olm'

iances. It was in the air, thick, suffocating,

e dim light of the warehouse lights, polished to such a s

A Slade. A man born into a world th

r. The six of us were fated to be adver

h generations of revenge. They wanted us separated, shar

when you stand in the trenches with someone, when y

und together by a goal far greater than the

s was tactics. And tonight, I w

said he already knew the answer before he asked the question. "So," he dr

hair. "A contract marriage, Slade? You're a traditionalist now?" His It

y in his glass, unreadable. Always watching, always thinking, ne

light reflecting off the edge of his smile. "So,

rals. "Because you don't drop ten million do

e eyes glinting with interest. "And don't bullshit us w

world. That alone ma

their attention, but my

ur world," I said to them. "Sh

lence, voice low but biting. "A

ie. To tell them it was deliberate, a move on

n end, to abolish my father's s

too well for too long to believe I'd burn te

slowly.

ng the word around his mouth like it was too tasty to

nched. "Ev

low. "That d

arning look. H

rick Slade is breathing down your neck for that House seat. He needs you perfect, polished, the i

hey should. Because that wa

n, would slip out of my control. That Iris T

o other people. A deal. An exchange.

ad, in your blood, unraveling all th

his smirk turned openly amused. "Oh," he said, settlin

glass and set it on the table with a soft

lass, as if he was taking great care to co

ing like the others. It was quiet, even deadly serious. "T

use for the first time, I w

drink in his glass before taking a leisurely si

ar about the previous

ahad called. Said there

muffled crack, like the initial fra

t here. I saw that shipment

did it go?" Ethan gr

se we all knew there w

I said, my voice low and cold. "If he tells m

st the table, a predator calculating his next m

weight of betrayal was heavier t

My voice cut through the qu

ter than the rest of us, leaned forward. "The South..

t mine. He knew more

ebrow. "What do y

ever plays by the rules. Human trafficking, gun running

isn't Slade betrothe

ing a sip of my drink

an asked, watc

key time to catch up in my chest before I sp

ad. "Too bad, anyway. The South is getti

he helm of the affairs here and who they repo

monarchs of a world founded on blood, and when anyo

," I stated, my voice unyielding. "There

the table. And thus, the S