The perfect place to meet in secret.
Basili parks on the ground level and kills the engine. “Where?”
“Upper stairwell. That’s where we always meet.”
We take the stairs; the elevator hasn’t worked for years. Each floor darker than the last, the only light coming from the city around us filtering through the open sides.
Shufen is waiting on the top level, leaning against the rail, arms crossed, looking out at the skyline. She’s wearing dark clothes, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, and even from a distance, I can see that her shoulders are tense.
“Shufen,” I called to her softly.
She turns, and her eyes widen when she sees Basili behind me. “Why did you bring him?”
“He wouldn’t let me come alone.” I move closer. “He has a right to know what’s happening, Shufen. It’s his son they have.”
She studies Basili for a long moment, then nods. “I suppose you would have found out eventually anyway.”
“Found out what?” I ask, signaling Basili softly to hush when he opens his mouth to speak. The glare he gives me would make most women quiver.
Neither Shufen nor I flinch, ignoring his look. “Father’s plan. Why does he want this marriage so desperately?”
“He wants an alliance —” Basili begins.
“He want’s control,” Shufen cuts him off, putting her hand up to silence him. “The Triad is desperate, Mr. Cierro. You’ve been cutting off their operations for years, perhaps without even knowing the extent of the intrusion. Drugs, weapons, trafficking. Every time they establish a foothold, your family pushes them further out. They’re losing ground, losing money. Losing power.”
“Good,” Basili snipes flatly.
“The Russians are taking advantage of those weaknesses. Pushing into Triad territory. Father needs leverage, ammunition. He needs a way to secure their position and regain ground before he loses everything.” She looks at me, her eyes sad. “And you gave him that leverage when you came back to New York.”
My stomach drops. “What?”
“He’s known you were here all along, little sister. Father’s been watching you for months.” She shakes her head. “He saw an opportunity, and he took it. Your adoration of the child and infatuation with his father gave him just the leverage he needed.”
“The kidnapping,” Basili says, his voice deadly quiet. “Delan orchestrated it.”
Shufen nods, “He did. I tried to stop it, but…” Her hands clench on the rail behind her. “I couldn’t. All I could do was help Emmanuel escape. I took him to the orphanage where I knewChloe would find him. Only, I didn’t realize at the time that my father was counting on me doing exactly that.”
“You brought him to me,” I whisper.
“Yes, I sent those messages. The hints. I knew you’d figure it out.” She looks at Basili. “I knew you’d bring him home. I just had hoped that would be the end of it.”
“But it wasn’t.”
“No. Father knew he could use Emmanuel as leverage to force your hand in the marriage agreement. Marry me off to Basili, unite the families, use that connection to rebuild the Triad’s power.” She pauses. “And then kill the child. Ensuring any children I bore to you would inherit your empire.”
The words echo through the air like a death sentence.
“What?” My voice comes out strangled.
“You know how the game is played, Chloe. If Basili has an heir without connections to the Triad, he has no reason to stay loyal. But if Emmanuel dies…” She meets Basili’s eyes. “Then he needs a new one. A son with Tao blood. One that Father can claim and control.”
Basili’s hands are clenched into fists, his entire body vibrating with barely contained rage. “You’re telling me, your father planned to murder my son on my wedding day either way.”
“Yes.” Shufen’s voice is hollow. “I’ve been trying to stop it. I tried to save Emmanuel again by warning you, but it was too late. The plan was already in motion once I learned of it.”
“Where is he?” Basili demands.
“I don’t know.” He takes a step toward her, and she backs up against the railing further. “I don't, I swear. Father keeps that information secret. But I know he’s alive. He needs him for leverage to force the marriage.”
