Daphne? The name lingered in the air as I processed it. “Are you sure?”
James nodded. “Yeah. I'm not sure how they’re planning to do it, but it’s obvious they’re trying to insert themselves into the relationships of all the casino owners. It’s like they’re hunting for vulnerabilities.”
A cold realization swept over me. “That sounds like something Rhea would do.”
James’s eyes flickered with concern. “They’re actively searching for flaws in everyone’s operations. It’s likely they believe Daphne is unhappy with her situation with Zeno.”
The possibility's weight hung over us, heavy and impossible to ignore.
“Not a stretch at all. In fact, Zeno seems to be the one who remains oblivious to it.”
“Willful ignorance, you think?”
“Probably,” I replied with a shrug, the gesture casual but filled with underlying tension. “But he needs to wake up soon. Rhea’s overall plan seems to be creating chaos, stirring controversy, and turning Vegas’s key players against each other.”
“Which is why you, Zeno, and Aidon need to stay on high alert,” he said.
I nodded, eyes fixed on the screen as I watched flames engulf Zeno’s warehouse. Located deep in the desert, far from Zeno’s other buildings, the warehouse was reported to be mostly empty, aligning with James’s discovery that they aimed to blame Daphne.
Their goal wasn’t to destroy anything of real value in Zeno's operations, at least not at first. It was about causing discord, planting seeds of doubt, and encouraging mistrust.
“Rhea’s cunning,” I admitted.
“She’s a ruthless cunt, if you ask me,” James said, and I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
“That she is, my friend,” I agreed. “That she is.”
“I’m heading down for a meeting with my guards,” he said, standing up. “Anything I can do for you right now?”
“No, brother, I’m good, thank you,” I said. “I just need to think.”
“You know how to find me.”
He walked out of the room, leaving me alone with the massive monitors flickering in front of me.
I hit rewind, the image of the blooming orange fire reflecting in my pupils. I didn't feel anger. I felt a cold clarity.
Rhea believed she was a lion, but in reality, she was a scavenger trying to lay claim to my queen. She thought she was playing for power and percentages, but she’d made the one mistake a predator couldn't survive: she’d tried to put a price tag on the only thing in this city I’d already claimed as mine.
Rhea thought I was the neutral party. I couldn’t wait to show her that a man who had something to lose was the most dangerous motherfucker in the room.
A cold, dark thrill raced through my veins. If Rhea wanted to claim Daphne as currency, she was too late. I didn't care about the "blood debt" or what Daphne's father had signed away. In this city, possession was ten-tenths of the law. Zeno might have "inherited" her, and Rhea might "owe" her, but I was the one who was going to keep her.
Daphne never requested to be involved in this complicated world. She was born into its chaos and now carried the burdenof its pain. Her life appeared to be in jeopardy, threatened by the accusations and risks surrounding her.
If Zeno believed such a blatant lie that Daphne was responsible for destroying one of his properties, it could shatter whatever fragile trust was left between them, possibly even more than uncovering the truth about me.
I couldn’t be sure, but I knew that no matter what happened, I had to do everything I could to lessen the impact and steer the storm away from her.
Aidon’s warning about a soft spot echoed through the room, but it was just noise. I wasn't going to step back to manage this safely. Safety was for men who didn't know what it felt like to have Daphne’s legs wrapped around their waists.
The risk wasn't a deterrent, but the fuel. Rhea wanted to use Daphne as a pawn? I’d turn the board into a funeral pyre. There was no more questioning. Only the hunt remained.
If Rhea planned to treat Daphne as currency, I was going to show her exactly what happened when you tried to spend someone else’s soul.
I could fucking do this. We could fucking do this.
Once we banded together, Rhea wouldn’t know what hit her. I needed to hold onto this anger and let it burn inside me like a roaring, uncontrollable wildfire. If Rhea planned to use Daphne, as she had already indicated, then I would show her no mercy.
