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Redmond angled toward a massive skyscraper. It was a glass and steel behemoth, the sort of monstrosity packed with different offices on each floor. Before we approached, he shoved a plastic card into my hand.
I looked down at it. My face smiled back—an old photo I’d posted online years ago. “What the hell?”
“Got to get past security. You work at Redmond Biotech, in case anyone asks.”
“Don’t worry,” Palmira said, “they won’t ask.”
I wanted to say more, but Redmond was already hurrying up a set of steps that led to the lobby. I stayed behind him, falling into his confident wake. He strolled through looking like he belonged, swiped his card at a turnstile, and went on through. Palmira was next, and I was last. We reached the elevators without any issues and only a cursory glance from the security guard.
“Twentieth floor,” Redmond murmured as we got onto the elevator. “Not a bad spot, all things considered.”
“It’s really convenient, being an Oligarch, isn’t it?” I nudged up against Redmond and held up the fake keycard. “This sort of thing would take me weeks to put together. You did it in days.”
“Money makes the world run.” He shrugged, grinning, and I was almost taken in by that boyish smirk. He could be so damn charming when he wanted to be, and it drove me wild.
The elevator doors opened with a ding and Redmond went to step out—
But several large men in dark suits were waiting.
Palmira reacted faster than I could think. She ducked forward, darting ahead past Redmond, and threw herself into the closest man. Although he was twice her size, she hit him like a hurricane, blasting her knee into his groin before pulling a gun from a holster hidden beneath her dark formal jacket. The man she’d attacked crumpled in pain, moaning as she aimed her weapon at her next target’s face.
“Stop,” Redmond barked as Palmira’s lips pulled back in a snarl.
The four remaining men stepped away from her in unison. Two pulled weapons, and the other two looked more stunned than angry. The last guy rolled sideways like a log.
Palmira moved the gun from target to target. “Anyone so much as breathes wrong and I will kill you.” Her voice was steady and calm, and I believed her.
The men did too. Their leader was a tall pale-skinned man with thick sunglasses and an ugly buzz cut. He raised his hands, but looked at Redmond.
“Kaspar sent us.”
Palmira’s gun didn’t waver. Redmond stepped up next to her and put a hand on her wrist.
“Palm,” he said.
She let out a grunt and allowed him to lower her weapon.
He nodded to her and she nodded back before he turned to the group of soldiers.
“What in the seven flying fucks does Kaspar want?”
The leader grimaced. “He sent a message.”
Redmond stepped up to him. “It’d better be a good message, otherwise I can’t promise Palm here won’t put holes in you all.”
“He says to leave the lawyer alone. He says to stay out of Cosima’s business. He says he’s watching.”
The man flinched as Redmond let out a long breath.
“Damn Kaspar,” he said, shaking his head. “I should kill you all and send you back in pieces. That could stand as my response.”
“I don’t think my employer would appreciate that,” the leader said, glancing at Palmira. “He said not to hurt anyone, if that helps.”
“It doesn’t.” Redmond turned away, pacing. The lobby of the law practice was quiet and empty. There was a sitting area not far away and a receptionist’s desk, but nobody was there. “Tell your boss we need to talk.”
Palmira grunted. “I say we kill them here and go drag that lawyer out into the street.”
“Good thing you’re not in charge.” Redmond gave her a sharp look.
The leader looked between them like he was watching two rabid dogs fight. “I’ll pass the word along. Only, I can’t let you through.”
Palmira took a step forward. “Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do.”
“Palm.” Redmond’s tone was hard. “Put the gun away.”
Palmira’s disgust was obvious, but she obeyed. Once the weapon was back in its holster, Kaspar’s men relaxed, though I noticed none of them put their guns away.
“Let me fix this.” I spoke more to break the tension than anything else, but a plan began to form in my mind. I could see the possibilities, shimmering like visual artifacts on the edges of my mind. “I think I can talk sense into them.”
Redmond frowned at me. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Let me talk to Penny.”
The leader looked uncomfortable. “I don’t have any contact with Kaspar’s wife.”
I grimaced. Wife. I knew, and yet hearing the words still sent a tingle of shock down my spine. I sold her to him like she was cattle—like our family would’ve sold me, given the chance.
It worked out for her. But how many women in our position could say that? So many passed through the halls of power, and so many were relegated to the shadows, forced to keep quit, have babies, follow orders. I didn’t want any of that, but I pushed it on someone else for my own selfish reasons.
