He launched into an overly complex briefing, but the gist was simple. Mortal arms dealer. Too ambitious for his own good. He’d begun asking questions you didn’t ask if you wanted to remain alive in our world. Now, he’d gone from useful to dangerous.
“We’ve all used him over the years,” Rocco explained cheerfully. “Me, Severin, Marcello. Even Enzo once, in the old days. But Volkov has made some new friends…I Ceneratori. If he decides to open his mouth and sell us out…”
I Ceneratori.The Ash Makers. Vampire hunters.
“He won’t live long enough,” Severin proclaimed. “Nico will see to it.”
Marcello’s fingers drummed against the table, his gaze slipping to me. “If he has partnered with the hunters, silencing him is one solution,” he said, “but a sloppy one. The I Ceneratori are already sniffing around our operations. If he suddenly disappears, they’ll dig deeper, create complications. I’d rather… discredit him.”
“Rendering him useless to his business partners,” Emilia mused. “Clever.” My father preened at her compliment, andit struck me how smoothly she played them all, stroking delicate egos with a few choice words.
Emberline had been right to approach her first.
Luca’s gaze narrowed on me. “And where doeshecome into this? In fact, why ishehere at all?”
“Ah.” Rocco’s smile sharpened. “This is the best part of the plan.” He tapped a cluster of red dots on the map of the mainland. “Volkov’s newest warehouse. Guarded by the latest security measures, rotating patrols, even the local Polizia make regular drivebys. Impenetrable, by Volkov’s own boasting.” Those canny eyes met mine.
“There is over ten million in weaponry stored inside that warehouse. Break in, use your magic. I want every single gun rendered worthless. Warp the metal, break the firing pins, whatever you have to do. I want him selling damaged, unusable equipment, and within a week, he’ll be out of business.”
“Absolutely not,” Marcello hissed before I could open my mouth. “I’m not unleashing a monster on the mortal world. He’ll turn this into a bloodbath.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Rocco’s grin was too wide to be anything but a threat. “Besides, who said I was asking?”
“Okay, I’ll bite,” I met Rocco’s dark gaze. “What makes you think I’ll go along with this?”
“Oh, nothing at all,” Rocco smiled. “Just… a hunch.” Bruno stepped forward and dropped a folder on the table. My host flipped it open, and the scent of fresh paper and ink hit me in the face.
Photos. Reports. A familiar name here, a blood-splattered photograph there. Enough for me to know I was thoroughly fucked.
The fire at my back threw off more heat, and thedarkness inside me took shape, a flame wreathed monster full of violence, capable of reducing this room to ash in a matter of seconds.
I rubbed my chest, digging the heel of my palm into the tattoos, forcing myself to regain control and deal with the problem at hand.
Rocco had collected proof of illicit jobs I’d taken after I’d escaped the pits, during that dark year when I’d been clawing my way back into the world, hungry for blood, addicted to violence, hardened to things like pain, morality, and the sound of screaming.
Fighting to contain this fire breathing monster trapped inside me.
Sins I never thought would see the light of day, yet here they were, displayed for all to see.
Guilt and shame balled up in my throat, but I forced myself to smile down at Rocco, imagining how good it would feel to tear his throat out.
“Aren’t you thorough? I never took you to be a paperwork kind of guy.”
“Honestly, I hate it,” Rocco agreed lightly. “But you gave me the idea when you buried your father in front of the Council. I realized how much leverage I would have if these ever made their way to the wrong desk.”
Hot, choking rage flashed through me, but I forced my hands to stay loose at my sides instead of wrapping around his throat.
“Blackmailing your own ally.Again. You should be ashamed.” Severin shot me a sympathetic look. “Don’t take it personally, Dante.” He waved his hand as if to dismiss this entire business. “We’ve all been in your shoes once or twice.” An unexpected show of support from an unexpected ally.
Emilia’s red lips curled with distaste as she looked between the stack of papers and Rocco’s grinning face.
“And if I refuse?”
“Membership in the Dynasty is tenuous, at best. Think of this as a way to further cement your standing.” Rocco flicked one of the photographs with a fingernail, and the paper made a small, ugly sound.
“Fine. The guns will be unusable when I’m done.” I breathed through my nose, “Volkov will be discredited, and you will never blackmail me again. Are we clear?”
“As glass.” Rocco clapped his hands together. “See how easy it is to get along? We should join the others. I wouldn’t want to deprive you of an entertaining evening with your beautiful wife.”
