Page 34 of Secrets of the Six

"To do his dirty work?" I snip.

"To protect him at all cost," he snips right back.

"The point is" – Cassius positions himself between Remus and I – "you passed the test and can be fully welcomed into Ordo Vu – "

"I don't give a shit what your little club is called. I want no part of it."

"Oh, stop it." Remus huffs with a slight irritation in his tone. "We both know you want that row house in the Silver District too much to walk away now. Even your pride isn't worth the luxury promised."

"At the end of the day, my pride is all I have, and my pride is upping my price from a row house in the Silver District to a house in the Golden District."

"You little brat," Remus narrows his eyes, taking a step toward me. "If you think you're going to extort a house in the Golden District out of Doña Otero, you are sadly mistaken."

"Is that so?" I furrow my brow and slide my menacing gaze to the prince. "What say you?"

He seems caught off guard I'm dragging him into the matter. "What?"

"For my trouble, I believe I am now entitled to a house in the Golden District. If my terms are not met, I will tell Doña Otero to put me on the first ship out of this wretched city and you will lose your Elena Lozano impersonator and the best thief in Orlencia."

"The best thief in Orlencia that I had to bail out of prison," Remus grumbles, pressing a handkerchief to his bleeding lip.

"And the best thief in Orlencia who kept her damn mouth shut under torture, shielding all of you by being willing to forfeit my life." I square my shoulders to the prince's and slam my hands on my hips. "So, what say you, Prince Cassius? Do you think I deserve a house in the Golden District?"

Cassius mulls over my words and despite Remus' sour glare, the prince nods his head. "She makes a compelling argument, Remus."

"Cas, you can't be serious!" He throws his hands up in the air. "What is she supposed to do with an entire house in the Golden District? It's extortion at its finest. Honestly, I thought Otero was a fool for bending the knee in granting you a row house in the Silver District."

"Why? Because I do not belong in such districts?" I growl, balling my hands into fists, fighting the urge to punch him square across his jaw. "I might not have grown up in the finest homes or worn the most luxurious clothing or even had the opportunity to receive an esteemed education, but I'm not your lesser. I'm far more observant and cunning and honorable than you give me near enough credit."

Cassius holds a hand up and just that small gesture radiates power. Enough so that I snap my mouth closed and oddly, Remus does the same.

"Now, I know tensions are high right now. What happened here was – "

A door out of sight – which I can only assume is the front door – suddenly flies open and bangs against a wall before a woman shouts, "Where is she?"

Chapter 12

Ines

I know that voice because it haunts me in my dreams.

"Remus? Cas?" Carmen's voice cries out once more before she zips into the room. Coming face-to-face with her twice in one night after eight years of believing her to be dead is overwhelming and feels as if the air has been snuffed out of the small space.

Carmen's eyes are filled with sorrow and concern but seeing me in my current state launches her into a state of fury.

"What the fuck is going on here?" Carmen growls as Shaw, the bartender, enters after her. It's oddly comforting she hasn't learned to control her temper or her language.

Cassius raises his hands in surrender, as if the petite brunette is someone to fear. "Now, listen, Carmen – "

"Did you torture her!?" She points an accusatory finger at him before her chocolate brown eyes narrow and glide to meet Remus', now leaning against a wall with his arms folded across his chest. "Tell me you didn't."

He flicks invisible lint from his lapel. "Would lying ease your conscience?"

She balls her hands into fists, but when Shaw slips his palms over her shoulders and gently squeezes, all her pent-up rage dissipates. Taking a deep breath, Carmen's face smooths. Turning toward me, she smiles and extends her hand.

"Let's get you cleaned up," she says sweetly. "There's a lot we have to talk about."

I stare at her outstretched hand not sure if I should take it or slap it away. My top lip curls and slowly, her smile fades and her hand drops to her side.