Page 149 of Princess of Vengeance

And we’ve been very fucking quick.

“Tell Hendricks fifteen or we walk,” I instruct Kendrick. “Make it clear we’re doing him a favor by not just taking over his territory outright.”

Kendrick grins, looking like a predator scenting blood. “Will do.”

I glance around the room at the mix of faces—Carnage and Enigma members who would have been at each other’s throats not so long ago. Now they work together like they’ve been doing it for years.

Atlas stands in the corner, deep in conversation with Hudson and two former Enigma lieutenants. His face is serious as he explains something, gesturing with his hands. The bruises on his face have faded to barely visible yellowish smudges, and his body language is relaxed and confident.

Killian sits at one of the empty tattoo stations, watching and listening. He doesn’t participate much in the discussions, but I know he’s taking in every word and cataloging every detail. His shoulder is healing well—he can lift his arm above his head now without wincing. The bullet wound is just another scar.

“What about the territory on the east side?” a former Enigma member asks. “The Twisted Tyrants are still holding it.”

I exchange a glance with Nico. “Not for long,” he says. “Zoey has lost most of her people already. Those who haven’t come back to us have scattered.”

“She’s barely holding on to what she has,” I add. “We’ll start pushing from the north, and we’ll squeeze her out block by block.”

There’s a murmur of approval from around the room. The Twisted Tyrants have been a thorn in our side for too long, and everyone is eager to finally put an end to Zoey’s fucking delusions of grandeur.

“We move next week,” Atlas calls from across the room, joining the conversation. “Hudson, you’ll take point with Damon. Non-lethal force unless they escalate first.”

Hudson nods, his expression serious. “Understood.”

“We want the territory, not a war,” Nico clarifies. “Most of Zoey’s people are looking for a reason to bail anyway. If we give them an easy out, I think they’ll take it.”

I watch the room, noting the mix of reactions. Some of the more bloodthirsty members look disappointed, but most nod in understanding. We’re not just reclaiming territory—we’re rebuilding. Redefining what Carnage and Enigma mean when they’re united as one.

“Any other business?” I ask.

When no one speaks up, I nod. “That’s it for today, then. Let’s make some fucking money.”

The meeting breaks up, with some people walking toward the door while others continue their conversations in low murmurs. I feel a surge of pride watching them go, knowing we’re stronger together than we ever were apart.

Nico slides an arm around my waist and presses a kiss to my temple. “Not a bad crew we’re building here. We should be able to poach a few more from Zoe before it’s all said and done, but we can afford to be picky.”

I lean into him, savoring the solid warmth of his body against mine. “I agree. And we’re just getting started.”

My phone rings, cutting through the relative peace and quiet. I pull the phone from my pocket, and my stomach does a small flip when I see the name on the screen.

Cassandra.

For a split second, dread washes over me—an automatic reflex to any contact from a member of the Dark Lotus Syndicate. Then I remember that the Syndicate is gone. Malcolm is dead. Elliot is dead. I’m free.

“Are you okay?” Nico asks, noticing my hesitation.

“Yeah,” I nod, steadying myself. “It’s Cassandra.”

I swipe to answer, putting the phone to my ear. “Quinn speaking.”

“Quinn.” Cassandra’s voice is as controlled as ever, betraying nothing of her thoughts or emotions. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything important.”

“Just restocking needles,” I tell her, leaning against the counter. “What can I do for you?”

There’s a brief pause, and I can almost see her weighing her words. “I was hoping we could meet. There are some matters we should discuss… in person.”

My grip on the phone tightens, and I catch Nico’s eye. He raises an eyebrow in question, and I give a small shrug. “What kind of matters?”

“Nothing threatening,” she assures me. “I just want to tie up loose ends.”

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