Page 4 of Queen of Spades

That should be me.

“You might kill him,” I say, swallowing thickly. Channel Ranger. Be the badass monster he is. “But you won’t walk out of here alive.” I try to keep my tone bored and unaffected, like my brother manages with no problem.

Unfortunately for Edmond, I’m not Ranger.

I don’t pull it off.

My voice quavers, and the scent of my fear is heavy in the air.

Every impulse in my body screams to run, but I ignore it. My heart thumps wildly and my mouth is bone dry.

This is a damn nightmare.

“You walk out of here with me peacefully, and I give you my word that I will let him live.” Andretti nods to Edmond. “I purposely kept him alive. I’ve watched you closely these last few months. I couldn’t allow your mother’s attempts to keep us apart, but I’m offering you the opportunity to save him. I know you’re fond of him. This is our chance to build trust.”

He’s completely delusional.

“I will splatter both your brains all over the living room floor,” I hiss. “I mean it! Leave now and call today a loss, or we can see how all this plays out.”

Edmond gives me a soft smile.

Fuck that smile.

It means he’s made peace with the fact he has to die to ensure I survive.

A sob rattles out because I’m too far away to stop him from doing something stupid.

I’m not my brother.

I can’t kill in cold blood, but I’m also not going to stand around and watch one of my favorite people be murdered in front of my very eyes.

Edmond has been my guard since I was eleven years old.

I love him like family.

Where the fuck is Kane?

“Put down the gun, and I’ll let him live. You’ll be coming with me either way.” Andretti gives me a cold smile that sends a shiver down my spine. “I hate to have to be the one to tell you this, but my brothers handled the issue with your family shortly before I breached the back door. I have video confirmation. Your mother and both your fathers are dead.”

My elbow falls against the marble countertop with enough force that the connection would sting if my entire body wasn’t numb.

“What?” I whisper, shaking my head.

They’ve always been larger than life to me.

Completely untouchable.

He’s lying to throw you off, my mother’s voice says in her calculating tone.

“Put the gun down,” Andretti says again. He’s not holding a weapon, but that doesn’t mean he’s not armed. My toes feel cold and wet. My eyes fall to my feet to realize I’m standing in the puddle of Charlie’s blood. I pop up, moving to the side a few inches, but keep my gun on Andretti. I’m still standing in the blood, but I can’t risk being distracted by it any more than I already have been. “I don’t want the first months of our union to be spent forcing you to learn your place. Believe it or not, I’m your best ally for what’s coming. I’ve wanted you for years. My brothers think of you as a conquest and a smart business move, but I want you for you. Put the gun down, so we can be done with this ugliness.”

My nearly-waist-length hair falls around my shoulders as my head shakes. I’d rather die than be tied to the Andretti brothers. They’ll use me for evil—put me to work running the numbers and helping their businesses. I refuse to participate in forcing women into the sex trade.

“Don’t do it,” Edmond says. “You know what you have to do, and dropping that weapon isn’t it.”

“Shut the fuck up,” the guy behind him snarls.

My hand wavers as I point directly at Andretti’s unprotected skull. I feel lightheaded, like I’m about to pass out from all the stress. I’m not stupid. If I drop my gun, Edmond and I are both dead. My death would just be slower and likely more painful.

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