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Moving to Noah, she asks, “Is it true you’re friendly with Ezra Hunt?”
“I have many friends.”
“Friends who owe you favors?” she presses.
He inclines his head. “You could say that.”
“Liaison,” she states and continues on, naming their new positions as she goes, giving each one a blade and a contract.
One by one, they begin to read the sheet.
“It’s a fucking contract,” Noah says.
Carina stands beside me. “It is. One you will sign in blood.”
“Blood?”
“To signify your commitment.Ourcommitment,” she adds, handing me a contract, then taking one for herself. Bringing the sheet close, she reads, “‘I swear an oath of loyalty to the Alliance. An oath of protection. Of truth. I will serve those who, like me, sign in blood, until Gideon Black and Scarlet lie dead at our feet.’”
“Oh shit,” someone murmurs when she produces the long blade that was taken from Alma’s chest, and drags it across the fleshy part of her palm.
Blood instantly pools in her cupped hand. She dips her forefinger into it, then uses the tip to sign her name on the contract for all to see. “There is only one way to break a blood vow. Your blood or theirs.”
Gavin sits back and reads the contract as he plays with the thick gold ring on his right hand. “He’s already interfered with my business enough. I’ve had five of my shipments from Mexico rerouted to Chicago by this asshole. I raided two of his supposed buildings, but they’re empty. Wherever he’s positioned himself, it’s not where you think he is.”
“Of course he wouldn’t be where we expect.” She places a copy of the map that shows all of the locations he’s purchased near the men he wants to destroy on the table. “These are all fear tactics. He wants you to feel him breathing down your neck, not tell you where he actually is.”
“That means he could be even closer than we think,” I add.
“The question is, are you in, or are you dead?” she asks, looking around the room.
As one, they all follow her lead, slicing through their palms and signing the contracts with their blood. I do the same.
Carina walks around, snatching up the documents. “Good boys.”
“So I’m confused. Are you our boss, or is she?” Noah asks me.
I turn to the woman who has become my entire universe. The strongest, bravest, and smartest person I’ve ever met. My wife. Carina Sinacore.
“If she wants the position, I’ll be the first to nominate her,” I state with pride.
Carina’s mouth pulls to one side when not a single man speaks against the idea. Then with a raised brow, she looks at each of them. “Men. Welcome to the Sinacore Alliance.”
EPILOGUE
SOFIA
Ipoke at the soggy french fries on my plate, moving the yellow strings from side to side, wishing they were edible, because I’m starving.
“Something wrong?” the guy behind the bar asks.
“I’m not that hungry,” I lie.
It’s not his fault I ordered a full meal in the middle of the night, well after most patrons are interested only in booze. Nope, that’s all on me.
If I hadn’t begged for food and forced Victor to stop at a gas station, then slipped out of the bathroom while he was grabbing me a snack, I wouldn’t be here now. I’d still be on my way to California like Luca ordered.
I didn’t plan on running. But hours in the car meant hours of thinking about my situation. Of how easily men maneuver me, like I have no fucking voice of my own. Columbia wasn’t my choice. I was sent there anyway. Now Stanford.
