Page 222 of Fall Before Her Throne

The air whooshed from my lungs. There was no getting out of this. Badawi and Max had cut me out. I knew in my chest that Max and Obi must have discussed this before everything went down. I understood why they did it. I also understood why they didn’t tell me.

It was the smarter choice.

I stood on my tiptoes to press a quick, firm kiss to Max’s lips. “Fine, but you have to clean the entire house when you get home.”

His chest shook with laughter, his mouth spread into a wide smile. He held out a pinky finger even though his wrists were still cuffed together. “Pinky promise.”

I circled his pinky with my own.

He turned to the rest of my guys. “Don’t get too comfortable without me. I did the gauntlet; you can’t replace my spot. I’m a Shadow. It’s the rules.”

Everyone laughed, even Ryu. Cas’s arm looped around my shoulder and he pulled me against his chest. I leaned into it for comfort, like I’d gotten used to doing the past four months.

Badawi nudged Max’s arm, and he gave her a sad, tight nod.

One more hug. One more kiss.

“I love you,” he whispered in my ear.

My arms squeezed around his neck. “I love you, Max Volpe. Thank you.”

“Those are my words, remember?” He pulled back, the warmth and happiness in his eyes almost taking my breath away. “See you soon, Leona Theresa.”

“I’ll wait,” I said as he stepped backward. Badawi pulled him toward the door. “We all will.”

He gave us one last wave before he disappeared.

72

WYNN

1 WEEK LATER

Ciel and I walked into the train station side by side. Wearing dark hoodies, backpacks, and sunglasses, we looked like any other traveler. My eyes scanned the room until they locked onto our target. I nudged Ciel. He followed my gaze, and the two of us slowly made our way over.

In the front pocket of my hoodie, my hand clenched around my pistol. The crowd ebbed and flowed as usual, but our man stared up at the schedule board, ticket clenched in his trembling hands. Ciel and I stepped up behind him, one of us on each side.

I clicked my tongue against my teeth. “Sean Porter.”

The man whipped around, eyes wide. “Wha—” he stuttered before I pressed the barrel of my gun against his back.

“Don’t move.”

He froze.

“Not a sound,” Ciel warned from his other side. He jerked his head to the right. “Come with us.”

I herded him with my gun against his back like a cattle prod. His feet dragged as he shuffled forward, eyes wide, looking around like someone could come to his aid and save him from this.

“You really thought you could escape the city without us noticing?” I said quietly.

“I did what you said,” he replied quickly. He was even jumpier than when we visited his apartment. Our men reported that two days ago, he had purchased enough cocaine for an extended trip away from his dealers. “I did everything you wanted.”

Ciel snorted. “You did a shit job, but we pulled through.”

Porter protested. “But you won! Greco is dead!”

“So you thought that meant you were free to go?” I scoffed. Together, Ciel and I pulled him into a bathroom. “No one gave you permission to leave.”