Page 62 of Silent Schemes
“When she betrays you,” Korrin starts.
I cut him off.
“If,” I say.
The room goes silent except for the hum of the electronics and the city outside.
I take a long drag on the cigar, stare at the board, and picture every piece moving.
Sienna is the queen, the unpredictable.
But I’ve always played chess without a king.
“She won’t betray me,” I say, softer now.
Korrin’s laugh is low, dangerous. “Hope she strangles you, at least.”
I grin. “Get in line.”
Cyrus sets the tablet down, and I see a flicker of something in his eyes. “You really trust her?”
I tap the ash off my cigar. “No. But I trust myself more. Now get out and go home.”
The meeting is over. They know it, even if they want to argue.
I take the cigar, the pain in my hand, and head back to the kitchen.
My brothers mutter under their breath as they file out of the apartment, not sparing Sienna a glance as she leans over the sink, running cold water over her hands.
She doesn’t look up.
I stand next to her, so close our shoulders brush.
She whispers, “I could have run.”
I whisper back, “You never wanted to.”
She turns, finally, and faces me.
For a moment, she looks small, almost breakable.
Then she squares her jaw.
“If you ever lie to me, I’ll cut your heart out,” she says.
I nod.
“If you ever try, you’d better not miss,” I say.
We stand there, side by side, smoke curling up toward the dead lights above.
In this house, every day is a war.
But in the wars that matter, I never lose.
She grabs the cigar, takes a drag, and turns, her hips swaying as she walks back down the hall.
This woman will be the death of me.
