Page 146 of Auctioned Innocence
“What’s so funny?” I ask, the hairs on the back of my neck rising. His laughter is fucking creepy.
“You really think this was about you?” Blood seeps through his pants where I cut him. “That this whole operation was just about breaking the Renaldi family?”
I know it’s about taking over the Council, but it’s nice to hear them admit it.
“The Council meeting,” I say, checking my broken watch and feeling my stomach drop. How long have I been out? “Tonight. It’s tonight, isn’t it?”
“Started an hour ago,” Lorenzo confirms, smiling despite his wound. “Where Viktor is currently presenting evidence of widespread corruption among the old families. Evidence James has been collecting for years.”
“Financial records, security breaches, unauthorized operations,” James continues with satisfaction. “Every family’s dirty laundry, all pointing to the same conclusion—the current Council system has failed.”
“While the families are distracted fighting each other…” I fake, keeping them talking.
“Viktor’s people take control of everything,” Lorenzo finishes. “Using legitimate Council authority to restructure the entire organization. No more autonomous families. No more old guard resistance.”
I’d sent intelligence to Mario before we left the estate. Detailed files about Lorenzo’s communications, Viktor’s network, the connections between them all. If the Council meeting started an hour ago, Mario should have had time to…
Another wave of nausea hits, but I fight it down. “You really think I didn’t prepare for this possibility?”
Their smiles falter.
“You’re bluffing,” Lorenzo says, but uncertainty creeps into his voice. “You couldn’t have known?—”
“About Viktor’s coup? About the Council meeting?” I think about the intelligence packages I’d transmitted before our mission began. “About James feeding you information for years while also building a case against all the families?”
The color drains from James’s face.
“I may have been captured unexpectedly,” I continue, “but I made sure my father had everything he needed before we left tonight. Every communication log, every financial transfer, every piece of evidence showing your coordination with Viktor.”
“That’s impossible,” James snarls. “The Council meeting—Viktor’s presentation?—”
“Is probably being presented to an audience that includes very prepared family representatives,” I interrupt, hoping my timing is right. “Did you really think we’d let Viktor walk into that room without warning them what to expect?”
The warehouse’s emergency sirens suddenly blare. Gunfire erupts outside.
“And that,” I say conversationally, “would be Dante. Right on schedule.”
An explosion rocks the building. Close.
“But the evidence Viktor has,” Lorenzo starts desperately.
“Is real. And damning. And exactly what we needed to prove there was a systematic campaign to frame the families.” My smile is smug and satisfied. “Funny how evidence of a conspiracy actually proves therewasa conspiracy.”
James lunges, and we grapple for the gun. His training against mine.
But I have something he never expected.
I have everything to fight for now. My family, my future with Dante, my ability to stand on my own two feet and fight forme. I’m fighting harder than I ever have before.
The shot echoes through the office.
James stumbles back, eyes wide. “You actually…”
“I actually did.” I keep the gun trained on him as he slides down the wall, clutching his shoulder. Not fatal, but he won’t be fighting anymore.
Lorenzo makes a break for the door. I let him run.
Right into Dante.
