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“How could I forget?”
“I don’t mean in general, Nyx,” she explained. “I’m talking about something specific. It would’ve been the first time you met Renard. He came to visit Etienne.”
Shit.
All these years later, as a free, grown ass man, and their names still sent a tight feeling through my chest.
“Yeah, I remember,” I assured her. “He wanted to take me with him and Etienne wouldn’t let him. But it never felt like it was about protecting me. It was more like…”
“Protecting an asset,” Alicia filled in for me. “Something wasoffwith Renard. I mean, the whole thing was fucked up, buthimespecially. Did you know he was the one who startedThe Garden?”
I shook my head. “No. Why would I?”
“You’re right,” she agreed. “It’s not common information. I’m not even sure I’m supposed to know. It just keeps playing in my mind. I overheard them arguing about the direction ofThe Garden. Etienne seemed kind and merciful, compared to his brother.”
“Nowthat’shilarious,” I scoffed. “You must not know how shit started going down after you left.”
She shook her head. “No, I’m well aware. Don’t get me wrong, Etienne Belrose is an evil motherfucker. But Renard is worse. And that’s frightening.”
I chuckled. “What, you think you’re going to say his name in a mirror five times and he’s going to appear?”
“I think he’s already here,” she said, and the smile slipped off my face.
“I… thought he was dead.”
“So did I,” she nodded. “But those evil old men… they always hang in there for the long haul, don’t they?”
I leaned in over the table. “What makes you so sure?”
“I’m notsure,” she clarified. “There are rumors of him being stateside. I don’t know if he’s here for revenge against me for taking his brother down, or to rebuildThe Garden, or just to see the sights… I don’t know. But what Idoknow is, we have to be careful. We have to watch out for each other.”
“So then what was that about not wanting any collateral damage, not wanting me to be a bad example of the ink and shit?”
“All of that is still valid,” she said. “It’s part of looking out for each other. We can’t make ourselves unnecessary targets. Renard Belrose comes here, what do you think is going to happen? You think he’snotgoing to buy the police? You get arrested with those thorns on your arm,what do you think will happen?”
I shrugged. “I’m not afraid to die.”
She leaned across the table too, getting right in my face. “He’s not going to kill you, Nyx. He’s going toplay your song.”
Shit.
I blew out a sigh.
I didn’t want to let it show on my face, but honestly… that shit sent a chill up my spine.
“What is it you want from me?” I asked her.
“I want you to be safe. I want you to be whole.”
“That ship has sailed. What else?”
Her eyes narrowed. “What are you doing in Vegas?” she asked me again.
“I told you, I like the casinos. And I made a few friends.” I shrugged. “Came for the slot machines, stayed for the brotherhood,” I said, smirking as I pointed at thePredatorsink on my neck.
She stared at me for a long moment, then shook her head. I could tell she wasn’t convinced, but I wasn’t sure I needed her to be.
“I’m not going to have anybody watch you, Nyx,” she said, after a moment had passed. “I don’t think you’re telling me the whole story, but I don’t get the feeling you’re here for any trouble either. With yourformerbrotherhood that is.”
