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X marks the spot.
The fact it’s drawn in crimson red lipstick does little to dissuade my suspicions.
“I told you I wanted her found, and I meant it.” My voice cinches with the onslaught of anger that gathers in a fever pitch. “And if none of you can find her, I’ll draw her out myself.”
“And how do you suppose you’re going to do that when you’re wrapped up in meetings from here until eternity?”
People assume I started to step into my role long before Nicolas died, and in a way, I did. He drew me in, took me under his blooded wing, and taught me things I had no right to know—not without sharing his blood.
It enabled me to dabble in duties, meet associates, and really pick up momentum in the sort of line of work.
My life was already a multitude of round table meetings, scaring subordinates, and working out how to diversify so that The Company remained without too much detection.
Sebastian didn’t know I was acquainted with the officials who kept our secrets, of the locations that went without scrutiny that laundered the money we put out in the world, nor did he have a clue of the price of goods we pushed.
He might be my right-hand man, but only the privileged have full disclosure.
With all of the newfound responsibility came fresh ties. Men who Nicolas consorted and worked closely with were suddenly answering to me, as if Nicolas knew his time was coming.
I had to make a fresh army to do my bidding, trust in the men my father and Nicolas always had, and see if those who had been by my side matched to them.
“I have my ways.”
“You have your ways?” Sebastian queries, cocking a brow. “You haven’t asked anyone for help until yesterday, so what ways do you have?”
“An associate is on the case already.”
I can see the hurt that flashes in his eyes momentarily.
“I knew you would,” he comments, clearing his throat. “Always were too impatient.”
“What did you expect of me, Sebastian?”
We stare at one another across the expanse of the deli, bodies we didn’t put there at our feet.
“You’re good, but I have to be better. You’re meant to be a step of ahead me and I’m meant to be five ahead of you. You’ve seen how this game works. I’m not here to fail. She’s a problem.”
“I know she’s a problem,” he bites back, shaking his head. “But ye of little faith decided to go solo and trust men who don’t know how you operate.”
“No, but they know how The Company operates. There is so much you’ve got to learn and prove.”
“Oh, so this is all now a test, is it?”
“Stop being precious.” I laugh mirthlessly. “We all know your spot isn’t threatened, but my father wants to make sure you’re made of the right stuff.”
He guffaws at me, and I don’t blame him. Sebastian has been more loyal than most, has cleaned up a lot of my messes, and remained by my side. He has nothing to prove to me, but I want my father to see that while he had Nicolas, I’ve had Sebastian.
Once before, I believed Natalia was my equal. Then our world imploded around us, and left in the ashes was Sebastian, waiting to pull me back together and show me that while she closed a chapter on our lives, he would also make sure I made it through to the next.
I draw in a lungful of the putrid air, allowing the burn of copper and decay to assault me.
This is where it all changes.
The game, the plan, the business.
My life.
With the stroke of lipstick and a couple of dead bodies, everything shifts. The very moment my father gets so much as a whiff of this, he’ll fight me tooth and nail for the power and authority, and I’m not about to let him have the satisfaction.
