Page 104 of Princess of Vengeance

“Fine,” Malcolm says finally. “I’ll meet with him. Set it up.”

“Thank you,” Elliot says with perfect sincerity. “This means a lot to me.”

The meeting continues with discussions of logistics and timing. I participate when necessary, offering the support of my rebuilt network where appropriate. All the while, my pulse is pounding in my ears.

This is it. The opportunity we’ve been waiting for.

As the meeting wraps up, Malcolm is pulled into a conversation with Owen about some details of the merchandise offering. I stand up to leave, but Elliot catches my arm.

“A word,” he says, pulling me a few steps away from the others.

His voice drops to a whisper. “This is our chance. Kane insists on meeting alone—no guards, no backup. It’s his standard procedure.”

I nod slightly, understanding the implication. “Malcolm will be exposed.”

“Exactly. He’ll go to that meeting expecting Kane, but he’ll find the rest of us instead.”

“What about Kane?” I feel a sudden flicker of doubt. “Won’t he be suspicious when Malcolm doesn’t show?”

Elliot flashes his cruel smile, and I’m reminded of all the reasons why I’ve never liked him. “That’s your job. Make sure Kane doesn’t show up to that meeting.”

What. The. Fuck?

“How the hell am I supposed to do that?” I whisper back.

“Figure it out,” he growls. “That’s your contribution. The rest of us will be waiting for Malcolm. When he arrives alone…”

He doesn’t finish the sentence. He doesn’t need to.

“Get it done.” He releases my arm, walking away just as Malcolm glances in our direction.

I offer a hint of a fake smile, but… fuck.

I need to find a way to intercept Ronan Kane—a man I’ve never met, whose face I wouldn’t recognize—and keep him from a meeting that could save my life and the lives of my men.

And I have one week to figure out how.

34

NICO

I lean forwardin my chair and look at each of the men gathered around the kitchen table. “We move on the west side warehouses by the end of the week. Tanner and his crew will handle security. Kendrick, you’re in charge of logistics.”

Kendrick nods, his massive shoulders shifting under his leather cut. “I’ve already got three trucks lined up. My cousin’s place is perfect for storage until we get things moving again.”

I study the map of Detroit spread out between us—the city is carved up like a fucking carcass, with red marks showing what used to be our territory and blue showing what we’ve reclaimed in the past week. It’s not enough. Not by a long shot.

“Hudson, what about the docks?” I ask, tapping a spot on the eastern edge.

“Zoey’s people are still there, but they’re sloppy,” Hudson replies, scratching at his beard. “Half of them are just kids playing gangster. It wouldn’t take much to push them out.”

“Good.” I circle the area with a marker. “That’s our next target after the warehouses. I want our pipeline reestablished by the end of the month.”

Shit is getting serious now, and more urgent by the minute. Every day we waste is another day I can’t protect Quinnproperly. Another day she has to spend with that fucking monster while I have to wonder if this is the day he decides his patience has run out.

“What about Stefan?” Tanner asks, his eyes narrowed. “I’ve heard word that he’s been out there recruiting.”

“Stefan is a fucking lapdog,” Kendrick snorts. “He might pick up a few recruits here and there, but he still depends on Zoey to call the shots. Without her, he’ll fold like cheap cardboard.”

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