Page 56 of Unhinged

Ileana’s eyes flash with anger and her fists clench. "What?" she snarls, teeth gritted. "That arrogant fool! He takes one look at our proposal and tosses it aside like it's nothing!" She slams her palms on the desk, causing the neatly stacked files to scatter. "He'll regret this. Soon enough, he'll realize the mistake he's made."

"He didn't give exact reasons," I say, maintaining my casual stance. "Just said he trusts his instincts. And his instincts told him to decline." I can't tell her that Vasquez already has a deal with Estrada, and now me. I can't tell her that he laughed when I told him about her proposition. "I tried to convince him, but the man won't budge."

Ileana's eyes narrow and she drums her fingers on her desk. "What about the possibility of him being in cahoots with Estrada over this deal in Mexico City?" she asks, her voice cold and calculating.

"I didn't bring it up," I reply evenly. "Didn't want to give away our cards yet."

She nods, seemingly satisfied with my answer. "Good thinking," she says with a hint of admiration in her voice. "But we need to do something soon. If they take Mexico City?—"

"They won't."

She arches a brow. "So sure?"

"It's not possible no matter how much real estate they buy."

She shrugs. "I don't care if it’s possible or not. I want to stop them both in their tracks."

I shake my head. "So you're assuming Vasquez is in leagues with Estrada?"

"Why else wouldn't he agree to our deal?"

Because you're a crazy psycho who always stabs her allies in the back.

"A puzzle of the mind's depths, veiled by a mysterious haze. Can one truly fathom the secrets others hold?"

She sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. "I don't have the strength to deal with your cryptic questions." By the way, I did speak with Gaston and he confirmed that I almost lost the sale because Matias was being too forceful with the girls." Her jaw clenches. "I apologize for doubting you." She clears her throat. "But I need you back on the job again from tomorrow."

I raise a brow. "You're putting me in charge?"

She nods.

I feel relief that I'm finally going to be in control of Alice's training again. It may have only been a couple of days since she kicked me off the team, but it's driven me crazy.

"The girls need to be ready in three days time. The auction is set and invitations went out this morning."

"I see," I say, my voice coming out colder than I intend. That's faster than normal. "They've not been training for very long, what's the rush?"

She shrugs, "There's an opportunity, and I intend to seize it." Her eyes are hard, devoid of any emotion. "The bidders are hungry. They always are. And we need the space in the prison if we're going to take on Vasquez and Estrada."

I almost retort that one cell won't make any difference, but I hold my tongue.

"Get the girls ready in three days, Taren. This is happening."

I nod in response. "Fine."

"And you know the protocol for night before. And since there's three of you and three of them, you can each have one to prepare."

I clear my throat, knowing Alice won't like that. She won't have a problem with spending the night with me, but knowing her friends are with Thiago and Matias... I'll have to handle her anger. She'll hate me for it.

"Right," I say, my tone sharper than intended. Ileana's orders echo in my mind, a haunting melody of betrayal and uneasy anticipation. I'm aware of the precarious balance I'll have to uphold, maintaining Alice's trust while ensuring the deal goes through. "I'll ensure they're primed for the auction." And that I'm ready to chop your head off, Red Queen.

Breaking these shackles, it isn't about physical restraints. It's about breaking free from the mental chains that she has put on my mind. It's a game of stealth and strategy, of trusting the right people and knowing when to strike. And the Red Queen has moved her chess piece, forcing my hand. It's a dance in the shadows, where every move could either shatter the chains or tighten them. And for Alice, for the girls, I'll become the master of this dance.

"Good. You're dismissed."

I turn away and walk out of her office. The countdown has begun. Time to break the chains of oppression that have held me down for far too many years.

And then, once we're all free. I’ve got a Brown University professor to massacre.

---