Page 162 of Dance of Ruin

“Firstly, I owe you a thanks.”

My brow furrows. “Excuse me?”

“Omar was trying to play me, sell me out. You took care of that problem for me.”

My eyes darken. “Who the fuckareyou.”

He smirks. “I told you. I’m Vaughn.”

“Stop talking in riddles,” I spit.

“I’m not.I’mVaughn. Andthatis my brother.” He turns, his mouth pulling into an almost sad smile. “Val.”

“You’ll need to expand on that.”

“I will, but we don’t have time for that right now.”

My jaw tightens. “Why is?—”

“I need you tolisten, Mr. Barone.” He rolls his neck. “You think I’ve been trying to pry into your secret society,” he says. “You think I’m a threat to the Black Court.”

“You’re Obsidian Syndicate,” I hiss.

He shrugs. “The Obsidian Syndicate isn’t a hive-mind, Nico. For a long time—some would saytoo long—it’s been helmed by one man and his…singular visions.”

“The Marquis,” I murmur.

He nods. “His leadership has grown stagnant and self-serving. The Obsidian Syndicate is not just some mercenary force,” he growls. “It’shometo the people who exist within it. A brotherhood. A community.”

“I’m getting some serious cult vibes,” I mutter.

His blue eyes flash. “You’re talking about my family, Mr. Barone. Kindly show some respect.”

Something Prince said to me on the phone earlier clicks in my head.

“You’re the head of the splinter faction, aren’t you?”

He nods. “Some of us remember what the Obsidian Syndicate used to stand for, what it was capable of. Not just soldiers for hire to serve one man’s ambition.”

“And you want the throne.”

He shrugs his shoulders. “I’m not embarrassed to admit it. Yes. I do.”

“So…take it,” I grunt.

“It’s not that easy.”

“Bullets to the back of the head have a way of making thingsveryeasy,” I drawl.

He shakes his head. “Not in this case. This is why I’ve been trying to get the attention of the Black Court, Mr. Barone.”

My nostrils flare. “I don’t know what?—”

“OrRaven, if that feels a more suitable name for this conversation,” he purrs.

For a second, I contemplate killing this fucker right here and now. I don’t know how the hell he knows all this, but it’s fucking…concerning, to say the least.

“That isn’t widely known by the brotherhood, if that’s what you’re worried about,” he murmurs, like he’s reading my thoughts. “Only by me.”

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