Page 35 of Carry Your Debt

“The Alessi Family.”

I groan. "You’re actually kidding me right now.”

Why are the pretty ones always so stupid?

He visibly bristles, but I only scowl, wanting to knock that stupid gold mask from his face.

“The Alessi Family? As in theNew York Alessis?New. York. They’re from theNorth! That means they won’t be able to participateorinterfere in the trials. Besides, the Alessi crime family are practically nobodies compared to the Suits.”

I turn away from them, needing a second to piece my thoughts together. That niggling uncertainty is back, clawing for my attention.

None of this makes sense.

Sponsorship is expensive, requires influence, and is heavily vetted. Whoever sponsored Tristan Sinclair and his friends would only do so if theyreallywanted them here tonight.

And they knew they could pull it off.

The only thing of note the Alessi mafia family has ever contributed to theImperiumare the Donato twins. And they can’t even claim them anymore.

Someone else knows about the second Grayson heir.

“You’re better off going to Martin Sinclair for help,” I mutter.

“No!”Apollo and Ares bark at the same time.

“Jesus, fuck,” I huff, turning back and taking in their outraged expressions.I was only joking.

Scanning the room, my gaze then lands on the entrance, reminding me of the men outside.

“Alright, then. I guess if Sebastiandoesnominate both of his sons, we’ll all technically be on the same team, if temporarily. You should probably acceptourhelp at least.”

Instead of answering, Ares and Apollo have a silent conversation with their eyes, while Hermes pauses with his hands on his hips. He hasn’t said another word, and this might just be the longest I’ve seen him go without speaking since I’ve known him.

Hades continues looking through me with that uncanny X-ray vision of his.

When Apollo returns his focus to me, there’s a little more color in his expression, and eyes that I now know are a shade of Grayson blue are filled with resolve.

“We obviously still have questions, and evidently, you’ve got the answers.”

A flash of that first day in the courtyard:Sabine Winters isdead. So who the fuck are you?

“Obviously," I echo, with a curt nod to cover my unease.

“But, yes. It’s probably in our best interest if we…work together,” he concedes, watching as I slip my mask back into place. Just as I finish with the ribbon, I hear a flurry of movement on the other side of the privacy screen.

My arms drop back to my sides.

Time’s up.

“Ugh,”I groan, leaning into Zeus’s muscular hold as he ushers me toward the dining hall. My head had started pounding the moment I’d stepped out of the alcove’s dim lighting and back into the main atrium. “I don’t think I can do dinner. I’m about five balding mobsters away from an epic migraine.”

“You know as well as I do it will be a thousand times more painful—for both of us—if you don’t show your face. Just get through the main service and I’ll have Orbison drop you off at the hotel.”

“Can I at least start drinking now?

“No.”

Was that a whimper? I’m pretty sure it was a whimper.

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