Chapter One
London
“I was beginning to think you were going to act like our conversation never happened.”
I clear my throat. “It’s just been a crazy few days.”
“I know.”
“I’ve thought about what you said, and I don’t think now is the time to be reaching out through secret messages.” I run a hand over my face. “Maybe it’s better if we just lie low.”
Not with everything else that’s been happening.
A few days ago, when Olivia told me she wanted to reach out to one of the warring families, using her history to get a foot in the door, I was relieved.
But the past seventy-two hours were a blur, bleeding together into one startling reality.
I was no longer confident in Mason’s ability to lead us out of this unscathed, not with so many odds against him.
Mason might’ve been the head of the Payne Empire, and I was sure he’d been forced to squash a rebellion or two, but never one of this magnitude.
He has too many enemies, even within his own ranks. You can’t blame him for not being able to stay ahead.
Olivia lets the curtain swish back into place and turns to face me, the dark circles under her eyes prominent even from across the room. “Now is the time to act, London. They think they’ve made us weaker, so I say we let them think that they’ve won the battle.”
I frown and let my hand fall to my side. “And you really think reaching out right now is going to make a difference?”
Olivia straightens her back. “He won’t be expecting it.”
“You’re asking me to put a lot of faith in you and history that’s been dead and buried for a long time.”
Olivia’s eyes sweep over my face, her expression giving nothing away. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but it’s better than the alternative. Aren’t you tired of sitting around, praying and hoping everything works out?”
“Yes.”
“Help me then. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of being pushed to the sidelines and underestimated. I’m tired of having things happen to me, and I think you are too.”
Something about the emotion in her voice makes me pause.
Olivia and I are a lot more alike than I thought, but it still doesn’t mean any of this is a good idea, not with the kind of people we were up against.
I have a feeling we only get one shot at this, and if it blows up in our faces, it’ll only make things worse.
How would Mason feel about me conspiring with his sister, even with the best of intentions?
You know damn well how he’d feel. Why are you even considering this? It’s a suicide mission, and you know it.
I sigh. “Even if I was, I still don’t see how going rogue is going to help. These people—our enemies—they tried and almost succeeded in having your brother killed.”
Olivia crosses over to me, her eyes never leaving my face. “Exactly. With all the resources and manpower they have, do you honestly think it was an accident that Mason was able to walk away?”
“You think they let him live on purpose?”
Olivia shrugs. “I know what they can do and what they’re capable of. I think if they wanted Mason dead, we’d be planning a funeral, not a recovery.”
My mouth falls open, my mind racing a million miles a minute.
Is Olivia right?
