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I half expected her father to walk in behind her. When no one rounded the corner, it was clear she’d come alone. She stopped at the island and glanced around.

“She’s not here,” I said, smashing my tobacco into an ashtray until it snuffed out. A ribbon of smoke curled between us.

“Oh.” Amelia smiled tightly. “Where is she today?”

“She’s at the casino with Axell. I can’t imagine she’d want to see you after lying to her for all those years.”

After our meeting with the Russians two weeks ago, Sutton had been going to the casinos three times a week to ensure everything was going according to plan. So far, everything she’d suggested couldn’t have gone better. Father has tripled his money in those two weeks.

We’d hardly seen each other, but that hadn’t stopped me from watching Sutton on the cameras. I wanted to explore every inch of her but held off, curious to see if my compulsion for violence would surface again.

It hadn’t, and I hated her for it.

I hated that she was the reason my urge to kill was fucking gone, like one single night between us settled what I fought so hard to manage. I’d even kept that private investigator alive for a few more weeks just for the hell of it. I still tortured him for keeping his mouth shut, though.

“Please.” Amelia scoffed. “Like you care for her.”

“Clearly more than you. You knew where she was, and you still didn’t ask to see her. Not even a text.” I smirked, then glanced at her left hand. “Congratulations. How’s Grave?”

I didn’t actually care, I just wanted her reaction.

As predicted, Amelia’s mouth flattened. Her large engagement ring reflected the overhead light from the kitchen, a sparkling three-carat, marquise beacon.

After careful consideration, Father finally approved of the pairing just a few short weeks ago. I knew it for what it was—just a different way to keep the lawyers within his grasp. If their daughter was married off to the mafia, it would be much easier for him. And, if I was leaving, my father would need more heirs.

They’d started dating shortly after Grave and I had intervened with Dmitri at the club—when Amelia became aware of what her family did in the shadows. I was positive that once they married, Amelia would get a considerable diamond upgrade.

“Fine, thank you. I have these for you,” she said tightly, pulling out a thick stack of papers. She slid them to me, and I lifted my brow. “These are your terms for leaving. An agreement of sorts. Look them over, sign them, and I can come pick them up.”

“Ronan sent you here to give me a fucking agreement?” I glared and breathed deeply, barely managing the raging hot fury in my chest.

“I’m only the messenger,” she explained.

“What the fuck are the terms?”

I yanked the stack open, the papers flipping sharply until I came upon a list of overexaggerated terms. It took up an entire page, one after the other, and my vision clouded. I’d even asked him what the catch was, and he’d lied.

“In those papers, you’ll find the transfer of assets agreement,” she said, “resignation from current roles, and a non-disclosure. The exit applies to you alone, meaning you wouldn’t be able to take anyone with you.”

I scoffed. “He fears I’ll take Naomi.”

Or Sutton.

My breathing stalled as the thought unfurled and stretched along my mind, and I blankly stared at the papers before me. I braced my palms on the island and took another deep breath, shaking my head.

Naomi was important to me, yes, but at some point in the last month, Sutton had become my priority. The image of leaving her behind—letting her go—burned my insides, and I wasn’t sure what to do with that knowledge. I fucking hated the feeling.

“I think so,” Amelia breathed. “Sign them if you’re serious about leaving. Get out, Manic. This is your chance.”

“He doesn’t want me to leave, and this is his way of keeping me here.” I lifted my eyes, and she nodded. “Fucking typical.”

He knew I wouldn’t be able to sign them. The only way he’d allow me to leave the Crimson Crowes was to strip me of my assets and everything I’d built alongside him. I’d be as good as homeless by the time I left. No money or a way to live.

Father was cornering me into staying.

Luckily for me, I’d been building a secret offshore account for the last thirteen years. Twenty million was only a quarter of what I’d earned, but it was more than enough to live comfortably. He’d hunt me down if I left, though. I was sure of it.

“Anything else?” I clipped, and Amelia shook her head.