Page 26 of Saint

“So then…How do they know it’s not faked?”

“If it is, that’s a death sentence,” Lake said. “And not just for them.”

“If a member of the club submits a blank or falsified tape and it’s later discovered, they and their entire bloodline is wiped out. It hasn’t happened in…what?” West turned to Lake. “Two hundred years?”

“Something like that.”

“Of course, no one will know so long as the member never breaks the rules, but this is a dangerous place to be. Piss off the wrong person, someone with enough power, and they can easily frame you for something you didn’t do. They kick you out and view your tape and see that you never followed through…”

Death sentence.

For everyone.

Nix scowled. “That’s—”

“Fucked up,” Lake filled in for him. “Yes, we know. But that’s how things are done.”

A thought occurred to him and his eyes narrowed. “You were going to make me do that.”

“It wouldn’t have been any different than what we did as Maestro and Songbird. It would have just been the two of us and a camera.”

“Did you record any of those times?”

Lake dropped his gaze. “No.”

“And there’s the difference.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Shit. I can’t believe I let Juri put himself through that. What kind of friend am I.”

“You didn’t know,” West reassured. “But he did. He wouldn’t have offered if that was a dealbreaker for him. Which is why I think June needs to stop being so suspicious of him and get a grip.”

“Yejun still doesn’t trust Juri?” Nix asked. “Even after last night?”

“Actually, not sure. Haven’t seen him.”

“I don’t think he came back to the Roost,” Lake said.

“He’s still at his studio?” Nix glanced at the clock on his multi-slate. It’d been ten hours since they’d returned from the Corleone residence. “I thought he was supposed to get a break after the gallery showing?”

Lake and West silently watched him.

“What?” Nix rolled his eyes. “I’m not made of glass. Did it suck having all those people stare at my bare ass? Yeah. But it happened. Crying about it now won’t solve anything.”

“But you’re still pissed at June?” West surmised.

“I’m not mad at Yejun because of the painting,” Nix reminded. Would he rather that particular piece of work had never been created? Yes. But it was Dew’s fault it’d been displayed publicly instead of privately like the artist had intended. “I believe him when he says it was meant to be a gift for Lake’s birthday. Speaking of,” he turned to Lake, “what do you want?”

Lake quirked a brow. “My birthday has passed, Songbird.”

“Not the point.”

“There’s nothing I want.”

He blew out a breath. “Can’t ever make anything easy for me, can you?” He knew exactly what he was going to give theDemon, but he’d wanted to ask anyway. “When’s a good time to give it to you?”

Lake cocked his head. “You’re serious?”

“I never joke about birthdays.”

“Gift-giving is going to have to wait,” West told them, checking his multi-slate. “Yejun is at the office. Apparently, he got the paperwork all set up.”

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