Page 57 of Sardonic Burn

“The reason this motherfucker—” he motions toward Ray, who flips him off, “and I haven’t been out to get each other as much as the previous generations is because this treaty happened once before.”

“And I’m only hearing about this now, why?”

Ray speaks up. “There was a man who went by the name of The Silencer. In the beginning, he posed no real threat, which is why neither of us reacted to him. However, he started involving himself in some dirty business.”

“As opposed to the clean business we’re leading?”

Noelle gets shut up with a single glare from Ray.

“Sorry, continue.”

“As Ray was saying,” Henrick says loudly. “He was involved in a lot of human trafficking rings. He wasn’t too big, and we were able to put an end to it, but he grew to have some connections. Big ones, at that. Killing him took a toll on both families because the longer we let him wander around, the more support he was getting.”

“So, did you kill him or not?”

Henrick’s jaw ticks. If this were me, I would’ve been smacked into tomorrow for the constant interruption. He’s being careful, though, because Ray won’t hesitate to put him down if he lays his hands on his precious daughter.

“When we agreed to the treaty—and after his very loud threats—he went into hiding for a while. When I did find him, I made sure he was dead.”

“So, he either didn’t die or someone took his name.”

Henrick nods. “And both scenarios are hideous.”

“Then we’ll proceed as planned.”

I whip my head in her direction and very calmly, but firmly, shut down that ridiculous idea.

“No.”

She rolls her eyes. “I’m not even speaking to you, asshole. I’m just saying that I will find out where and when an auction will be held, and I will attend.”

Niko, who was quiet this whole time, decides it’s time for him to chime in.

“It’s too dangerous.”

Finally, the bastard says something I like.

“You don’t get a say.” Noelle huffs and folds her arms in front of her chest. “Although, I do have a back-up plan if I can’t track him down.”

“No.”

She stares at me, jaw clenched. “You didn’t even hear me out.”

“If you want to use yourself as bait because the victims looked like you, then the obvious answer is no.”

“Why the hell would you even care? If I die, isn’t that even better for you?”

“Your life is mine, Noelle. No one else gets to kill you.”

Glass shattering causes me to break eye contact with Noelle. I’m met with a fuming Ray, who all but stabs me with the little pocketknife in his hands. He’s clutching the weapon in his hands, and Noelle is immediately alarmed.

She’s by his side within seconds, whispering in his ear and stroking his forearm. She’s trying to calm him down and although I’m skeptical, her method proves to be useful after a few moments.

“You.” She turns to look at me. “Come with me. We need to talk.”

Her words are filled with a fury that makes my heart beat furiously. The expression she’s making can only be compared tothat of a war goddess, and she’s prepared to destroy the enemy: me.

I’ve never felt like this before.

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