Page 11 of Clash of Sin and Secret

“He’ll be all right. He’s healing.” Wilder joins them, setting a hand on the shoulder of the new arrival. “Crisis averted.”

Wilder kneels, and the four share a few whispered words in private. I could hear them if I wanted to, but I don’t. Not a throuple then. They are definitely a fearsome foursome.

Props to the pack.

A moment later, the guy with the hair strides over with Wilder. “Thank you for helping Jace and for stepping in to protect Pyper.”

I shrug. “Just doing what anyone would do.”

“Shoulddo, but not would do. Not everyone would get involved.” He extends a hand towards me in greeting. “I’m Larkin.”

“Huntley.” I accept his gesture and shake his hand before crossing my arms over my chest again. “Anyway, you’ve got yourdrama. I’ve got mine. I’ll say good night and leave you to it. Rogue vampires to find, wars to end, and all that.”

Wilder narrows his gaze and scrubs a hand over the dark stubble darkening his jaw. “Maybe you should talk to Lady Cassiane at DonorWatch. She might have some insight into what’s going down in your community.”

Larkin scowls and something tense passes between the two.

DonorWatch. That was a dead end.

“We spoke with the Queen of the Shedim the night after the invasion. Unfortunately, the wounds were fresh, and our prince’s temper flared hot. We didn’t make the best first impression.”

Wilder straightens and looks expectantly at Larkin.

A moment later, Larkin sighs. “Allow me to speak to my mistress on your behalf. If there is something she will share which could help you, I will reach out. How do I contact you?”

I blink, collecting my phone from the pocket of my trench. “I appreciate that. Any help you could offer would be welcome.

CHAPTER FOUR

Zane

Irub my temples, staring at the spreadsheets lighting up my screen. The numbers blur together after hours of scrutiny, but something isn’t adding up.

“Walk me through the legitimate holdings again.” I lean back in my chair, focusing on Brandon’s face in the video window. “The discrepancies started there?”

Brandon’s perfectly coiffed gray hair catches the light as he shuffles through papers. “Three separate accounts showing irregular withdrawals. Small amounts at first, nothing that would trigger alerts. But the pattern?—”

“Shows coordination.” I pull up another document. “And you found similar activity in the blood trade and the trafficking of relics?”

“Identical signatures.” Brandon’s mouth curves into that knowing smirk that makes people uncomfortable. “Someone’s building a war chest, but they’re being clever about it. Using our legitimate business channels to siphon funds.”

“How big a loss are we talking?”

“Close to thirty million over the past six months.”

I slam my hand on the desk. “And we’re just fucking catching this now?”

Brandon has the good sense to look sheepish. “They buried it exceptionally well. The shell companies used appeared to be standard vendors. They routed all transactions through?—”

The screen flickers. Once, twice.

The hair on my arms stands on end and I sit up straighter in my chair. What the hell is with the power tonight? That’s the third time the lights have gone glitchy since I started working.

“Fine. The important thing is that we found the leak,” I say.

“Yes, sire. Going forward, I suggest we—” Brandon’s voice cuts out as my office plunges into darkness.

The hum of electronics dies, leaving nothing but deafening silence.

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