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Scarlet huffs. “I tortured her every day. Beat her and starved her.”
“Shh. She’s going to believe you,” Maisie hisses at her. Then to me, she says, “She was a perfect hostess, actually. Treated me like a big sister would.”
“A big sister?” I laugh. Jesus, looks like we both got struck with Stockholm syndrome. “I’m your only sister, Maze. Don’t get whatever kindness she showed you twisted.” The remark comes out tinged with a bit of jealousy, and I really hope she doesn’t notice.
Unfortunately, the grin that spreads over Scarlet’s face tells meshedoes. “We had fun, didn’t we, kid?” she asks, but her green eyes remain on me. “Maybe we can hang out again sometime.”
I bite back a nasty retort. I love Maisie, but for her, a hard no would be too tempting not to rebel against.
Gideon returns and sits on the coffee table in front of me. “Well, it appears you’re right. There is an underground level.”
“I fulfilled my end of the bargain. Now it’s your turn. Let Maisie and me go.”
Amusement fills his expression. “You’re too smart to believe I’d do that. First, I want you to tell me exactly how you got into that underground. Every detail you recall.”
“If you already have confirmation the place is there, you also know how to get in.”
“On paper, yes.” He leans in. “I want a first-hand account.”
“I tell you where he is. You let us go. That was the deal,” I remind him.
“Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to make deals with the devil?” His smile widens, making him appear devilish indeed. “Make yourself comfortable. You’re not going anywhere until I’ve put a bullet in Clive’s head. And if you try anything, I’ll put one in yours too.”
21
ARRAN
The tension in the room is palpable. Noah fumes at the fact that the daughter of the man he so viciously killed is under the same roof. Even though he did something similar, he can’t comprehend the possibility of my sharing a bed with her if everything I said about Thomas Cameron is true.
Frankly, neither can I. But there are many things in life I can’t understand.
Luca has been playing mediator for the last hour while Rowan shakes his head and grumbles his regret at having come at all. Gunn is the only one oblivious to anything that’s going on, happily snoring away on the long leather couch.
“All this proves is that Gideon is a threat to all of us.” Luca moves to the wet bar and pours whiskey into four glasses and hands them to us, keeping one for himself. “You’re already in the thick of it, Arran. He’s focusing all of his energy on finding Clive right now.”
“Perhaps it’s just a trick. Noah is the new Gianni Don. What’s to say he won’t come after him again? Or you, Rowan?” I point at the Boston mobster who’s now running the McKenzie gang.
“I haven’t made any official claims. Gideon has no idea I’m the boss.”
I smile. “He penetrated Maxton House. Do you really think he’s doesn’t know you’re in charge?”
“We’re not stupid,” Luca interjects. “Gideon can come after any of us at any time. That’s why we’ve joined forces. Together, we’re stronger.”
A chuckle escapes me and I take a sip, savoring the amber liquid. Then I look at each of them. “And what happens when it ends? When Gideon is dead, will you still be best friends? As I recall, Jersey and New York were battling for territory not that long ago?”
Noah and Luca glance at each other, and it’s obvious they’ve had similar thoughts.
“It’s possible we’ll go back to the same thing,” Luca says. “I never promised eternal friendship. Just a temporary truce.” Walking around his desk, he plops into his chair. He lets out a long sigh, and for the first time, I notice the weariness in his expression.
“A truce,” I whisper, testing the word.
“The truth is, Arran, we need each other. Gideon has already taken some of us out. Now he has my sister, and I can’t pin that fucker down. He’s everywhere and nowhere.” The hand he has on the desk forms a tight fist and his jaw clenches. It takes him a moment as he regains control. “Whether we like it or not, we fucking need each other.”
I nod reluctantly. The asshole is right. Even if I can hold off Gideon a bit longer, I can’t forever.
“Fine. I’ll join the alliance. But when this is over, it’s over.”
Luca raises his glass to me. “To partnerships with expiration dates.”
