Markus has made his concerns about us quite evident with his protests. He worries about us, as he should. Hisfamily has been tied to mine since the dawn of the legends. But this land is my homeland. It’s where I belong. My ancestors’ blood was shed here, and my bones will decay in the soil amongst their remnants. Arianna will marry a son of a mobster and bare his children, and I suppose I have to find some mafia princess to knock up with a son to take my place. It’s just the way things have always been in the city.
In the dark wood paneled entry, Markus whistles loud and long. “Wow. Itisin terrible shape. I got Jakob Kobb coming. He’s setting up a construction crew. Adal Derichs will oversee the security.”
“And you trust them?”
“I wouldn’t be here otherwise.” Markus narrows his eyes under a pair of wiry gray eyebrows. I know he wouldn’t. He’d be dead if he didn’t trust them. One got put in the ground for trusting the wrong people in Gnarled Pine Hollow.
The problem is, I don’t trust anyone, except Arianna and Markus. I hate giving up control to anyone. It’s always better if I do the job myself. Then at least I’ll know it’s done right. And without getting stabbed in the back.
The kitchen is laid with the same intricate ceramic tiles on the floor and faded green cabinets I remember from all those years ago. Arianna stands dressed in a pink silk robe and slippers with little puffs on them, rummaging through an old icebox. “There’s nothing to eat.”
“Arianna, there’s no power.”
She giggles. I shake my head when I realize she’s teasing me.
“We’ll get it working again, sweetie.” Markus hugs her with an arm wrapped over her narrow shoulders while I watch where he puts his hands. “Should be on sometime today. I called the electric company about it last week.” He tugs my little sister toward the kitchen table, and we sit together. The last time I was in this chair, my feet didn’t hit the ground, and I reminisce about Cook giving me pancakes for my birthday breakfasts.
Now, I’m man of the estate and need to get down to business. “Okay, who do we have left?” I ask Markus.
“Jakob is helping me. He will take care of you…both.” He shoots a warning look at Arianna, and her nose crinkles in reply. She won’t like having a guard. I’m the only person she trusts. “Adal Derichs is his right-hand man. He’ll organize your security team while Jakob will head up the reconstruction.”
“What about?—”
“Skipper and Aries. And that’s all you need to know.”
My hacker and spy, Markus’s informants. At least he has people. I briefly wonder if they are left over from loyal eastern associates over the long centuries, but before I can ask, Markus interrupts my thought. “Yes, they’re all from the old families. You have to trust me, Max. You have to trust somebody. You can’t do this alone.” Taking off his glasses, he produces a white handkerchief from his shirt pocket to wipe them clean.
What does he know about trust? I have lived in hiding with an assumed name from the age of eight untiltwenty. For the last eight years, I have met resistance, to outright danger at every step in my plan to return to our land.Myrightful land. It’s been a daily struggle, and I did it allon my own.
I know my father didn’t want this life for me, to take my place as the King Consort of the East, sitting on the Senate of Gnarled Pine Hollow’s sham government. But once my parents were dead, there was nothing left to hold me back from reclaiming what was mine. They may not have cared about our legacy, but I do. I have thought about it every time I remembered happy childhood memories among the cattails. Coming back is like an act of vengeance against Strauss himself. But true retribution won’t happen until he’s six feet under. And I want to be the one to take him there.
“Thanks for everything,” I say, instead of telling him to fuck off. Papa wouldn’t appreciate me disrespecting his best friend. So far, Markus has done everything I’ve asked of him, even if he didn’t want to. Delegating tasks is hard for me, but I’ll see how he performs. If it’s not up to par, I’ll take over. “Will they haveanyweapons?”
Markus looks at the glass tabletop, his solemn face reflected through the dusty surface. “They have a few.”
My lips tighten into a grimace. And therein lies the problem. What good is my security team without guns? Sure, Strauss has sat dormant only because the people hold no threat against him as it stands, but how long until he senses resistance?
Markus narrows his eyes at me. “So tonight?—”
“Tonight, I’m hitting up the Ace Hole.”
Markus’s jaw drops. He swallows and clears his throat before saying, “You realize that’s closed now. It’s?—”
“Whatever Strauss renamed it when he stole it from Ace a few years ago. I know, you told me.”
“It’s the Crimson Angel, and it’s not a bar anymore. It’s a…” Markus glances at Arianna, who hangs onto every word we speak. Her brown eyes sparkle as they dart back and forth between us.
“I know what it is,” I tell him quietly.
“But walking in there could be a death sentence. You’ll take Jakob.”
Narrowing one eye at him, I shake my head. Sometimes he still sees me as a little boy. “Markus, what have I been doing these last eight years? Sitting on my ass? No. I’ve been training. Fighting.Shooting. I’ve been to prison, for fuck’s sake. I don’t need Jakob to accompany me to a…club.”
“What kind of club?” Arianna’s innocent face lights up with her question.
“None of your concern.” Hiking a thumb toward the door, I instruct her, “Go upstairs and get dressed. Men will be coming over to start working on the house.” Without an argument, she does as she’s told. I watch her leave and make sure she’s gone before turning back to Markus. His gray brows dance with worry. “Make sure no one touches her.”
He nods. “I understand, but it’s going to be tough, Max. She’s an exceedingly beautiful girl. They all havetheir instructions not to even look at her. It’s why I picked Jakob. Please, reconsider taking him with you tonight?—”