“Hold your whining, Salacia,” Ravencroft commands without missing a beat.“I am more than aware of the repercussions and eco shifts that chumming can create; however, I’m also a woman who believes you should treat yourself whenever the opportunity fits and have a feeling the sharks that do roam these waters share in the sentiment.”She lets her stare briefly cut to her.“And you can rest assure the residue from my accessory will dissolve without harming them or their feast because ifeitherare harmed there’s a beautiful, brilliant chemist whose balls I will empty for more than just an heir to my legacy.”Salay’s mouth doesn’t even have time to twitch courtesy of another order being spoken.“Follow.”
Staying close on her heels occurs without reluctance.
“Youjustkilledmybrother!” Temperance shouts in surprising disbelief, the sounds of fish gut filled buckets being dumped overboard forcing her to do so.
“Oh, tuck your Tony Award winning tears away, Princess,” sighs the woman approaching her.“You’re just upset that I beat you to it.”
At that, she clamps her mouth shut.
“I’m upsetbecause you had the audacity to hire one of thesyndicate’scompanies to do your dirty work to avoid blowback on your pending coronation, dirty work that includedharmingthose under its direct protection.”Our arrival at her side precedes Ravencroft roughly gripping Temperance’s chin.“I’m upsetbecause you brought your little family squabble intomywaters, went aftermy property,and tried to usemy resourcesto wrap up this little inbred feud that had no business being brought to my shores without permission, permission that youryoungersibling, Theodosia, understands, respects, and is more than willing to abide by, making her a much better successor to the Weslington crown than either of you would’ve ever been.”Her eyes widen in what I assume is shock.“Opener.” Salay swiftly tosses over the sharp object to the woman I now owe my life to resulting in a flawless catch followed by an even more impeccable stab into Temperance’s neck.“Most people assume you can’t successfully pierce the carotid with such a tiny point; however, like most things, with enoughforce,” word emphasized by her mirroring the exact motion, “you absolutely can.”
“Holy shit,” whispers the woman who delivered the object.
“Now, you and your brother know your place, Temperance.”Crimson slowly begins cascading down Ravencroft’s wrists.“And so does the nextQueenof Hoalkey.”Craning her face to practically close the gap between them is accompanied by her cooing, “Reign.Order.Reestablished.”
One smooth pullback allows the blood to drip across Ravencroft’s toes and enough space to abandon Temperance’s twitching figure over the edge.
“Franklin,” she states to one of the men who helped the deceased piece of royalty to her watery grave.“Chum.”
“Yes, Madam,” he replies and tucks his weapon away to do what he’s been instructed to do.
“Longworth.”Her foot twists to the side.“Feet.”
The other male that had been previously assisting in the holding of my partners hostage immediately puts away his gun, drops to his knees, and retrieves his pocket square to begin his task.
“Wow,” breathes Salay in admiration, “you’re like Great White with phenomenal legs.”
“And an ass that won’t ever retire.”The single remaining man left hustles over to clean the blood coating her palm.“Greet them.”
I instantly rush over to the only two people I don’t wanna live without and wind my arms aggressively around both.
“Thank fuck, you’re okay,” Garcia murmurs into my neck, fingers latching possessively onto a fistful of my shirt.“Estaba preocupado.”
“Worried or scared, my guy?”
“Scared,Little One,” our princess sells out at the same time her grip tightens on my fabric covered back as well.“But I told him you’d rescue us.”
“Of course, I’d rescue you,” I lovingly insist.“I’d do anything for the two of you…”
Including…but not limited to…what Ididdo.
“Enough sentiments,” Ravencroft announces, unfortunately pulling us apart.“We have business to attend to.”
Stepping to the side grants her a clear view of the three of us when Garcia cautiously questions, “Permission to speak?”
“Oooo,” coos the crazy in red bottom pumps prior to letting the tip of the freshly cleaned tool touch her lips, “I knew you could be trained.”A waggling of her eyebrow precedes her pointing the object in his direction.“Granted.”
“What business do we have with you, Ravencroft?”
“You owe me a debt,” she emotionlessly informs.“Youeachowe me a debt for saving your lives – that is not something I nor the organization does for free – and you also owe mecompensationfor myexpeditedservices as I had to…rearrange…my plans to tend to this matter instead.”
“I made the deal,” leaves me before she can explain further.“I…made…a deal…with the devil…”
Ravencroft villainously beams.“Flattery will get you almost anywhere and everywhere.”
“Our lives in exchange for goods or services to be rendered by the syndicate.”
“Zero!” shouts the salt and pepper bearded man like I predicted he would.“Why would you fucking do that?!”
