Page 10 of Thrown to the Wolves

They’re fucking wedding prep.

I catch Hadria’s eye and roll mine, but she doesn’t seem to notice, her attention—as always—on Aurora, who has returned to pore over a thick binder of fabric swatches, her sunshine-bright smile beaming.

And Hadria smiles back.

Yeah. Despite the death threats and power struggles that come with leading the Styx Syndicate, the ruthless Hades just can’t seem to shake that lovestruck glow. It’d be sickening if I wasn’t secretly happy for her.

I stand there and watch them for a moment, content to stay well outside their bubble. They have something I’ve never had, never wanted. Love is a weakness, a distraction, and the way Hadria has changed since Aurora only proves my point.

She has something to lose, now. She has something that enemies can use for leverage.

That’s why I prefer my encounters quick and dirty, like with?—

“Lyssa,” Hadria’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts. “I want you to be my best woman.”

I stare at her, blindsided. “Me? What about Mrs. Graves?”

“She’s Matron of Honor,” Hadria says. “For both of us.”

Aurora beams again, but her smile dims as her eyes drop to my arm. She gives a small gasp. “Lyssa! What happened?” She comes over to look more closely at me, brow furrowed in concern as she reaches for my arm.

Instinctively, I pull back. Damn, I’d forgotten about that gash from last night’s tussle. I’d pulled on last night’s leather pants and a fresh tank top when I woke up, but I didn’t bother to cover up the bandage. “Just a scratch. No big deal, Suzy, and keep your hands to yourself.”

Aurora sighs the way Mrs. Graves sighs at me sometimes, as though I’m being obstinate just for the sake of it. But it’s not exactly a life-threatening wound, for God’s sake. Still…the dull throb in my arm that I’ve been ignoring pulses with increasing intensity. That shouldn’t be happening after a minor knife slash. Maybe I should’ve taken that shot of antibiotics from Scarlett after all.

Scarlett.

Damn it.

I’ve been very determinedly keeping her out of my mind since I woke up, and here she is, worming her way back in…

Hadria’s eyes narrow as she takes in the bandage now as well. “What did you get yourself into?”

With a slight shake of my head, I change the subject. “Forget about me. We’ve got bigger problems than a couple of stitches.” I nod at the wedding paraphernalia. “Can you spare a second for business, or—?” I don’t bother keeping the snark out of my voice.

Hadria tosses aside the seating chart with a sigh and motions for Aurora to come closer for a kiss. “Go order some coffee and pastries for Mrs. Graves, will you, Sunshine? She’ll be here soon.” She glances at me and explains, “She’s helping out a lot with the wedding, but I also plan to have a very serious talk with her about protection. Did you know she keeps ditching her bodyguards?”

“I did know, and I’ve had words with her myself about that. She won’t listen to me, though. Hope she will to you—or maybe you, Suzy. You can talk anyone into anything, right?”

Aurora just grins. “I’ll do my best,” she promises, already halfway out the door. “See you both later.”

As soon as we’re alone, Hadria’s entire demeanor shifts. The warmth evaporates from her expression, leaving the cold, calculated mask of the stone-cold crime queen I know and love

“So?” she prompts. “The assassin?”

“I followed up at that dive bar last night, where Yuri got hit, but I got…sidetracked.” I pause, shoving away the memory of Scarlett once more and focus on the point. “I got jumped in street.”

Hadria’s sculpted brows arches dramatically. “By the assassin?”

“No, a bunch of Sokolovs looking to even the score.”

“Did you call in cleaners?” she asks, those brows pulling together now. “I didn’t hear?—”

“I left them alive. Had a witness with me. A girl from the bar…” The words are out before I can stop them.

But if the Boss is bothered by my indiscretion, she doesn’t show it. “I’ve told you, Lyssa, I’ve told all of you?—”

“I’m not destabilizing Chicago, for fuck’s sake,” I sigh in exasperation. It’s been Hadria’s refrain ever since Juno Bianchi RSPV’d as a maybe to her wedding. Her consigliere, Johnny de Luca, who’s back and forth between Chicago and New York these days, told us the Bianchi Boss will come so long as Chicago is stable. Hadria really, really wants her there in the church when she gets married.

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