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“An enemy. A trained killer. A weapon, forged by Grandmother. Just like you were, once upon a time.”
Her words hit hard—because she’s right. I was Grandmother’s creature, her perfect little child soldier. But there’s one thing Hadria keeps forgetting.
“I broke free,” I say, my voice quiet but firm. “I got out. And so did Scarlett. She’s not Grandmother’s puppet anymore.”
Hadria’s smile is sad, almost pitying. “Are you sure about that? Are you really sure she’s not just playing a long game?”
I think of Scarlett, of the pain and longing in her eyes. Of the way she melts in my arms, the way she gasps my name in the throes of passion. The way she looks at me, like…
Like I’m her whole world.
“I’m sure,” I say. “Actually, I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.” I ignore the way Hadria’s eyebrows bounce up in surprise. “Now, forget about Scarlett. What are you going to do about Zepp?”
Hadria’s face darkens. “I already told him last time that if I had to see him again, it’d be for the last time. So I suppose I’ll have to send in a messenger rather than go myself.” She looks straight at me. “You will go in there and ask him straight out what the hell he thinks he’s doing.”
“Me? Alone? I’m good, Hades, but I’m not a-whole-fucking-Family good.”
“I don’t want you to kill anyone. That’s the point.” She sighs, loses a little of the edge. “I did vow to him that the next time he saw my face, it would be the last time. I meant it, Lyssa. On my honor, I can’t walk in there myself without killing him. Will you be my proxy?”
Will I?
At least it’s a request, not an order. “Alright,” I tell her. “Although I don’t like those mafia games, you know that.”
“I know. And if he’s really working with Grandmother, then I’m done playing nice.”
I throw back my drink and stand. “Then what are we waiting for?”
We head down to the parking lot where her motorbike awaits, and she hands me the helmet. As we swing our legs over the bike, Hadria turns to me. “Where’s the assassin hiding now? Surely you haven’t left her to her own devices?”
“She’s somewhere safe.” My mind flashes to the seedy motel where I sent Scarlett, thinking about the feel of her soft skin against rough sheets.
Hadria revs the engine. “She’ll never be safe, Lyssa,” she shouts over the noise. “She’ll always be a recognized enemy of the Syndicate. You need to come to terms with that.”
I say nothing, but Hadria hasn’t finished.
“You might have won the vote back at Elysium for now,” Hadria continues, “but there are plenty in the Syndicate who still want her dead. And I can hardly blame them.”
With that, I jam the helmet onto my head so I don’t have to hear anything further, and Hadria speeds off into the night.
But all the way to her father’s palatial property, Hadria’s words echo in my mind. Scarlett will always be a target. And the thought of losing her…it’s unbearable.
I think of the motel, of Scarlett waiting for me as I head into the lion’s den, about to confront one of the most powerful men in Chicago’s underworld.
And all I can think about is a pair of hazel eyes and the woman who surprised me with love.
CHAPTER 24
Lyssa
Hadria and I ride through the streets of Chicago until the Imperioli estate looms ahead. I’ve never been in there before, but over the years Hadria has described it so well that it feels familiar. She pulls up to the gate, and I catch a glimpse of movement in the shadows. Guards, armed and ready.
We dismount and Hadria walks up to the intercom and presses the button. “I want to send in an envoy to see my father.”
There’s a moment of static, then a gruff voice: “The Boss ain’t seeing anyone.”
“Tell him he needs to hear a message from his daughter. I’ll bring the whole Syndicate down here to deliver it, too, if he doesn’t open the gate.”
It’s a bluff, of course. But Zepp doesn’t know that. There’s a long pause, then the gates creak open.
