Page 12 of Queen of Diamonds

“Kyan.” Zed cut him off.

There was a long pause, and the air felt like static with the tension in it, but finally, Kyan let me go.

It might have been the hardest thing I’d ever done, stepping away from him. I took a breath, glancing back up at Zed. I could see the frigid viciousness in his eyes. I needed that from him. Again, like the coward I was, I didn’t look at Kyan. I couldn’t even manage Knight.

I had to go now and never look back. Seeing them—even once—it was never supposed to happen.

I forced myself toward the door, tucking my knife away, but keeping hold of my gun. I’d barely opened it for a second before I was tugging it closed but for a crack, stifling a curse.

There was a man in a black suit in the hallway beyond.

He fit in at the High Roller and could even be a bouncer for the way he was standing, palm clasped over wrist by the stairs. But we didn’t have security that waited there like that. He wasn’t facing in my direction, and I watched as he adjusted his cuff absently. Beneath the sleeve was a flash of black.

I couldn’t see the details from here, but I knew what it was all the same.

The slender tattoo of a rose.

5

GLADE

Ipressed the door shut silently, heart in my throat.

I’d been gone too long and the men after me were getting antsy.

There was one bit of good news. If he was waiting like that, blending into the High Roller staff and patrons, they still wanted to avoid making a scene.

Whether it was because Travis’s security posed a threat, or they didn’t want to tread on the toes of whoever had caused a scene around Spades, I wasn’t sure, but I’d take it.

Or perhaps they wanted to avoid it until they had me.

No member of the Brotherhood I knew of cared if bystanders got hurt.

“Change your mind?” Zed’s voice made me jump, and I turned back to him.

“No…” I trailed off, staring around the room for answers. I crossed to the window, grabbing the latch and trying to wrench it open. Of course, it was sealed. The side of the building wasn’t easily scalable anyway. From the outside it was all tall, decorated walls and sealed windows.

“Fuck.”

Fuck fuck fuck.

What had made me think going up a floor was a better idea? I was even more screwed.

A thousand useless options crossed my mind. I could pull the fire alarm, but they’d know it was me. They might lash out at the attempt. If they were smart, this whole place would be surrounded.

The police were out of the question. Ace had them in his pocket—and this was clearly premeditated.

I’d seen Brotherhood members secure delays in police response to areas for hours, sometimes completely.

“What’s the problem?” Zed walked back to the table and picked up his glass before sitting back down on the couch. “Seems like you’re in some trouble.”

I tried to ignore him.

Plan…

I needed a fucking plan.

“Someone’s after her,” Kyan said at my side. He looked rather pleased. “That’s my guess. But Glade doesn’t want a mess.”

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