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Redmond descended without a word.
Chika grabbed my arm. “You shouldn’t.”
I knew that already.
I pulled away and followed.
Redmond wasn’t the deadliest Oligarch. That was Kaspar. He wasn’t the strongest, or the richest. But Redmond Orchard was ruthless and competent, and managed to overthrow one of the best leaders the Oligarchs had ever seen—who also happened to be his father.
He’d kill me in a heartbeat if it would advance his goals.
But he didn’t need to lure me into a basement trap in order to end my life. Even though I was building a power base, I was still weak. I didn’t have many soldiers, and I needed money and guns. I was trying to peel off parts of Maeve Thrush’s empire, but her cousins had already starting consolidating what was left around them. Maeve was once a well-connected Oligarch and leader of the Thrush family with a spy network spanning the globe, but now she was dead, and her holdings were split into pieces.
Redmond took us into another hallway at the base of the stairs. More lights flickered on and I slowed.
Guns hung from pegs on the walls. Hundreds of guns: pistols, machine guns, rifles. There were grenades and flak vests and bulletproof helmets. Night-vision goggles were lined up beside silencers. Redmond passed it all as if it held no importance to him.
But it was the arsenal I needed.
We reached a door at the end and he opened it. Inside was a large chamber with a single table in the center. All along the walls were shelving units stacked with shining, beautiful, perfect gold bars.
“Why are you showing me this?” I asked, refusing to go further.
Redmond reached the table, turned, and sat on top. He smiled, leaning back on his hands.
“I wanted you to see what I can offer.”
“This is a little heavy-handed, even for you.” I blinked a few times and tried to keep myself calm and composed. This always happened around people—my brain began to calculate all the different problems that could arise. It was maddening and drove me stupidly insane sometimes, especially when I couldn’t quiet the crazy screaming in my skull.
I walked closer to him. I took several deep breaths. Chika stayed close on my heels.
Redmond didn’t move, and his preternatural calm seeped into my bones.
The noise in my head dimmed.
It didn’t stop. It never stopped.
But it was like the volume turned down. Instead of a stadium of gibbering, shouting voices, it was more like a packed restaurant.
Loud, but not deafening.
It was a huge relief, and I didn’t understand why it was happening.
Redmond had no clue what was going on inside of me. Nobody fully understood what it was like to walk around with this broken head of mine. I kept it a secret from my supposed family, and never let even my closest friends know—not that I had any of those.
Sometimes I considered medication. There were probably therapists that could help.
But if anyone knew, they’d see my weakness, and they’d destroy me.
So I turned my weakness into strength. I learned to manage my dumb brain and powered through my discomfort. I used the ceaseless motion to my advantage where I could, and dulled it when I couldn’t.
This quieting was a new phenomenon. I’d never experienced it before, and I seemed to wither beneath Redmond’s stare. I felt heat in my cheeks from anger and something else—something more primal and stranger.
An urge I hadn’t felt in a very long time.
What was wrong with me?
Maybe all those golds bars were screwing with my mind.
“I know you’re struggling, Erin,” Redmond said softly, his voice echoing off all the hard metal.
Chika shifted behind me, moving to the side, getting a better line on him in case she had to attack.
Good old Chika. Always ready to kill.
“I’m not struggling as bad as you think.”
“Please. The last time we spoke, it was obvious. Now I’m sure of it.”
“And what makes you so sure?” I glared at him, barely containing my anger.
“You wouldn’t have followed me down here if you didn’t need something desperately.” He laughed and I wanted to clobber him with his own money.
Instead, I crossed my arms. “And you wouldn’t have shown me all this if you didn’t have an offer.” My stomach twisted. I knew what he was going to say next. He’d already said it once, but I was hoping he might change his mind.
But he hadn’t.
“My offer remains the same. I want to bring our great houses together. You, Erin Servant, will become my bride. In exchange, I’ll give you all the money and guns you need to kill all of Maeve’s cousins. We’ll claim her empire for ourselves and rule the Oligarchs with our combined power.” He beamed as he spoke, glowing with an inner light. “What do you say? I know you see how an alliance would be advantageous.”
