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I nod, but we both know it’s problematic. We prepared for nasty shit to take place, but we’re still half blind here. There’s no way we could have measured the magnitude ahead of time.
“We prepared for a bloodbath,” Carlton voices my worries. “But this is going to be a fucking war.”
A moment of quiet stretches out among the four of us as we stand like the four riders of hell by the stairs to the terraced patio, watching the valets drive away car after car. The rows of cars will stretch far onto the paved pathways at the back of the mansion into the forest, and dystopic images of how this place might look in the morning come at me like slaps.
So this is what Romano was hiding all along. The sheer scale of this ball. It was all done in order to make sure the Elders and everyone else that matters wouldn’t be properly prepared.
Including us.
I look over my shoulder into the ballroom through the arched floor-to-ceiling windows, and catch a glimpse of Sir Osvaldo. The legendary man is still broad-shouldered and solid looking even at his age, and he somehow still looks like one of the greatest killers alive. His name is attached to a legacy, and he’s got weapons manufacturing factories all over the world to show for it. He’s over seventy now, his long white hair swept back to reveal a tall forehead that many find intimidating, his features eerily timeless. Few know the cane with the ivory skull on top which he uses for support sheathes a deadly blade gifted to him by a Yakuza leader long ago, but not even such a unique weapon is going to keep him alive tonight if this is what I think it is.
Speaking of which, if Sir Osvaldo is here, the other Elders can’t be far away either. Yet he is the highest Elder responsible for our circle of Heathen Kings, and if he goes down tonight, Romano gets one hell of an advantage. If he plays his cards right, he can even take the man’s place. I hiss under my breath, returning my attention to the attendees and their security teams.
“Many guests could be undercover agents too, not just their security people,” Damon says quietly, scanning every newcomer with those deathly eyes.
“We have scanners built into the ceiling cameras,” I say. “We’ll know if they’re carrying weapons.” I look down at my wrist and tweak the buttons on my custom-made, combat Rolex so the alarms will go off and let us know.
“Guns in place?” Sade checks with Carlton without looking at him, his voice devoid of emotion.
Carlton straightens his frame and pulls on the hem of his suit jacket just enough for us to glimpse the outline of his guns strapped to his body.
“In place and ready to go.”
“Damon?”
“Vipers ready.” He’s a poison expert, and he’s quick as a ninja to stick needles and blades into his enemies’ vulnerable spots from the shadows. That, combined with his crazy combat skills, makes him capable of taking down three battle-hardened soldiers a minute. He’s a powerhouse.
Sade glances at me.
“Blade system up and ready.” Dozens of blades of different sizes are strapped to my torso under my suit jacket. They’re custom made, slim and sleek, so that they’re not visible through my clothes.
My watch vibrates, and a grin spreads on my face as I look down at it.
“Spider caught the first flies.”
We direct our attention to the double glass doors that open onto the patio. That’s where our guards have inconspicuously detained two large gentlemen and their partners, trying to get into the mansion disguised as guests. I can tell from their sour expressions that they’re pissed.
Sade and I start toward the prisoners like a team of well-oiled terminators while Carlton and Damon remain behind, following the prisoners’ poorly disguised gazes to where others like them lurk. But neither my brother nor I can hold back a glance toward Eva and Justine as we walk past them.
“I thought you’d bring Justine somewhere safe tonight,” I say through my teeth, wishing I could have done the same for Eva. I fucking hate it that this whole operation depends on her.
“Don’t you think I tried?” Sade grumbles, focused on the woman he loves with nuclear intensity. “But she wouldn’t leave her friend alone tonight. I insisted and even threatened, but she wouldn’t have any of it.”
A claw lacerates my chest as I rip my gaze away from Eva, my focus zeroing in on the prisoners. My arms flex under my suit. Maybe I should splinter their heads open right now, and then rush her to safety. That would kill all our chances of getting to the snake’s head, but I’m tempted to just say fuck it. With every step I feel it deeper—nothing is more important than keeping her safe. But I know she wouldn’t want that. She’s determined to go all in on this, to get it over with and win her freedom from Romano.
And I’ll make sure she gets that or I’ll die trying.
“Seems our girls are queens in their own right. They have the same loyalty to each other the Kings have amongst ourselves,” I mutter.
“Justine sure does.”
I snap a glance at him. “Eva would do anything for her friends. All she had growing up was her younger sister Goldie, who was diagnosed with serious mental health—”
Sade holds up his hand to stop me. “I’m not questioning Eva’s dedication to her friends.”
I cock an eyebrow. “It sure as fuck sounds like you are.”
“She was on Justine’s and my side when no one gave us a shot, remember? I’m just saying, she has been keeping secrets, and that shit doesn’t go well with loyalty.”
