Page 177 of Fall Before Her Throne

“Good.” Bullets pelted the fire escape. Screams and shouts from the above balcony still echoed all around us. We fired back, dashing downward. Run, jump. Run, jump. Down each floor until we got close to the ground. I jumped the last level, landing on the hard concrete with a thunk.

A car screeched to a halt at the end of the street. Caspian sat in the driver’s seat.

“Come on!”

Max and I sprinted towards it. We hopped in the open doors and sped away, leaving Greco’s event in chaos behind us.

56

LEONA

“Well,” I said, trying to insert some levity into our silent car ride. “I think that was a very nice party.”

Ryuji snorted from the front seat. Cas still drove, and Obi and Max had crammed into the back. Ciel was typing on his laptop, no doubt trying to cover our trail.

“We should throw a gala next time,” I continued. “Let’s invite all the criminal underground from across the world. Let’s also invite all the state’s most elite politicians and lawmakers. You know what? Why stop there? How about we go bigger? Let’s invite the President. I feel like I can throw a better party than Greco.”

Wynn put a hand on mine. “I don’t think you’re helping your case, darling.”

I pouted. “Just trying to lighten the mood.”

“We’re lucky we got out of there alive,” Max said.

“How did you like jumping from the roof?” Cas asked.

“Not a fan,” Max answered, chuckling. “I was fucking terrified. Thanks for getting us out of there, Obi.”

Obi nodded. “Despite the…surprises of the evening, I think we got the information we needed. There’s no way the mayor will align herself with Greco after that debacle. The police commissioner has also clearly chosen a side.”

“I’ve got his blackmail ready,” Ciel said, looking down at his keyboard. “I can send it whenever.”

“Let’s wait until morning, just in case,” Obi said. “He might choose to distance himself, though I think he fears Greco more than he fears us.”

“I agree,” Max added.

We spent the rest of the car ride debriefing. It lulled me into a false sense of security, so I had no idea what waited for me when we finally returned home.

I stretched my arms over my head as we walked inside. “Ah, I can’t wait to get out of this dress—” Obi wrapped an arm around me and threw me over his shoulder. “Hey!”

He smacked my ass. “Be quiet.”

I wiggled and struggled, but then his palm clamped down on my thigh hard, and I squealed. “What are you doing?!”

“You’re overdue for this,” he said, hand spreading from my thigh up to my ass while he carried me through the kitchen. The guys talked in the living room, and my cheeks heated.

“For what?” I asked innocently, even though I knew exactly what he was talking about.

“You know what, hanii.” Ryu laughed when he saw me hanging over Obi’s shoulder. My eyes went wide when I spotted all the furniture moved away from its place in the living room, and two mattresses lined up side by side, filled with pillows and sheets.

The big bed.

“I have no idea!”

Obi set me down right at the edge of the bed, but before he could push me backward, I dashed away and darted to the other side of the couch. The room went quiet as he and I stared at each other.

“Oooo,” Ryu teased. “You’re making it worse.”

My heart leapt into my throat, remembering the last time Obi had “punished” me. My core clenched just thinking about the way he’d held me down and spanked me before fingering me until I begged to come.