Page 30 of Deviant

I bat my butler away and turn my focus to the man they call the Kingmaker.

He inclines his head as I approach and I pour two whiskeys, already knowing the way he likes it. Single Malt. Neat. No ice. Just a double measure.

“Magnus,” he says, shaking my hand before taking the drink.

“What do we owe thepleasure?” I ask.

“Not a pleasure, I’m afraid.” he replies, giving no other hint in his voice.

I gesture to the chesterfield and he takes his seat before I do mine with a slight creak of the leather.

“We have a situation,” he states. “A delicate one.”

“Tell me.”

Antonio glances around, waving his hand and all but dismissing the other Lords from the room. Conrad glances at me and I give the slightest nod for him to follow them out.

“Girls are going missing. Notable girls. Notable families.” Antonio says as soon as the door shuts behind them all.

“What girls?” I ask.

He lists of half a dozen, most I know only from their surname, not because they’re of any interest to me.

“Also, Mary-Anne Turner.” he says, fixing me with a look I don’t like.

I take a slow sip while deciding how best to play this. “What is it you want me to do?” I’m not a detective. I don’t give a shit what happens to these families. My role is to play executioner for the Brethren, to meet out justice. I don’t get involved in bullshit like this.

His lips curl. He sinks back, causing the oxblood leather to creak and he pulls one ankle up over the other. “I know you have her. Or at least, you did.” he says quietly. Confidently. And yet, not exactly threateningly. “You’ve probably already realised you were being set up and you’ve disposed of her if you have any wits about you.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I reply calmly, before taking another delightful drink. Like I’ll admit what I’ve done with such little evidence to accuse me.

“No?” He muses. “I happen to know the girl was brought to Oblivion, and I happen to know she’s not there anymore.”

“If she is…”

“Hold that thought.” Antonio says, raising his finger slightly. “Hear me out first.”

I shift, making myself comfortable, but all the while I’m aware of the knife I’ve got tucked into my ankle. If this man tries anything, I’ll gut him before he can even make it halfway to the door. I don’t give a fuck who he is. I don’t give a fuck that hemadethe last two Chapter Lords. I will rip his throat out before I give in.

“Turner is failing.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard,” he says. “He’s got health issues. It’s need to know. We thought we could contain it, keep it under wraps. But the man is deteriorating and someone outside the circle obviously knows.”

“Why are you telling me this?” This is dangerous talk. This is exactly the kind of treasonous shit that gets you sent to Oblivion.

“You’re a smart man, Magnus. Clever. You have the right credentials. With the right support you could do it.”

I blink. Not quite sure I heard him right, but then, what else could he be suggesting?

“They took his daughter, literally pulled her off the street,” he continues. “If that isn’t a sign, then what is?”

I put the glass down, leaning forward, glancing behind to double check that we are still alone, that no one is there to hear all of this. He may be the Kingmaker, but that doesn’t make him completely infallible.

“What about the other girls?” I say. It’s not just Mary-Anne. He said it himself, other notable girls are going walkies, too.

Antonio waves his hand. “They’re nothing. Just jabs. They’re meant to get us riled up. It’s all part of a plot to create upheaval.”

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