She was lethal. She was the Ghost of Olympus, and she was the only woman in this godforsaken city dark enough to wear my crown.
I would burn Vegas to ash and sift through the cinders before I let Rhea or Zeno put a leash on her again.
My skin rippled with fear. If anything happened to her, I would never forgive myself.
“I know. thank you,” I replied, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “Just lock up, okay? I’m going to talk to my security head and send a few more men your way. You won’t even know they’re there.”
"Alright, Thal,” she said. I let out a sigh of relief, glad she wouldn’t argue. “Talk to you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Daph.”
I ended the call, but a heavy, unsettling feeling lingered in my chest. The thought of the long, restless hours ahead cast a shadow over my mind, each minute feeling like it was stretching on forever. I was tense and alert, like a coiled snake ready to strike at any moment. The elusive target seemed just out of reach, tempting me with its distance.
Fury burned inside me, fists clenched as I paced my suite, my eyes flickering between the surveillance feeds on my monitors. Every part of me was filled with anger and determination. I was unwavering in my resolve.
Rhea would be destroyed.
But I knew this victory wouldn’t be the end. I expected that someone else, stronger and more ruthless, would rise to take her place. The flow of power-hungry contenders would never stop.
Yet, amid the chaos, my resolve stayed firm. I would protect my empire at all costs, ready to face anyone who dared challenge me.
And I would die before I let anyone hurt Daphne.
“They think they can take my city? Let them try. But if they think they can take her? I’ll make sure their final moments are spent realizing they’ve invited the devil to their door.” I looked at the surveillance feeds, my face a mask of cold, unyielding stone. “Rhea is about to learn that some debts aren't paid in money. They’re paid in graves.”
Fifteen
ANIGHT OF DECISIONS
DAPHNE
Zeno spared no expense when constructing the Olympus Casino, pouring resources into every detail. His influence and wealth were undeniable, and this was beautifully reflected in the grandeur of my penthouse suite.
The penthouse was a masterpiece of gold and velvet, but as I looked at the extra guards Thal had posted at my door, it felt like a cage, all the same.
Zeno had kept me for his ego, a trophy to prove he’d fulfilled a debt. Thal kept me for his obsession. I’d traded one set of bars for another, and the terrifying part was how much I liked the new warden.
The plush black velvet couch had become my little nest, where I’d curl up surrounded by soft blankets and whatever book of poetry I was reading that day. I’d sip tea or wine and light a fire in the gas fireplace, which never actually put out much heat anyway.
I’d forget I was Zeno’s prize or Thal’s obsession. I’d close the curtains against the relentless, artificial neon of the Strip and pretend I was somewhere the sun didn't feel like a spotlight. I’d imagine a life where my father’s signature wasn't a currency and where the weight of a man's hand on my waist didn't feel like a claim.
But the velvet was too thick, the gold too bright. I was a weapon in a vault, not a girl in a library, and the time for pretending was over.
I pretended quite a bit, all the time. But now? My reality was staring me in the face with such bright clarity that I couldn’t pretend anymore.
“This will destroy Zeno,” I whispered to my empty living room.
I looked down at the reports I’d been analyzing for the last hour, in awe of the plan laid out before me. The syndicate’s plan had the power to take Zeno down and leave him with nothing.
A shiver ran down my spine, a cold dread mingling with the rush of my racing thoughts.
From what I pieced together, the syndicate’s plan was nothing short of catastrophic, total war, and the complete destruction of Zeno and Thal’s empires.
I muttered under my breath, “You’re one brutal bitch, Rhea.”
What would become of Zeno after all this? Or Thal? And myself? Where would I stand amidst the ruins?
A chill ran through me at the thought of this city under Rhea’s shadow, if she succeeded. Even as my stomach tightened with dread, I couldn’t deny that her plan was precise, sharp, and terrifyingly effective. It had a chilling logic, and I realized she’d found a way to wipe us all out.
