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“That doesn't matter, Evan.” I flinch, even though I should have guessed she knows who I am. “None of that matters. The auction being interrupted will set us back, not to mention the loss of trust from our members, and from the populace. The city council is going to have a heyday with this. The Sinful will have our asses!”
“We’ll make concessions, gifts. I can set up a silent, private auction to recoup our losses?—”
“That’s not what I meant! The auction was everything, because of Hellena. It was the first move in a very careful plan.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re a favor dealer. A pawn. You’re on a need to know basis. And you need to go find her. Now!”
“Bullshit!” Hellena’s mouth is wearing off on me. “Why is she important to their plans? What were you told to do with her?”
My hackles rise, suspicion igniting a lethal rage in my chest.
Her hands slam down on the ornate desk spanning her side of the room. “She is crucial. That is all you need to know.”
It starts to dawn on me that my orders were a play, maneuvering me. If the Sinful have an interest in Hellena, it can’t be good. In fact, it’s likely something horrible.
My fists crack as I ball them at my sides, taking several strides across the room, facing her down. “Tell me who Hellena is. Who you are.”
The Matron shakes her head, laughing. Right before her laughter rattles into a shriek of anger as she tears off her mask, shattering it against the wall. Dark, chocolate curls fall to her shoulders around a round, familiar face.
A face that bears a striking resemblance to Hellena.
I’ve seen her in a photo, in Hellena’s file. Social media posts.
Rachelle Tyson. Hellena’s aunt.
I restate my earlier question. “Why is she so important? Because she’s your niece?” I shouldn’t have to ask that. Yet I know that’s not the issue at hand.
She glares at me, her chest heaving. “Because… Hellena is next in line to lead the Sinful. She’s a blood relative of one of the Seven. I was told to let her be sold to a guest bidder. I assume that was you, since you were told to buy her. ” She knows I made that up.
“So, Marco was a fluke?”
“A mistake. Yes. Or there’s more going on than we know. All I know was that she was supposed to fall farther into our debt, wholly into our care. To be delivered.”
“To whom? Where?” I sound like a fool, babbling, scrambling for info.
“To wherever she needs to go to learn how to take over, I guess!”
My brain races. “Is that why you took her in?”
“Of course. She needed to be guided, sheltered. And then she needed to be prepared for what’s to come. We need to find her.”
With that, she’s around the table, jerking the doors open. “Things are probably calmed down enough to send out a party. Gerald, gather a search team?—”
“No!” I interrupt, stepping into her path. “Let me try first. She’s going to be scared. Besides, if you send random guys after her, who knows what her roommate will do?” I widen my eyes to punctuate the statement.
“Very true. But you need to track her down. Retrieve her and get her to one of the safehouses. Somewhere no one can find her.” Her finger taps my chest as she says it, sending shocks of anger through my arms, down my legs. Domineering bitch.
“Don’t worry, Rachelle. I’ll make sure your niece is safe and sound.”
The narrowed gaze she gives me tells me that might have been an error, but she’s pushed me too far. Everything has tonight.
I’m in my car, roaring back toward town in minutes.
No sign of Hellena in the parking lot. Which means she got a ride. Or was taken.
Her phone is still sitting in my passenger seat.
