Page 6 of His Queen

She slams her hand down on the table and laughs. “Now that’s fucking funny, Quinn. Here I was getting upset, thinking you were intentionally drawing attention to our little meet up.” She’s nearly cackling now, but I brush it off, reminding myself she has something I need, a team we can take for a girl’s weekend.

“Interesting choice, dear. I’d be lying if I didn’t say your invitation caught me off guard.” Selena says, making light conversation as we continue our witty exchange.

“I was just as surprised to hear you were interested in teaming up for something more than just that onetime thing,” I reply with a playful smirk of my own.

“I’ve had some time to think about it, and I’ve decided this is nice. I missed this, us.” Selena hastily grabs for her glass of water, deflecting from her awkward confession to missing our friendship.

It’s hard to play it cool. I focus all my concentration on trying not to allow my lips to turn up in a traitorous smile. The truth is, I’ve missed having a friend too.

“What was it you asked me here to talk about?” Selena asks, steering the conversation back on track.

It’s my turn to freeze up. I stutter over myself at first, before forming a coherent sentence. “I need a cover up girl’s weekend trip to throw Christian. There’s some business I need to see to by myself.”

Selena’s jaw is on the ground like she’s some kind of Saturday morning cartoon character. I’m feeling relieved. “You want me to double cross Christian, risking our new business venture that’s going quite well in order to go on a fake girl’s weekend trip where mischievous mayhem is most definitely on the menu? Hell yeah, deal me in. There’s nothing I love more than the look on that man’s face each time he sees what a great team we make.”

“We leave next Thursday,” I say, trying to play it cool, though inside I am jumping up and down with excitement. “Now, Selena, tell me what it is I can do for you in exchange?”

Chapter nine

Drinkingattheclubin Harvey’s office, after having left Quinn behind for the day.

I’ve been meeting with Harvey, going over the books almost all day. Hunkered down in his office sipping whisky and smoking cigars, the quarterly bookkeeping work is nearly complete. The plush leather slides against my back as I swallow down another glass. I’m fairly certain we’ve finished off an entire bottle. My lips pull a drag off my cigar. Clay takes a phone call, drawing my attention over to where he sits across from me. The three of us must be quite the sight to all these men. Luckily, they are all loyal to Arkham. The opportunity to take out two of the highest ranking members must be enticing at times. The realization is sobering as it settles into my bones. I’m so close to what I vowed to accomplish. So close to the goal, it’s actually within my sight. I listen in on this side of the phone call. Everyone is calling their numbers in. He motions to one of his assistants, who brings the master bookkeeping file up on a tablet.

The moment Clay hangs up from the first call, another one rings through. It’s a pattern that will continue for the rest of the evening. He hangs up a second time. “Both calls were spot on where they should be. Two down, only eight more to go.”

Harvey dips his chin, then pours another round for us each. I can tell Clay is hesitant, unsure of his place in this new role. I give him a nod of permission and he accepts the glass from Harvey. “A toast, because I haven’t properly congratulated you, Christian.” Harvey winks at Clay playfully.

My face never falters, but inside my heart is pounding. Harvey is the mentor who got through to me. He’s the reason I stopped running from destiny. We’ve been through almost everything together. He took me under his wing, despite the knowledge that I would be his biggest obstacle to climbing the ranks of the Arkham mafia. Harvey never wanted to be at the top, or at least that’s how I came to understand it. He knew how to manipulate the system, and he has always been damn good at what he does. He’s going to serve me up a slice of hard to swallow advice. I just want to enjoy my most recent success for a few more days.

“Christian, we don’t always see eye to eye. We fight like brothers, but at the end of the day I am proud to call you my Arkham brother. Cardinal fucking wings. I’m blown away. Cheers to yet another chapter.” He holds up his glass over the table that separates us.

“I’ll drink to that and let me add, Christian, you’re the best man for the job.” Clay says, lifting his glass as well.

“Come now boys, we all know you deserve some credit as well. Without your loyalty and service making me look good, I would be nothing. Cheers to the two of you for protecting my destiny and serving me even when I make mistakes.” I raise my glass to meet theirs and then the three of us toss back the warm liquid.

“While we wait for the rest of the calls to come in, there is something else we need to discuss, boss,” Clay says, interrupting the peaceful calm that has settled over us.

Harvey and Clay exchange a look. Harvey takes another swig, swirling the liquid around before bringing it to his lips. After a drag of his cigar, he finally drops the bomb I’ve been waiting for.

“There’s an even higher bounty on your head now, Christian. Every mobster out there is going to be coming for you. They are going to be coming for Arkham. Our reach and power are only growing. Now that we have repaired our relationship with the Peacocks, we’ve become a bigger threat.” Harvey pauses.

Clay chimes in, “I hate telling you this, Christian, but there may even be some unrest with our own men. We have reason to believe the mole is launching a micro scale campaign against you. The ultimate inside job, taking out the successor. It would cripple Arkham, maybe even destroy us.”

Harvey cuts him off. “They don’t fear you. The rumors and whispers say you’re going soft. Too obsessed with Quinn and your own desires to be the best leader for Arkham. Lax and distracted, an easy target.”

Clay jumps back in, “The mole is gaining support and momentum spreading these ideations. On the outside, your enemies mock you. Le Manchot’s death can’t be proved, and you allowed Quinn and Selena to participate in the dirty work.”

“This isn’t good,” Harvey stresses, glaring at Clay like he’s saying too much.

“What do you suggest I do then, boys?” I ask, surprising them both.

“You need to turn it all the way off, Christian,” Harvey tells me. “Bring your enemies to their knees. Make them fall. Make an example of what happens when disloyalty bleeds into our organization.”

“Turn what off?” I ask through clenched teeth.

“Your humanity Christian.”

“Fuck off Harvey. You know I can’t do it,” I snarl.

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