“I want your help securing my father’s main estate. Tomorrow. I need control, even if it's only for a few hours. In return you get the empire. I’m done with it.”
Igor leans forward, eyes gleaming. “You’re effectively a prisoner, aren’t you?”
My silence answers for me. Enrico tries to grab my hand to get my attention, but I pull away. Igor notices, but says nothing.
“So this is a desperate play from a desperate man,” Igor says, sitting back, exhaling cigar smoke through his nose. “How do I know you won’t fuck me over once you’ve got what you want?”
I turn to Enrico, who looks at me in a state of shock and horror.
“You’ll take him, the second born, as collateral.”
Enrico jerks back. “What? You’re a fucking traitor!”
I don’t flinch, as his words mean nothing to me. He means nothing.
“If something goes wrong, if I betray you. Kill him. Or use him as blackmail. That's your business.”
Igor's eyes light up with delight, like a cat being handed a bleeding mouse.
“Carlos…” Enrico growls, voice tight with disbelief. “You can’t be serious. You won’t get away with this.”
“I’m very serious,” I say coldly. “This is the only way, Igor. You want the empire? I’m handing it to you with a bow. All I want is a clean exit. My life back.”
Igor puffs on his cigar.
“Just out of interest, what's happening tomorrow that's worth all this?”
“We’re retrieving someone. Someone they hurt. I’m not letting it happen again.”
Igor's eyes narrow. “Ah, so it's true, then. The boy they whipped like a dog.”
I clench my jaw, resisting to comment. After a few more beats of silence, Igor says, “And the rest of your men?”
“More are coming in. Quietly, to remove the prisoner. I'll then secure the site and take care of some business. Then I walk. You move in. It’s yours.”
Igor's eyes move between us, lingering on Enrico who is standing stiffly, body full of rage.
“I like this,” Igor says at last. “I very much like this. You want out. I want in. The Silva holdings…” he grins. “A cherry on top.”
I let out a slow breath. I can’t fully relax, but the knot in my chest is starting to loosen.
“You’ll have him back in one piece,” Igor adds, flicking his ringed finger toward Enrico. “Unless you cross me.”
“I won’t. I have too much to gain.”
“Good,” Igor smiles, a mixture of cruel and pleased. “Then we have a deal.”
We shake hands, skin to skin, and the feel of it makes me want to throw up.
Enrico isn’t kicking off like I thought he would. He’s frozen in shock as two of Marin’s men flank him and walk him to the back door. He doesn’t look back. At least he has the intelligence to know when he has been beaten.
I turn and leave with Lucas, who follows behind me until we get to the car and get inside.
“This is a huge risk. Are you sure you’re doing the right thing?”
“No,” I murmur. “But it's the only card I've got left.”
As we drive back to the mansion, I stare up at the moon and get lost in the ethereal brightness of its glow. But it doesn’t bring peace.
