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“I can’t stay out of this. This is August family business and I’m the heir to—”
“No, you’re not. You’re Mackenzie Malloy.” Antony’s jaw clenches. “You can’t be Claudia August. If you become Claudia August, we lose everything we’ve worked for.”
Goddammit.
I want to tear my hair out. I’m so deep in this even I can’t remember who I’m supposed to be.
“The real Mackenzie Malloy is running loose around the city, taking potshots at us,” I bite back. “So what’s the point in Germany? She might not even be the worst of our problems.”
“She shot you. I consider that a big fucking problem.”
“With Brutus gone, what’s going to happen to our family?” My voice rises as the question tumbles out. I feel faint at the thought of what Antony might say.
“What do you think?” Antony shoots back. “You have practically no relatives left. Brutus had them all murdered so he could hold on to his power. He couldn’t risk any of them staying loyal to Julian. You never met your cousin Marco, Brutus’ son. He was only eight years old when his father fed him to the beasts. That way, Marco could never grow up to betray Brutus the way he betrayed his brother.”
Shit.
His own son.
That’s what being an accursed man does to you – in the end, you’re devoured by your own betrayal.
“What about you?” I peer at Antony, trying to reconcile his disgusted face with the man I saw at the Colosseum, basking in the grim spectacle of a man being torn to shreds by a lion.
Antony shrugs. “I’m not blood. I don’t matter.”
The Triumvirate’s rules are clear – only blood relations can inherit an empire. But I’d seen the crowd at the Colosseum defer to Antony, felt their excitement and bloodlust as he took to the arena to announce the next act. My cousin has power in our world, power he earned, which makes him dangerous, and useful. “You seem to be doing okay.”
“Yes, as Brutus’ tribune. A job I only took to keep us both alive. And now my head will be first on the chopping block no matter which way this swings.”
My jaw clenches. I hadn’t thought of that, but he’s right. One of two things will happen now – either some distant third-cousin-twice-removed who can claim a drop of August blood will step up to take over, or Nero and Constantine will tear our empire down the middle and share it amongst themselves. Either way, they’ll want to get rid of Antony – who has enough clout among Brutus’ supporters to rally against them. The memory of Brutus taking the August empire by force still burns bright in everyone’s mind – they won’t risk it happening again.
“Fuck.” I sink my head into my hands. Even in death, Brutus is screwing over my family. “What do we do?”
“I’m going to Nero. I need to try to make an alliance with him before Saturnalia. I know enough of Brutus’ secrets that I should be able to bargain for my life and freedom if I hand over everything. You do nothing,” Antony glares at me as he fastens his tie. “It’s a little over a month until your birthday, when we can claim ownership of this house. The plan still stands – we’re getting out of the family. It’s much easier to get out if the family doesn’t exist anymore.”
He’s right. I know he’s right. And yet, a prickle of indignation flickers in my veins. This is Daddy’s legacy. I thought I could walk away from it, but that was when I had no other choice.
I thought the August name would continue without me, but I didn’t know Brutus murdered his own son.
I’m the last August left.
What Antony’s talking about is obliterating everything I am from history.
I don’t tell Antony what I’m thinking. I let him believe he’s mollified me for now. Antony has kept his secrets well these past few years – he’s made me realize I need to hold mine close, even from him.
“But that brings us around to Mackenzie again. One call to city hall and she’ll destroy the whole plan. She could have us evicted.” As much as Malloy Manor has become my prison, I’ve come to think of it as mine – my home. The thought of losing it now, when we are so so close, makes my blood boil.
“Exactly. But she hasn’t done it, not in all these years. Instead, she’s holding Brutus captive in a shack in the desert and raining bullets down on you. She’s not after this house. So what is she after? If you go to Germany, you might figure that out. And you’ll be away from Emerald Beach when shit hits the fan.”
Antony leans back on his bed, tossing his hands casually behind his head. I notice a lipstick stain on his collar – not surprising; he’s king of the hottest underground club in the city and he’s fucking gorgeous. I’d be all over him if he wasn’t like a brother to me.
Wait, I take back that thought. Gross.
There’s a coughing sound in the doorway. I whirl around, my fingers brushing the knife in my sleeve.
George flinches when she sees my expression, obviously expecting a blade to go flying. “Um, sorry to interrupt again. But the door was open and I—”
“It’s fine. I’m just having a fruitless conversation with my halfwit cousin who thinks now is a great time to skip school to chase wild geese along the Rhine.” I roll my eyes.
