Page 31 of Fierce Monarch

But I couldn’t say that because leaders didn’t admit defeat. Not at my level. They might admit their faults to trusted guns, but Two-Bit wasn’t under my banner. He was an outsider who knew too damn much for my comfort. So I’d sit and stew in my frustration until I was safe enough to let it out.

The longer I sat there debating my next move, the thicker the tension got. The air shifted, as did Grey and Griz, readying themselves for battle if it came to that. Two-Bit seemed fine, though. At ease almost, even as he poked at me. “All due respect, but don’t make me a problem, Mari. You already have enough on your plate. I would hate to make things worse.”

Wasn’t that the fucking truth.

I had Cash wreaking havoc in my city and the Wolf on my ass, not to mention O’Bannon and the others ready to rip me to shreds for one fucking mistake. Like none of them had been caught dicking down the wrong heiress before. Since I was a woman, I couldn’t make the same mistakes they did because I had to stay virginal and pure.

What a load of shit.

I debated causing a problem anyway, but Two-Bit’s network was too deep to uproot. I doubted taking him out would do anything to stop them as a whole. That made him a seriously dangerous person to piss off because I had no way of learning how much he knew about my organization until it was too late. I had to take a step back, or I’d let my temper destroy years of progress and an alliance that seemed more beneficial by the day.

Deep breaths. Happy thoughts, Mari.

Centering myself wasn’t working, so I smiled and spoke through gritted teeth. “In the future, if you find out something that seems like my business, I’d be glad to know immediately.”

“What will I get in return?”

“My thanks,” I said dryly, smiling for real when he laughed. “I’ll pay you for your consideration.”

“I’ll think about it.” He held out his hand to me, leaning over the table as we shook. “And I’m sorry about Nate. He seemed like a good guy, but I guess looks can be deceiving.”

Just like that, the bubble of tension popped. Griz took a step back from his boss, shoulder dropping into a more comfortable position after holding himself at the ready for so long, and I felt Greyson shifting to do the same. I still wasn’t sure whose side Two-Bit was on, but if he wasn’t actively trying to destroy me, I was fine with not thinking about it for now. He could be next month’s problem.

With a respectful nod my way, Two-Bit rose, following Griz’s lead out the door. As his second held the elevator, he turned back with a twinkle in his eye that told me I wasn’t going to be happy with him. “Good luck at your reunion.”

I wasn’t even surprised that he knew about the Wolf. I was just more annoyed.

“Christ,” Grey muttered as the doors shut. “What do you want to do about him?”

“Nothing right now.” I felt every joint in my body crack as I stood, like even they were brittle. “He’s right. We can’t afford another problem.”

Not until my grandfather was dealt with.

Rafael had sent word that Emmanuel would arrive tomorrow morning, visiting my city for the first time since my mother had run away from home. I had no doubt that our meeting would be anything but pleasant, but I could handle that. My hope was to secure his help squashing Cash and his Aces, but as long as we all made it out alive, I’d be happy.

Greyson rested his hand on my hip as we waited for the elevator, so close to where Nate’s touch from yesterday still burned that I wanted to throw up.

I hadn’t told him or Dominic about the ambush or the kiss. I wasn’t sure why I kept it to myself other than that I hadn’t told them anything lately. I was surviving as a lonely little island because I forced myself to. To make it through the day, my feelings had to be shoved tightly into a box and forgotten at the back of my mind, even though fucking everything reminded me of Nate’s treachery. Compartmentalizing was my friend, but I needed time and space for that, and while I was getting it now, I knew my men. They would only leave me in peace for so long, and my time of reckoning was coming quicker than I wanted.

Soon, I’d have to own up to everything, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for it.

“Let’s get the journals and then head back to the Celestine.”

“Whatever you want, reina.” Grey’s voice was soft, measured, comforting, and I leaned into him for a second. Soaking up the warmth that only he could give me. The elevator dinged, dragging me away again, but for now, I felt whole, and that was enough.

Stepping into the mansion felt like walking into a graveyard. It had that eerie sense of emptiness and secrets and spirits roaming the halls. It felt abandoned in the same way Sevenroe had, despite only being empty for two days.

Two days since I’d lain in Nate’s bed, totally at peace despite the war on the horizon. Solid in my understanding that the men I loved would be at my side through all of it.

Now, everything was different, and part of me wished I could go back to being that clueless idiot who was so besotted with a warm smile that she forgot the first lesson her father ever taught her.

Everyone lies.

“I had Tennessee’s team sweep it before we got here,” Greyson offered as I stood just beyond the threshold, unable to move. Captured and kept by history that hadn’t even had time to seep into walls. “No one’s been in or out who wasn’t supposed to be home.”

Home. It felt impossible for it to be real anymore when mine was shattered.

Nate had been my home, just like Dominic and Greyson were, but he hadn’t been the foundation. He’d been the snake in the rafters, lying in wait to devour us whole, and I was the dumbass who’d let him in.

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