Page 149 of Bonds of Obsession

“Fuck,” I mutter, answering it. The guys tense, watching my face as I listen to what he has to say.

When I hang up, my hands are shaking. “We have a Dark Lotus meeting to attend. Now.”

“They can’t be happy about how you called in that last votum,” Nico says carefully.

“You did what you had to do,” Atlas says, but I can see the worry in his eyes. None of us trust the Dark Lotus Syndicate. Not after seeing how they operate.

“Yeah, well.” I push to my feet, ignoring how my muscles scream in protest. “Let’s hope they see it that way.”

Nico steps closer, his expression grim. “You know they won’t. They’ve been looking for an excuse since you joined.”

He’s right. I’ve felt their judgment and suspicion. I’ve seen the way they look at me like I’m a bomb about to go off in their midst.

“Fuck ’em,” Killian growls, wincing as he straightens up. “If they try anything?—”

“They won’t,” I cut him off, but my stomach is churning. “I played by their rules. I used my votum exactly how I was supposed to.”

But even as I say it, I know it’s not that simple. I’ve used all three of my votums now, burning through them like matches. First to save Atlas, then for a place to stay after Ambrose burned everything, and now my desperate call for backup.

I’m out of favors and out of leverage. And these aren’t the kind of people I’d ever want to owe anything to.

“We should go,” I say, checking my weapon out of habit. “If I make them wait, they’ll just have one more reason to be pissed.”

The guys fall in around me as we head out. My protectors. My family. At least with Ambrose dead, I only have one group of vipers to worry about.

We make the familiar trek to the luxurious day spa and down to the cavernous basement. The energy in the room hits me like a physical force when we walk in. Every member of the Dark Lotus Syndicate is already there, and none of them seem pleased to see me. Imogen and Cassandra share a surreptitious glance with each other, then turn their focus toward me with expressions I can’t read. Elliot is glaring daggers, probably pissed about having to send his men to help this morning.

My men flank me as I take my seat, and I keep my chin high. I won’t show these fuckers any weakness. Ever.

“Quinn, I’m glad you could join us,” Malcolm says smoothly. There’s something in his voice that sets my teeth on edge.

“I’m happy to show up and do my part,” I reply, matching his tone.

Imogen is watching me with those calculating eyes of hers, and Rafael won’t even look in my direction. The whole vibe is off, worse than usual. These meetings are always tense, but this feels different.

“Some of us had better things to do than answer your desperate call for help this morning,” Elliot snaps, his face mottled with anger. “Some of us have actual business to attend to.”

I bite back a snarl, but just barely. “The rules say when someone calls in a votum?—”

“Yes,” Malcolm cuts in. “The rules. Let’s talk about those, shall we?”

Beside me, I feel Atlas tense. His instincts are probably screaming as loud as mine.

I scan the room again, noticing for the first time how many armed guards are present. More than usual. Way fucking more.

“Is there a problem?” I keep my voice steady, but my hand inches toward my weapon under the table.

Malcolm’s smile is all teeth. “Oh, I think you know exactly what the problem is.”

Fuck. Something is wrong. Something is really wrong. But before I can figure out what, I hear the sound of multiple weapons being drawn.

“I heard the most interesting thing earlier,” Malcolm continues, leaning forward. “Just before he died, Ambrose had quite the conversation with one of Elliot’s men. About a woman named Celine.”

Fuck.

“Remember her?” Elliot sneers. “The pregnant wife you were supposed to kill? The one whose hand you brought us as proof?”

A chill runs through my veins. That’s what Ambrose meant. His last smile and those cryptic words. He knew. Somehow the fucker knew I’d let Celine live.

---