Page 76 of The Death Dealer

“This meetingis calledto order!”she intoned.

A gavel banged, and Trevor paused a beat to press home his point before turning away.

Beside him, Damian stood, looking dapper in his Dior navy blue suitwitha thin black turtleneck underneathin placeof a standard shirt and tie. One hand was tucked in his pants pocket, as if hewasattending a casual event and having a friendly conversation.No worry lined his perfect visage.

“Stop drooling over him,”Trevor admonished.

“He’s hot as fuck. What can I say? But I’m only interested in doing the nasty with you. Pay attention to the trial.”

Damian half turned to cast her an amused look.Hisobsidian eyes were twinkling ashewinked at her.

Shit!

She’d forgotten his ability to read minds when it concerned him. As hot as her skin felt, her face had to be as dark as a Cymbidium Royal Red orchid.

Trevor snorted.Damnhis hide!

A commotion in the hall had all heads turning toward the doors.

CHAPTER26

Councilwoman Vector entered through the double doors as if she owned the place. The smug look she shot Trevor’s way didn’t bode well. Behind her was a contingent of four Red Guards, but they didn’t appear to be worried about her escape. Indeed, they seemed to be her escort, as if she were their leader.

A slight frown caused Trevor’s brows to dip, and he leaned in to murmur to Damian. Soleil couldn’t determine what he’d said, but her brother-in-law stilled, becoming watchful. Or aswatchfulas a man accustomed to hiding his expression could be.

As Agnes approached the head councils’ bench, she waved a hand tomufflewhat she had to say for the witnesses and viewers, then gestured madly toward Trevor asshespoke, passionate in whatever point she was trying to make. Whispered conversations exploded throughout the chamber as Mattie and Agnes exchanged indiscernible heated words. Those left in the dark were speculating on the outcome.

“Trevor?”

“I don’t know, Dalli. It’s muted for me, too.”

Unable to suffer the suspense a second longer, Soleil rose and inched her way by those seated in the main aisleway. All conversation stopped as she swept open the fence gate.

“I’d like to speak.”

Trevor swore savagely. “Stop her, Dethridge.”

“I’d like to hear what she has to say,” Damian replied. “You should, too.”

“She’ll make it worse. She doesn’t know the Authority like we do.”

Hiding her hurt as best she could, Soleil continued until she reached the bench.

Mattie showed concern as her gaze swept along the Council andthensettled on her. “This is highly irregular, Ms. Stephens.”

“I imagine it is. But so is having a Death Dealer assigned to stalk you, as was done to me.”

“Ouch,” Trev muttered.

She ignored him. “So is having multiple assassination attempts, as was done to me. And so was being used to manipulate Trevor Blane to do Agnes Vector’s bidding.” Soleil crossed her arms and glared at the Councilwoman next to her. “Your veiled conversation is objectionable when an innocent man is on trial.”

“If you believe Trevor Blane is innocent, girl, you’ve been brainwashed,” Agnes retorted with a derisive snort. “He’s annihilated people for money and is far from pure.”

“Peopleyousent him to kill!” Soleil dropped her arms and balled her hands into fists. The urge to strike the blackhearted Beelzebub was strong.

“They were assignments.” The woman shook her head as if Soleil were a dimwit. “Sit down, girl. You’re wasting everyone’s time.”

“Then, if they were assignments, any payment was blood money from the Authority, wasn’t it?” she pointed out. When everyone seemed unconcerned, Soleil said, “I’d like to make it known that Councilwoman Vector abducted me.” Standing firm, Soleil tipped her head sideways to indicate Agnes. “She aborted my intended teleport and tied me to a chairto?—”

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