Page 92 of Inside the Wicked

Just then, my already racing heart leaps at the sight of Jacob strolling in wearing a gleam of excitement as he assesses both Rhett and me while making his way over.

“As much as jealousy plagues me, I have to admit, there’s something satisfying in seeing two undeniably suited pieces back together.”

“I wasn’t sure if you would come,” I say. Time to pull on my mask of composure.

“We still have an ongoing concern, darling. I would be hunting you instead had you no sense to meet me here.”

Rhett’s fingers flex on my thigh, and my hand slips over his as if it might calm him. I can practically feel him straining against lunging for Jacob.

Jacob orders a glass of white wine. Then his gaze flicks to Rhett. “I still don’t see what Lanshall and Ana see in you personally, but you’ve caused quite a bit of trouble for all of us, Kaiser.”

“Then I’m doing my job,” he replies calmly.

“I lost a lot of money because of your interference at my gala last winter. It’s brave of you to be here right now.”

Jacob leans back arrogantly in his chair when his wine is served. His cool eyes on Rhett simmer with dark intent. “As I hear, you’re about to gain far more than you lost in this new alliance with Silas Balenhaizer to take down Lanshall, so I guess we’re even.”

Jacob’s chin tips up slightly. “Not yet,” he says, but he drops that topic for now when his attention returns to me. “I want to meet with Silas again for my own peace of mind. You two have done enough, and it’s time for the adults to take over.”

“You wouldn’t have him without me,” I say.

“If not your hand in marriage, what did you offer him to keep his interest in this?”

I expected the interrogation, and I keep myself as straight and confident as he is. “He has an interest in someone in Alistair’s network. We happen to have a connection to her.”

“You expect me to believe the infamous Silas Balenheizer would risk his name and resources on this for a no-name, no-advantage woman?”

My jaw clenches at the amusement lining his tone as he speaks about Kenna though he doesn’t know her. His observations have some merit—at least to someone as cold and power-hungry as Jacob.

“He doesn’t just get her. He wants Alistair’s network. All his assets. She just happens to be a keen motivator for it, and she belongs exclusively to Lanshall himself right now,” Rhett says.

I know it disgusts him to speak of Kenna like this too, but it’s the only language Jacob will understand. Given Silas’s name, he would expect ruthlessness and for Kenna to be nothing more than something to be used like those women Jacob tried to sell.

“I see,” Jacob says, taking a sip of his wine.

I’m finding him hard to read right now. He’s debating something, harboring a hidden triumph, and I can’t figure out what it is as he looks between us with a ghost of a smile.

“Silas has extended an invite to Lumina for you,” I say.

That grabs his attention. “I had my doubts about you, Anastasia, but you seem to have gotten everything you wanted.”

“Not yet,” I say. “I want Alistair Lanshall dead, and he’s ours to do away with when that time comes.”

Jacob nods. “Agreed. As a celebration of our alliance, I want to extend my own invite to you all, and I hope Silas will accept too. I have a new venue opening, a gentlemen’s club, on the south side next month. I’d like you two to be my guests of honor.”

A few heartbeats of silence pass. Of course we don’t want to attend the opening of something that is no doubt going tobe used for nefarious means. It goes against everything Rhett stands for, and I realize that’s why Jacob wants us there. It’s the equivalent of getting Rhett to kneel for him.

“We’d love to,” I say.

On the contrary, Rhett’s expression is scarily firm and resistant. Jacob only delights in it.

“Excellent. And I would like to send you a gown to show my utter appreciation.”

“You don’t have to?—”

“I insist.”

I smile tightly. He won’t take no for an answer. I wonder what would happen if I disregarded his choice of gown, but the mere thought rattles me. I can only think it’s another way to sink Rhett lower so he can bask in the sight of me in his chosen clothing.

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