Page 44 of Pride: Kneel Before None

One sharp look from me, and it cut off the rest of her retort. I’d hear about it in spades from her later, but for now, the chips were meaningless to me.

Argian nodded towards the exit. “It is time that you and your pet take your leave.”

Anger flared hot beneath my ribs. My Little Spade would never be referred to as a pet. She was mine—yes—but never would she be demeaned to anything less than worthy of everyone’s awe and admiration.

I stepped forward, matching the decaying piece of shit’s height. When I spoke, it was low and venomous, my breath sending cobwebs fluttering on his sunken cheeks.

“Keep your fucking chips, Argian. I want my books back in order. Declare the damn lease on Sevenfold’s foundation null and void.”

The asshole had been milking the contract for years. When Sevenfold was constructed, it was laid over the burial grounds of some of Superbia’s most ancient beings. It was the core of the building, providing an invisible barrier that turned the casino into a stronghold capable of withstanding direct attacks.

When Argian and I had entered into the agreement, the terms were simple. But simple never meant fair in places like these. These days, his demands for increased hardship fees and diminishing spiritual earth in Superbia had made the cost of maintaining my rights to Sevenfold’s foundation exorbitant.

If he ever recalled the lease or worse, sold it, I’d be fucked. Knowing Rip was sniffing his way around my financial matters, I refused to let my domain fall into anybody else’s hands.

A raspy laugh came out of Argian, sounding like a cough of a raven choking on a worm. “Or what?” he challenged.

My lips curved into a wicked smile.

“Or we’ll see how well you hold up when your recent feeding habits come to light. I’d hate to see the fallout when the headlines highlight your addiction to feasting on vampires in their resting state. I heard they don’t take kindly to cowards who strike when they are at their most vulnerable.”

Taking a step back, my shoulders lifted in a nonchalant shrug. “Your call. Hand over the leasing rights to Sevenfold or take your chances with the undead population of Superbia.”

The air between us felt stale. His security team exchanged nervous glances with one another. Eve’s curious energy radiated at my side. And Argian himself appeared to wrestle with the choice between two evils. The fury of an entire species or his greed.

He snapped his fingers, and the biggest member of his team stepped forward with practiced obedience.

“Get Mr. Reynard the contract on Sevenfold Casino.”

A well-timed jackpot bell sounded off in the background.

Fitting.

My empire wouldn’t be brought to its knees. Not today, not ever.

CHAPTER 15

Guiding Eve back to the car that awaited us outside of the Forked Tongue, I allowed her to slide into the backseat of the blacked-out SUV first.

Once we were both settled, the driver pulled away from the curb to bring us back home. As the city’s lights passed in a blur just outside the window, I reached over and pulled a chilled bottle of champagne from a built-in ice bucket.

The cork popped free in my palm in a controlled release.

“That money could have been put towards Tighe’s bail,” Eve bit out before she yanked the bottle from my grip.

Watching as she drank straight from the bottle, I settled in for the ride with an arm extended along the backrest as I angled myself toward her. My legs stretched out enough to get comfortable, and my knees spread in a display of complete relaxation.

“It could have,” I conceded. “But would it get him off the hook with Rip? You think he won’t hesitate for just one minute to use either of you as leverage against each other?”

I scoffed when she simply stared at me with no answer. “You have a lot to learn, Little Spade.”

She leaned forward, the condensation from the champagne dripping onto the black leather seat between us. “Oh, fuck off! I didn’t ask you to be some twisted mentor in the art of societal power plays. I don’t give a damn about whatever game you’re playing here.”

“Don’t you, though?” The hand resting on top of my knee tapped a finger twice in response to my increased agitation. “Tell me you wouldn’t kill to be in a room of people who adored you, that you don’t want the best luxuries money can buy.”

I paused before adding, “Go on. Tell me you don’t want to be fucked by the best cock you will ever dream of.”

My hand dropped between my legs, palming myself unrepentantly.