Page 18 of Ambition

Von tilts his head back, exposing the strong column of his pale throat as he stares up at me. “No. He didn’t.” He smiles snidely.

“Stop fucking gloating,” I snap.

He shrugs, not remorseful. “Anyway, another shipment—all the worst stuff—is due to arrive next week. The 6 want Writhe to subvert it, but first they need the information on who and where it’s from. They only know it’s coming.”

“Yes, and Theo mentioned to his guard, Lenox, that next week wastight.Schedule wise. I think it’s arriving in a plane. He said it right in front of me. Tomorrow night, I might be able to get closer to finding out exactly what that means and—”

“Tomorrow is Friday. They don’t have time for you to getcloser.They need you toget it.”Von practically snarls the words and I narrow my eyes. “Who. And where. Both pieces of intel.”

“Okay. So I will. I’ll get it.”

“Yes, withCain’shelp. He has a contact inside Sancte’s compound. He’ll be able to find out precisely where any information on meetings like these is kept, and you can access it based on his intel.”

At this, I laugh. “You think Theo Sancte simply writes down his shipment dates in a ledger? Ifthat’show all of us are conducting business these days, well, I missed that memo. Somewhere beneath Writhe’s echoing commandment ofDo Not Write Anything Down. Ever.”

Von shrugs one shoulder, muscles flexing along his arms. I can’t help staring at the freckles there, on his shoulder cap. A circle of them. Like a dainty crown.

“It’s digital, Isa.”

“And likely protected by at the veryleasta passcode. Besides, if Cain has a contact, why would that person not relay the information? Why send me?” Mads never gave me a date. Never mentioned an upcoming shipment. He only wanted me to find out what I could, get a feel for how Theo ran his operations from the inside. It was a general assignment, I thought, about the supplier. A test, to see how well I could do. Now, the pressure burns through my limbs and I know napping is absolutely not in the cards, and likely, neither is sleep later tonight. Everything is ramping up in a way beyond my control; I didn’t even get tospeakto Mads and texting him about an assignment is out of the question. Irritation eats at me as I stare at my best friend, on the floor at my feet. If Karia and Cosmo weren’t here, if Von wasn’t trying to make me jealous, would anything have changed? Would I have delayed the shower? Gotten to speak to Mads myself?

Just before I snap at Von, I see his eyes catch on my toes.

I glance down at the emerald-green polish from my last pedicure; only two days ago, a necessity when escorting to Theo Sancte. Von’s throat rolls as his gaze travels up to my ankles, my shins. The barest hint of my thigh, before the towel covers the rest of me from view.

“Becausethat personis invaluable.” Von says, and it takes me a second to realize he’s finally answering my fucking question. “A contact on theinside.”Von speaks the words slowly, articulating every syllable. He has always spoken that way and I think it makes him sound both snotty and smart. I usually kind of like it, although I’ve never said as much, preferring to tease him instead. His eyes flick up to mine, locking there for long moments before he adds, “They can’t be caught; they can’t die. You, on the other hand, are disposable.” Slowly, he stands to his feet, the movement lithe. He towers over me, stepping closer in the small width of the hallway.

His eyes never leave mine as he stares down at me, a snarl curling on his plush top lip. “They do not care ifyoudie trying to gather the information. If you slip up after sucking Theo’s dick.” His cheekbones, lifted and sharp, turn the slightest shade of pink in the anger I canfeelfrom him.

It reflects back inside of me. He is belittling me all in the name of now-concealed jealousy.Fuck him. Fuck Mads for not waiting for me.“I beg to differ. My parents would care very much, and so would Mads.” Even if I hate him right now. “They either believe I can do it, or they trust me to know when to pull out if necessary.”

Von’s cheek lifts in a smirk. “Does Theo know how to do that? Did he last night?”

“Fuck off, Von.” I tighten my arms across my chest. “Get out of my fucking face. I don’t know why you’re inserting yourself into any of this. It isn’t your job. Get back to fucking Karia and stay out of this.”

He stares at me a moment, his body curving towards mine. For a second, I wonder if he will tell me tomake himget out of my face. If we will spar right here.

And I have to ask it, the anger pushing through my own poorly hidden feelings. “Is she still here?” Was she here when Mads came? Did Von send her away? Of course he did, but out of the condo? Back home? And why don’t I ask about Cosmo? Why do I make this athing?

Von’s lips tilt into a soft smile. “Why don’t you get dressed…” He flicks his gaze up and down my body. “And come find out?”

I roll my eyes and ignore the flush of heat barreling through me, and the smallest bit of elation at the thought of him sending Karia and Cosmo home. “Where is your dad now? I’m going to go talk to him. I’ll need to take your car.”

Von scoffs like that’s out of the question, despite the fact I’ve driven it before. He slips his hands into his pockets and looks away from me. “He had another meeting before Solemn. You’re not going anywhere. You need to rest, actually.” He looks at me again. “Really. Come watch something with me.” And before I can consider the sincerity of his offer, he turns away.

ISADORA

I freeze when I see Karia in the living room.

Dark as night, except for the reflection of the large, flat screen television, playing a horror movie by the looks of it. An altar floor, blood spattered in ominous drops over the polished wood. It’s quiet now, the movie, but my pulse is pounding in my ears as I stand there frozen in my own house, wearing white, loose shorts and the same color tank, hair down, the scent of my coconut oil body spray in my nose as I lift my glare to Von.

To his credit—very minimal credit—he is not sitting right beside her. She’s stretched out on the sectional, covered with one ofmywhite fuzzy blankets, and Von is about two seats over, his gaze on mine in the dimness of the room.

Karia’s head is turned toward the back of the couch and I can see her eyes are closed and she must be sleeping butwhat the fuck.

On her other side, Cosmo’s green eyes lift from his phone to me, and his expression is odd. A half-smile, but something lazy and sensual about it. I wonder if he went out to smoke something besides tobacco. He’s into things like that.

“You just gonna stand there?” Von asks softly, as if he doesn’t want to wake Karia, and when I glance at the television and see a nun and priest having a low, hushed conversation, I realize he has turned the sound almost all the way down too.

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