Page 59 of Thrown to the Wolves

My heart clenches at her selflessness. How can she be so willing to sacrifice herself for people she’s never met? For me, the person who has killed so many Syndicate members? “No. I can’t let you do that. She’ll kill you, and it will be my fault.”

She hugs me close, tight, before releasing me and fixing me with that same pitying look from before. “Scarlett, I’m very sorry for what you’ve been through. And I’m sorry for what’s coming, too.”

“What do you mean?”

Mrs. Graves looks at me with a deep sadness. “My girls will come for me, Scarlett. And when they do...”

She holds my gaze for a soul-searing moment, and I see she’s right. She’s no innocent, this woman. She’s brave and she’s honorable, but she’s done terrible, wicked things in her life, just like I have.

“When they come for me,” she says softly, “they will kill you. But before then, I think we should at least give your parents a fighting chance. What do you say?”

CHAPTER 29

Scarlett

By the time I’m leading Mrs. Graves out of the elevator and into Grandmother’s penthouse suite, my heart is pounding against my ribs like it wants to burst out to freedom. But Mrs. Graves is a steady presence beside me, her face a picture of calm despite the circumstances.

How can she be so composed when I feel like I’m about to shatter into a million pieces?

And how can she have such perfect trust in “her girls”? Even I, who knows exactly what Lyssa is capable of, have my doubts that she’ll get here in time to save her mother-figure.

But Mrs. Graves insisted on coming. She made it impossible not to take her, threatening to become…

Difficult.

She’s very used to dealing with killers, that’s for sure. I wonder if she takes the same no-nonsense approach with Lyssa and Hadria. I wonder…I wonder, if I’d known about the Styx Syndicate when Adam died, whether I might have gone to them to ask for help. But I didn’t have the chance. Grandmother got to me first.

And now Grandmother herself emerges from her sitting room, eager to see her prize. Downstairs, when I reported in to the guards, I said only that I had a gift for Grandmother.

I feel some small measure of satisfaction now as her eyes land on Mrs. Graves, quick shock rippling across her usually unreadable face.

It’s like watching a stone statue crack.

“What is the meaning of this, Scarlett?” Her voice is thin, sharp, lashing at my already frayed nerves.

I launch into my story. “I know you wanted Aurora Verderosa, Grandmother, but I thought Mrs. Graves would be a better hostage. She’s like a mother to both Hadria Imperioli and Lyssa. Her life means everything—to both of them. Your plan will work better with?—”

But Grandmother’s face contorts with rage. She’s already moving fast, faster than I’ve ever seen her move, and strikes me across the face. I taste blood, feel it trickling from the corner of my mouth, and raise a hand to delicately touch it.

“You stupid, stupid girl!” Grandmother hisses. “How dare you defy my orders? Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

“I thought?—”

“You thought wrong,” she snarls, raising her hand again. I brace myself, waiting for the next blow.

But it doesn’t come. Mrs. Graves has stepped forward, her eyes blazing, putting herself between Grandmother and me. “Stop it!” she snaps. “Leave the girl alone.”

Grandmother pauses, arm still raised, and laughs. “Who do you think you are, giving me orders?” She looks Mrs. Graves up and down, a cruel smile playing at her lips. “Do you have any idea who I am, housekeeper?”

Mrs. Graves lifts her chin, meeting Grandmother’s gaze without fear. In that moment, she seems taller somehow. “No, I do not—and frankly, I don’t care to.”

I stare at her, awed by her courage and—unfortunately—I want to giggle at the expression on Grandmother’s face. It’s just nerves, but it won’t help if I start laughing now.

Grandmother’s smile has faded, replaced by a look of cold fury. She opens her mouth to speak, but before she can, the elevator doors open again and one of her guards rushes in.

“Ma’am, we have a—a situation,” the guard says, slightly out of breath. “There’s a group here, attempting to breach the building.”

My heart leaps into my throat.

---