Page 77 of The Crimson Lily
“Don’t let yourself be fooled, William,” a woman says. I recognize that voice. I can’t place it, but I don’t care either. Because that woman uttered William’s name.
William is here.
“She…your liability.” The woman says words, but I can barely hear her through the microphone. Maksim needs to get closer. “The other lords think…you should…terminate.”
“What is she saying?” I ask.
No response from Maksim.
“Relax, Margaret.” William’s voice and nothing more, only distant mumbles.
“Who’s Margaret?” I urge Chiara.
Chiara stares into the abyss, her eyes wide. She frowns when she finally decides to look at me. “If you mean Margaret Rose, she’s a Syndicate lord.”
“Why are you frowning? What’s a Syndicate lord?”
“Something’s not right,” Chiara murmurs to herself. She switches to Giovanni. “Tell theRussoto come back.”
“What’s wrong?” I ask while Giovanni relays Chiara’s request.
“If there’s a Syndicate lord, then there are armed soldiers, and Maksim could be in danger,” Chiara explains.
“Oh, so now it’s dangerous!” I scoff. “Isn’t there a freaking Syndicate lord at every meeting?”
“No,” Chiara shakes her head repeatedly. “Barons like William, maybe, but never a lord.”
These ranks mean nothing and everything to me, but I have other things to ponder. I steal Giovanni’s headset from his head and make it mine.
“Maksim, please come back,” I plead.
Thumps. Grunts. More voices.
“The Bratva dog…” William’s voice.
Fuck. Shit. Maksim, no!
“Where is she?” William’s voice, again. “Where is Liliana?”
Fuck.
No.
Maksim!
I discard the headset and step out of the car, panic gripping my throat.
I run into the dark, into the woods, Giovanni screaming for me to come back.
Maksim.
I have but one idea in mind: Maksim.
Arms forcibly wrap themselves around me and hold me back. I am hurled to the side and crash-land on the ground.
“Liliana, there’s nothing we can do!” Giovanni yells. “We have to leave.”
I roll on my back to shoot arrows at him with my eyes. “What the fuck happened? How…” I can’t speak.
