Page 50 of Princes of Carnage

There’s shifting and side-eyeing going on, but no one outright dismisses the plan or opposes it. So that’s a start.

“I know it’s not going to be easy,” I continue. “And we’re not asking this lightly. As much as our two organizations have been at each other’s throats over the years, right now, we have a bigger threat to worry about.”

Some of the people assembled nod their heads, and I can see several people on my side share concerned glances, clearly knowing what I mean.

Nico takes up the explanation, smoothly continuing where I left off. “Carnage members, you know we’ve been targeted recently by some unidentified threat. You know that whoever it is has been fucking with our drops and our runners. We can’t let that shit stand. The same people have been targeting Enigma, and we think it’s an effort to try to destabilize us both and take over our territory. So it makes sense to try to take the threat out together. We’re stronger together than we are alone.”

I’m struck by the way he speaks to his gang. He’s clearly a leader, clearly the one in charge, but he doesn’t talk down to them or treat them as subservient. He speaks with an authority that feels innate, as if it’s something he was born with and not just something he learned along the way.

I wonder if I’m that good at talking to my people.

“Like I said, we know this won’t be easy,” I add. “But we’re going to have to have each other’s backs if we want to make it clear that we’re not letting some shadowy attacker take us over or run us out. So it’s in everyone’s best interests to make this work.”

There are some grudging nods on both sides. At least people can see why this is important. That we’re not asking them to set aside this rivalry for a trivial reason.

If I had the choice, we wouldn’t be in this mess, but we are.

“That’s all for now,” Nico finishes. “Some things will be changing going forward, but we’ll update you when we have more. You’re all dismissed.”

As soon as the groups start to break up, I slip my hand out of Nico’s and walk away from him. He lets me go, turning to talk to a member of his gang who comes up to him.

I use that distraction to walk to the other side of the concrete pavilion, needing a break from all this.

“That went… better than I expected,” a deep voice says from behind me.

I turn to see Emmett, his face set into concerned lines.

“Yeah, it did.” I let out a sigh. “I was expecting a little more pushback, to be honest. I was prepared to remind everyone what that fucker did to Paulie so they could choose for themselves what side they wanted to be on.”

“Glad it didn’t come to that.” Emmett shoves his hands into his pockets, chewing his lower lip. “I’ll keep my ear to the ground with our crew. Make sure no one tries to start shit.”

“Thanks, Emmett. Hopefully, people will take it in stride. It’ll be an adjustment, but we all have to make sacrifices for this.”

He nods and then steps a bit closer to me, dropping his voice. “Listen, Quinn. I know why we’re doing this, but you need to be careful. The Princes might want to protect their own, but that’s the only reason they’re doing this. Don’t trust them. As soon as they see a reason to, they’ll probably fuck you over, and I don’t—”

He breaks off suddenly, stiffening. I’m not sure why at first, but then I look over his shoulder, and understanding dawns.

Nico is striding toward us, a hard look on his face.

17

QUINN

Nico gives Emmett a look as he reaches us, putting an arm around me and tugging me close against his side. There’s so much possessiveness in the gesture that it catches me off guard for a moment. Is he doing this because some members of our gangs are still lingering around us? Or is it purely for Emmett’s benefit?

Is this about the facade of us putting up a united front… or about something else?

“What are you two talking about?” Nico asks coolly.

Emmett opens his mouth, his face defiant, but then Killian comes over as well, backing Nico up. Killian stares down at Emmett with his usual disconcerting intensity, and Emmett’s mouth snaps closed.

He looks annoyed, but he just mutters, “Nothing,” under his breath and slinks away. Clearly, he’s not willing to go toe to toe with both Nico and Killian.

“Don’t do that,” I mutter to Nico, trying to keep my voice down.

“Do what?” he asks, not releasing his hold on me. “Come over to see how my wife is doing?”

“You know exactly what I mean. Just because we’re married on paper, you need to put on these bullshit displays of possessiveness as if you actually give a fuck who I talk to. I’m not yours, any more than you’re mine. So drop it.”

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