“But let’s be honest. A man like Konflict needs a real woman by his side. And what do you have left? Less than a month before this farce of a marriage ends, right eh? I’m here to make you an offer. Everybody knows Konflict’s going to finish you on your one-year anniversary. I’m giving you a way out.”
She rose from her seat and crossed the room, with confidence she had not earned, dropping an envelope onto my desk as if she owned the space and expected me to fall in line. Every instinct in me wanted to put her back in her place, but curiosity took over so I picked it up and opened it.
A check for millions sat inside along with a purchase contract for my casino.
I lifted my eyes to her and let a cold smile settle on my lips. I slid the papers back toward her and laced my fingers together before leaning forward. My gaze held her in place and did not waver.
“You actually thought you could buy my casino? You’re even more entertaining than I thought.”
She grinned. “And I thought you were smart. You should know the Sawyer’s are joining the Big Six today. The Veylor’s are history. I’ll have immunity and power; you’ll have nothing but a Korven name to hide behind. But guess what, your husband wants you dead. You won’t be untouchable for long. I’m offering you the only way to walk out of this alive. Take my deal and leave tonight. I’ll help you disappear and the Sawyer’s will protect you. You could go hide out with your uncle in Newfoundland and Labrador. It doesn’t matter. I’m your only real chance. The offer’s only good today.”
My blood heated and I felt it boil under my skin, but my facestayed perfectly still. I had despised her arrogance the first time we crossed paths. Now it stirred something darker. I had never wanted to kill anyone, always stayed away from the violence that shaped my world, but in that moment—I wanted to break her down piece by piece.
I leaned forward and lowered my voice.
“Listen close, I won’t repeat myself. Pick up that shit you left on my desk and get out before I show you I’m not as cute as you think. If you were actually smart, you’d quit this act now. There’s one thing Konflict hates more than anything—someone playing with his name. And like it or not, I’m still a Korven. Until that changes, you should watch yourself.”
She laughed in a slow and cruel way and never once broke eye contact, then she reached for her phone and hit play on a video. No sound came with the footage, but the image was just enough to make everything unmistakable. She was on a bed with her legs spread, the sheets rumpled beneath her, the room unmistakably intimate. Konflict stood there with a towel wrapped low around his waist while Eleana touched herself, eyes on Konflict before she stood and ripped the towel away, pressing herself against him. The video ended there, unfinished, but it had already done its damage.
Rage tore through me in a violent surge, acid burning straight through my chest. My throat tightened until it felt impossible to breathe. I knew he’d been with her, but seeing it broke something within me. I had no right to be jealous, not after I fucked another man myself, but that didn’t stop the anger or the urge to kill this bitch.
She held my gaze without blinking.
“I’ll save you the rest. Just know he fucked me good.Yesterday. If you think something’s still possible between you, wake up. Konflict hates you. He’s counting down the days until he can put you down. Don’t be stupid, take my offer. It’s allyou’ve got. And trust me or not, even though I want you gone sooner rather than later, I’m doing this because I’m generous and don’t wish for you to end up six feet in the ground.”
My face emptied of all expression as I rose from my chair and crossed the room with steady steps. I stopped at my safe, punched in the code without hesitation, and pulled out my Glock. I’d never fired it before, never needed to, but I’d kept it close since that argument with Viking. Just in case someone wanted to try me again. Kate had always said a woman in our world had to know how to pull the trigger when the moment came. I turned, leveled the gun, and without a second of doubt, put a bullet in Eleana’s shoulder. The shot was clean, tearing through flesh, smashing into the wall behind her.
She screamed, the sound ripping through the office, every trace of arrogance she had draining from her face and leaving nothing but terror behind.
She clutched her shoulder where blood spilled freely, her eyes filling as her body began to shake uncontrollably. I stepped closer with the Glock still in my hand and locked my gaze on hers, making sure she saw it clearly. There was no fear in me.
“I didn’t miss,” I said. “Inevermiss. My husband’s mother taught me how to shoot, drilled me for years. Every time she set up a target, I hit exactly where she told me to aim.”
I leaned in until my face was inches from hers and never broke eye contact.
“She used to say if I ever got tired of being the cute little princess everyone saw, I’d make a damn good sniper. So listen up, Eleana, next time I pull this trigger, the bullet goes between your eyes. And after that, I’ll cut your pussy off and have it delivered to my husband, since he seems to appreciate it. The rest of you will go back to your family in a box. Because, honey, I’m not ascuteas you think I am. Now pick your ass up and get out of my office before my finger slips on a second shot.”
My tone never wavered and my eyes stayed empty. She understood every word.
She scrambled for her bag, grabbed the envelope, and staggered toward the door, blood soaking through her jacket as her confidence bled out with it. She turned back once, desperation forcing one last attempt at a threat.
“You just made a huge mistake, Serenity Veylor. You don’t touch a member of the Big Six. My family won’t let this go.” Her voice shook.
I smiled.
“Tell Konflict he better kill me quick when this marriage ends. Because if he doesn’t, I’ll be the one finishing this war, and you’d better believe I’ll make sure you’re a beautiful little casualty I drag down with me.”
The fear on her face was the last thing I saw before she stumbled out. Moments later, Kalash and Valery rushed into the office, the smell of gunpowder still hanging heavily in the air.
“What the hell was that about?” Valery demanded.
I ignored her and turned to Kalash instead.
“I guess you’ll be reporting this to your boss, right? Tell him if his whore ever steps foot in my casino again, I’ll kill her. And since I’m still a Korven, that’ll put him at war with the Sawyer’s. I’d love to see what Emberwick looks like when Konflict Korven has to defend a Veylor because the code demands it.”
My jaw stayed set and my voice was nothing but ice.
Kalash just nodded, reading the threat for what it was. Valery looked worried, but I didn’t have time to explain a damn thing. I just needed to get out of there.
