Page 80 of Carry Your Debt

“So we don’t have the same mother?”

I shake my head. “No. My mother was a European crime princess. She died shortly after my birth, and I’ve never been able to find out much more than that. Sebastian had all traces of her scrubbed.”

He nods, considering his next words.

“And the Labors. They have to nominate every heir?”

I sigh, rubbing the bridge of my nose. “Eh, no. Technically, they can nominateup to three. They just have to weigh up the risk of not using their strongest candidates against the risk of losing their best potential legacies.”

“He didn’t evenneedto nominate Tris?” The angry question comes from Jameson. He’s guarding Sinclair's back as carefully as any seasoned mob Enforcer, and as much as the circumstances that have brought us all together pain me, what I’ve seen of them so far looks promising.

“Only entering one name means whoever it is has to live long enough for Sebastian to ascend. A second son doubles his chances. However, we have reason to believe Sebastian already had planned to replace his firstborn heir, and that’s the real reason he needs access to his spare.”

Sinclair’s face hardens at that. “He wants to get rid of you? Why?”

“The Gray Man used to value discretion and shadow work. But greed always wins, and I saw the writing on the wall—well before he started sending the Suits down a path I didn’t want to follow,” I say, slipping my own hands back into my pockets to hide the fists forming.

“I started working on putting contingencies in place in case our organization reached a point of no return. Unfortunately, he started picking up on my resistance, and now we’re almost sure he’s going to use the Labors as a cover to start cleaning house. Especially now that you’re eighteen.” I lick my lips, desperate forsome moisture. “His own contingency plan, ready to action,” I add, ruefully.

Sinclair’s eyes slide back to the kitchen. “Cleaning house?”

I follow his gaze to where Sabine is now floating into the dining area, a grilled cheese sandwich between her lips. She’s opted for an oversized cable knit sweater and tight faux leather leggings.

“She’s too valuable to him. But the rest of my Crew? Fair game.”

His voice drops low with urgency. “But she’s in danger, isn’t she? If not from our father, then at least from others. I saw the way Midas was looking at her on Sunday night.”

I can’t help the dark scowl that takes over my face at his words. Jameson shoots a hand out when I crowd my brother’s space, snagging my elbow. I ignore it.

The claws of possession are pulling harder than his grip ever could.

“That’s the only reason you’re even here. I don’t give a singlefuckabout the Crown. But that doesn’t change the fact that we’re all about to be dropped right in the fucking middle of a civil fucking war, and the only thing I care about is gettingherout of this in one piece,” I hiss, tone harsh and just as low.

“Something we can agree on, then,” Sinclair spits back at me, pushing Jameson’s hand off my sleeve.

“There are snakes everywhere. You have to stay on your guard, even at your school,” I urge him. My jaw clenches at the thought of Sabine having to sleep down the hallway from one of them. “Which reminds me, you should know that after the roster goes out today, there’s a good chance Sloane Walker will find out who your biological father is.”

His head rears back at that. “Come again?”

“Sloane WalkernéeO’Sullivan. She’s actually the daughter of Smiley, one of the Irish Mob bosses who are going after the Crown.”

Sinclair’s barked laugh is disbelieving. “Are you telling me she’s an heir as well?”

“She’s a princess, but she’s not an heir. It’s very rare for daughters to be named in our lines of succession. They’re usually married off instead.”

“So she’s not competing?” Ares sneers. “Shame. Would’ve liked the chance to take that bitch out,” he adds with an annoyed roll of his shoulders.

My brother only thins his lips. “But she’s still likely to hear my name come up as one of the Gray Man heirs.”

“Exactly,” I say before lowering my voice even further. “She already knows that Sabine’s connected to him as well.”

That earns me a thunderous look from both of them. “We’re not going to lose her a second time,” Sinclair hisses between his teeth.

My confusion must be obvious because he waves it off. “That’s something we still need to work out with her, but for now, just believe me when I say we’re at your disposal.”

My shoulders drop just a fraction, and then I take his acquiescence as the opportunity to move over and take a seat in the only armchair. As I settle back, I bring one foot up to rest on my knee, lacing my fingers there.

“Now, I know you’ve been doing things on your own, so far. You all seemed to fall into a natural set of roles when you’re together,” I continue, voice rising in volume. “But we don’t have time for leadership struggles and power plays. Since I’m already well acquainted with both Sebastian—and his Second, Dominic—I’ll be running point going forward.”

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