Page 76 of Seizing Control: Part One

“Must’ve got me dates mixed up.” He steps forward, hand outstretched. “Name’s Karlos. With a K.”

“Venom.” Shaking his hand, I return his firm grip when he pumps my arm up and down. “What’re you in for?”

“Car theft.”

“Nice.” My tone is mocking as I tease him, “Whaddya plan on doin’ next? Pinchin’ steak from Woolies?”

“Yeah, yeah... the Adjudicator had to pull somethin’ outta his arse real quick to get me in here with ya.” He chuckles. “Figured stealin’ cars was appropriate. Keeps me under tha radar while I watch ya back.”

I look the old man up and down with clear scepticism. “You’re my protection?” After I touch my split eyebrow and inspect the two bleeding men curled up on the floor, I drawl, “Seems like you’ve got things backward.”

Karlos pulls the sleeve of his jumper up to show me the switchblade taped to his inner forearm. “Needed to see how you acquit yaself... helps me know when to step up.”

“Hope your question has been answered,” I reply with a smirk. Glancing at the meathead and his tweaker friend a second time, I add. “Not that they posed much of an issue.”

“If only that kinda luck’d hold.”

I grin at the older man. “Or not... I’m not impartial to a good brawl or two.”

“Cell thirteen. Door opening.” The corridor lights turn on in sequence as the guard approaches again. It’s a couple hours after our evening meal, maybe half an hour before lights out, so I know only one person could be visiting me at this hour. “Stand with your hands out.”

I assume the position as requested while Karlos with a K melts back into the shadows.

All the while my brain runs at a million miles a minute.

Why is he here?

Has something changed with Lily?

That has to be the answer. After all, Gabriel has already exacted my compliance in the plan he wants to enact behind the scenes. Our publicly acknowledged scheme is simple. I plead guilty and take the fall for Lily over Alex’s death. My sweet thing marries Slash to ally the Shamrocks with the Trinity. Brutus gets a bullet between the eyes the moment he relaxes enough to pop his head up, and the Maddison clan’s plans to become the next big player in the Australian underworld are stopped permanently.

Beneath that the stakes are higher.

Apollo and Isaiah have refused their rightful legacy within the Trinity—leaving Gabriel without an heir. His older brother is the president of the National chapter of the Shamrocks in the US. Samael Abaddon has five sons, none of whom are old enough or willing to step up as the next Adjudicator either.

And that’s where I come in... Venom will die and I’ll be resurrected as Lazarus.

Even as I mull over that statement in my head, I find it hard to believe.

Yet, my future is clear.

I’ve agreed to fake my death and assume a new identity.

For two reasons...

The first is simple—my disappearance resolves the biggest threat to Lily. My safety can’t be held over her head if I’m already dead. My demise gives her breathing space, and it allows us time to take out Brutus and put the Maddisons back in their box.

The second objective is a lot more complex.

“Step out.” A discombobulated voice orders over the loudspeaker when the cell door slides open. “Turn around.” Like a good little automaton, I do as I’m told. Wrists held at the small of my back, I allow the guard to handcuff me. After he forgoes the ankle chains, I decide not to give him shit when he stammers, “F-follow me.”

Nerves radiate off the young screw as he leads me from the block. I silently observe the sweat that runs down his cheek when he directs me to enter the same damn room that I met Gabriel and Slash in this morning. Stepping behind me, the jittery guard uncuffs my hands, then he announces, “The Adjudicator will be in shortly.”

Seems the screw is one of Gabriel’s people.

Soon to be one of mine.

I take a moment to memorise his face, just in case I find myself in need of assistance in here. Notwithstanding the attack on me and Karlos in our cell, I’ve been ambushed twice already, and both times, another inmate has stepped in to help me. We have dozens of contacts inside the prison, but it’s nice to know that I now have a guard I can call on, too.

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