to you, what they’ve done to so many others, it’s wrong. And I’m done pretending it’s not.”
“What are you saying?” I ask carefully.
“I’m saying I’m on your side, finally. Completely.” He reaches over and takes my hand, squeezing once. “Whatever you’re planning with OCK, with Valen—I’m in. And so is Kade.”
The SUV merges onto the highway, picking up speed.
“So, what’s the plan?” Milo asks. “For today, I mean. Are we just playing our parts or?—”
Valen interrupts. “Playing our parts. Today is reconnaissance. We smile, we observe, we note who’s where and saying what. The real move comes later.”
“When?” Kade asks.
“Soon. But today? Today we’re the perfect children of the powerful. Loyal and obedient—exactly what they expect.”
“Until we’re not,” Milo finishes.
“Until we’re not,” I agree.
The rest of the drive passes in relative silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts.
Milo clears his throat. “Mara, I know I don’t have the right to ask this, but... are you okay? Really okay?”
“No, I’m not okay. I haven’t been okay since the night Father announced my engagement... maybe longer. But I’m surviving. And sometimes that has to be enough.”
“It shouldn’t have to be.”
“No, it shouldn’t. But it is. So I’m making the best of it.”
“With OCK.”
