Page 173 of Fall Before Her Throne

“Oh? Why is that?”

A fist pounded on the door. Both of us jumped, but I instantly had my fingers around my knife and my arm in front of Josephine.

“Baby girl?” Ciel’s voice called. “Is everything all right?”

I let out a breath and relaxed. “Fine, Ciel!” I called. “Sorry, almost done!”

“That’s the boyfriend?” she asked.

I laughed. “One of them.”

Her eyebrow raised.

“Do we need to come in?” Ciel called again. “Someone out here is getting antsy about how quiet you are.”

Shit. My ear comms were still off. “Got it! Anyway, Josephine, I’m glad we met. I’ll get right to the point. I was just curious if you knew who was throwing this event?”

She clasped her hands in front of her dress. “Cornerstone Industries is throwing the fundraiser.”

“Yeah, but do you know who owns it?”

“Piero Greco,” she responded. Her lips pursed. “If you’re asking if I know who he is, I’m aware.”

She knew, and she still showed up to feed into the pomp and circumstance. Now it was my turn to raise an eyebrow. “And do you plan to accept his funding tonight? Or funding from the donors he’s collected?”

“I’m not sure that’s any of your business, Miss Vero.”

“It’s not, but he’s a dangerous man⁠—”

“Like your father,” she interrupted.

Slowly, I nodded. “Yes. Like my father. Except so much worse.”

“And do you share any similarities with Piero Greco, Miss Vero?”

I let out a breath. “Enough to know to warn you.”

“Warn me?”

“He is not in New York for simple business, or whatever it is he’s told you. He’ll bring more crime than this city has ever seen before⁠—”

“Let me stop you right there, Leona,” Josephine said. “I know exactly who you are. I know who the Shadows are. I know who the Camorra is. If you’re trying to tell me you will be any better than Piero Greco, I’m going to have a hard time believing you. Organized crime is organized crime. It’s all bad for the city.”

“You’re not wrong,” I argued. “But he wants you under his control⁠—”

“And you’re no different,” she countered. “I believe that meeting here in the bathroom was by chance, but you can’t pretend that you aren’t also trying to buy or control me.”

My lips pressed into a line. “I don’t give a fuck about controlling you. I’m certainly not involved in anything criminal—” she chuckled and rolled her eyes, but I pressed on, “—but if I was, I would know we are natural enemies. That’s how this city works. But Greco is already staking his claim on this city’s politics and its leaders.”

“Oh, really? It’s leaders?” She bristled, scoffing. “I’m sorry, Leona, but this city has seen its fair share of the mafia. We’re not afraid of you, nor do we bend to your whims.”

“I want nothing from you except your caution,” I said. “I offer you no money or no deals. Only facts. Greco is not your friend, even if he might promise to be. I’m not your friend either, but I’m not asking to be.”

I pulled the thumb drive from its hidden place inside my dress.

“Here,” I said, extending it toward her. “Take this. Just…look at what’s on it. Don’t agree to anything Greco wants until you’ve seen it. You can’t trust him, and you can’t trust the men around you either. They’re all dirty and corrupt. You seem like you’re different, otherwise I wouldn’t even be here.”

“Yet you want me to believe I can trust you.” She hesitated, but something in my voice or face must have convinced her. Her fingers plucked the drive from my grip. “I know you employ one of the world’s most dangerous hackers. Is there anything I should be wary of on this drive?”