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Her intelligence was my favorite trait, but the similarities between us ended there. She was a woman of intellect, not action; whereas I thrived in chaos and was reborn in disasters. The feeling of being immoral in this corrupt world brought nothing but vanity. And that arrogance, after theyearsI’d lived in captivity, was deserved, it was needed. It was what freedom felt like.
I ignored her prying and instead steered the conversation in the direction I needed. “The man who took out the hit is called Martin Emmerson; however, there’s someone bigger in the picture. He’s just a pawn.”
Confusion creased her features. “That’s information that’s easily accessible to the Pakhan.”
“Yes, but if the person controlling him is who I think it is, Aleksei will need hard evidence, and you work the quickest.”
“I might need your assistance.” Rhea threw the bone and I gladly took it.
“Of course.” I smiled. “Getting information out of people the hard way is my favorite pastime.”
Rhea straightened her back and poured me another glass of drink. She was in business mode, and her face told me she’d already decided on a price.
“I don’t want money,” she told me. “I owe you one; however, this is huge, and you and I both know I could easily get in deep shit with both the Pakhan and my brother.”
The last card was about to be dealt, and I was the winner. “I’m aware. Once all of this is said and done, I’ll grant you what you wish the most.”
Her eyes twinkled.
The few hours we’d spent sharing a cell had been filled with a drunk Rhea expressing her undying feelings for a certain man in my family. With a little bit of a push, I could make their paths cross in a way that wouldn’t be suspicious—though what happened after that would be out of my hands, and none of my concern.
“Then, my lady, you just got yourself a deal.”
We clinked our glasses together.
Rhea was more than comfortable chatting about recent events that had taken place within her household. At twenty-four, she was still living with her parents, though not by choice. They wouldn’t allow her to move out until she was married to a man they’d chosen for her.
She’d tried to run away but had been dragged home from the airport. The consequences hadn’t been nearly as terrible as the ones I’d encountered, but I still sympathized with her frustrations.
No matter how pretty a prison was, it was still a prison.
A small grin tugged on the corner of my lips. “And tonight’s entertainment just arrived.”
Rhea groaned at the sight of her older brother with a woman on his arm. “Please, if you do end up playing together, go easy on him. I don’t want to listen to how you beat him again for the next four months.”
“Go easy? Not a chance. I brought money this time.”
She winced. “Then at least don’t call him a sore loser, I’m begging you.”
I grimaced as I stared at my empty glass then poured another whiskey. I was on my fifth drink in an hour, and as resistant to alcohol as I was, I was still human—another couple of glasses and I’d be drunk.
The last time I saw Helios I hadn’t been sober, and drunk me wasn’t pleasant to be around. What was worse was that I’d never lived it down, but I had almost no recollection of what had occurred that night, aside from there being a lot of alcohol and marijuana.
I stood up and straightened my dress, my small purse in my hand, then walked slowly past the security guards, making sure I didn’t trip. My heels were high—almost as high as my confidence.
I never dressed for the male gaze, but it was an ego boost to see the lust in their eyes when they looked at me. And yet, none of them were ever able to get even one inch close to me. Not only because I would’ve killed them, but because the guards Aleksei had assigned to me were nearby. I felt their presence, despite never seeing them.
“Helios,” I greeted him with a slight smile.
“Devil’s sidekick,” he responded with a nod and a tight smile. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
The last word came out through gritted teeth. Helios wasn’t a big fan of me, but I enjoyed seeing him rattled. His dark eyes watched me carefully, as if I might do something bad as soon as he looked away.
“Sticking to that nickname? How tasteless of you, Helios.” A chuckle escaped me. “You should know that I’m no longer a sidekick.”
Helios clicked his tongue, his curly hair falling over his eyes. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, princess.”
I looked towards a poker table. “Do you have time for a game or two?”
