Page 113 of Feral King

“He threatened my family, my mom and my sister, and said that if I didn’t cooperate, he’d make sure they’d pay for it. I know what that means, Ly. I’m not stupid. I know what this world is, and I know who these people are.”

“These people. You say that like you had no say in being with them.”

“I didn’t choose this!” Her outburst is sudden and raw, echoing through the vast, open space. “I chose a rich boyfriend who was cute and funny. I chose a lifestyle. And I sure ashelldidn’t choose holding my friend hostage in an abandoned warehouse while my boyfriend tries to murder his own brother.”

My blood runs cold at her words. Julian. I have no idea if he’s still alive.

But why would I be here if he weren’t? What reason would they have to keep me breathing?

They must be waiting on a signal, a confirmation that he’s dead before they get rid of me.

I have to hope. It’s all I have.

“But here you are,” I say.

She stares at me. Tears trickle down her face, and I can tell they’re real. But they don’t make me feel any sort of way.

“I have a baby inside of me. I was coming from the ultrasound when the car hit us. I’d just heard the heartbeat, saw the flicker on the screen.”

Sophia looksaway.

“And now, I’m here with you, in this cold warehouse. You’re helping the people who want to kill me. Don’t tell me this is complicated again.”

She flinches, her gaze flicking to my stomach for just a moment. Her expression changes to sorrow, as if she’s finally realizing what she’s done.

“I didn’t know you were pregnant until I found you at the maternity store.”

“I guess it didn’t change much. You still went ahead with it, and here we are.”

Silence. She’s in over her head and doesn’t know what to say or do. I’m afraid to ask the next question, but I do anyway.

“What’s the plan, Soph? What happens next?”

She swallows hard. The blankness returns, and I can tell she’s having a hard time holding it together.

“Julian dies tonight. That’s the deal Mrs. Lee and that Dobrov guy set up. She’s been working with him and Alex for weeks.”

“Why?”

“The idea is to force Julian out and put Alex in charge. If Julian gives up and gives in, then I guess he might live. But if he refuses, they are going to kill him.”

“Not a chance. There’s no way he’ll let them steal the Bratva from him.”

“Yeah. That’s what Alex thinks, too. If he doesn’t go quietly, they’ll kill him and take over anyway. And once Julian’s out of the picture, Alex will be in charge with Dobrov’s backingand all the support from the Triads. The other leaders will fall in line, or they’ll die, too. And there’s no point in getting upset about it Ly, it’s done.”

“It’s not done,” I say. “The Triad won’t just go against Julian like that. He said that he had their full support with their leader, Yang.”

She shakes her head. “No. Yang isn’t in the picture anymore.”

The sound of dripping water in the distance fills the silence.

“What? What does that mean?” I ask, the coldness spreading in my stomach, suggesting I already know the answer.

“Mrs. Lee, the representative here in New York, made her own move. She’s been working at it for years, according to Alex. He says she’s really ambitious, wants to be on top. This whole thing has been a plan for her to get outside support to overthrow Yang and position herself as boss.”

There’s a strange, clinical tone to her words, like she’s reciting someone else’s take on it all.

“There was a hit on Yang today. It was timed to happen so fast that no one would know what to do. Word is, he’s dead.”