And my medicine. But he won’t give that to me, so I’ll make damn sure I find The Red Dock myself.
No one moves. Even the air feels like it’s holding its breath.
Luca scans my face, probably wondering why I’m not trembling. Wondering if I really meant what I said. That I’d let my own father bleed out in the mess he made.
I do.
He finally breaks the silence, turning to Chris. “If they see her there—if word gets out she was at Konfetki—it could ruin everything. Instead of turning on each other, they’ll come straight for us—”
“They won’t,” I cut him off. “I know you don’t believe me, but my father would never risk anything for me. He’ll just hand Ivan Diana.”
Luca’s brow twitches, clearly not used to being interrupted. “He could refuse. And then what?”
A bitter laugh escapes me.
“You don’t know how irrelevant we are to him. I wasn’t his first choice. It was always Diana.” I take a breath. “I took her place because I wanted to save her.”
Now all eyes are on me.
They didn’t know that.
“My father won’t chase me if he has her to finish the deal... but I wasn’t easy to get rid of either. I ran Konfetki my whole life. I know every brick, every soul in that place. And as for being recognized—” I step closer, lifting my chin, finally meeting Luca’s gray—not silver—eyes.
“They won’t.”
“How are you so sure?” he challenges.
“Because I spent years making sure the Konfetki girls’ identities stay hidden. None of you even knew Diana and I existed until the deal with Ivan, I’m sure. If there’s one thing I’m good at—it’s running that place like a goddamn ghost. And I know the best way in.”
Luca snaps his head toward Mariano. I don’t know what passes between them, but Mariano nods once.
Luca turns back to me. “Fine. But Malec should be on his way back with Pedro. When he gets here, we start.”
Maleciandro.
Why does my heart skip a beat?
Please don’t let him be late. Novax is only there over the weekends. I cannot afford to miss him.
Hold on, Di, I'm coming.
Malec
"What are you doing here?" I ask as we leave the main gate, my uncle’s face popping into view, gliding right in front of me.
It can’t be a good sign—if he came here, he came to get me.
“Trouble at home.” He shrugs, frowning as his gaze lands on Onyx’s body, still unconscious in my hold.
He doesn’t say anything, though, just quickly peeks over my shoulder, probably looking for his wife and son.
"Pedro!" Bay’s excited voice makes me wince. That high-pitched tone she saves only for him. Gods help me, if she keeps it up all the way back, I’m diving back into that merhell of a chamber myself.
Myko stayed out of Bay this time, thinking it’d be safer in case the dragonfish surprise us again—or the king decides to vent his bruised ego.
“Trouble at home?” I repeat, just as Bay coils her tail with Pedro’s, her arms wrapping around his neck as he pulls her in and kisses her like it’s been ages.
“Ugh.” Alessio joins us, visibly fighting the urge to curse.
