Page 86 of Princess of Vengeance

“No,” I say firmly. “What if the Syndicate continued, but without Malcolm calling the shots? What if it truly was an equal partnership, where decisions were made collectively?”

“It sounds nice, but I’m not sure that would work. Everyone has their own agenda.”

“So does Malcolm,” I counter. “The difference is, his agenda has always been the priority. What if your agendas were given equal weight for once?”

I can see Imogen silently weighing my words, considering the implications and risks.

“You’re suggesting we take Malcolm down,” she finally says. “That we free ourselves from his control.”

I take a deep breath. Here it is—the moment of truth. “Yes.”

29

QUINN

I watchImogen’s face carefully, looking for any sign of what she’s thinking. If she reports this conversation to Malcolm, I’m dead. My men are dead. Everything is over.

But something in her expression tells me I’ve struck a chord.

I try to shove down the flicker of hope that’s starting to build inside me. I’ve been let down too many times to get ahead of myself now.

“Do you really think that could be possible?” I ask. “Do you think we could actually take him down?”

Imogen doesn’t answer right away. She taps her manicured nails together slowly, methodically, as if she’s mentally working through every angle and potential outcome. Her eyes narrow as she studies me.

“Are you truly serious about this, Quinn?” she finally asks. “You understand what you’re asking? This isn’t some game where you can change your mind halfway through.”

I nod, but she keeps going.

“If Malcolm catches even a whiff of this, it won’t just be you who suffers. He’ll make an example of everyone involved.” Her voice drops lower. “You know this could get you killed, right?There’s no middle ground here. We either succeed or we all end up dead.”

The weight of what I’m suggesting settles more heavily on my shoulders, but it doesn’t change my mind. If anything, it makes me dig in harder.

“I know exactly what I’m risking.”

“Do you?” She leans forward. “Really?”

“Yes.” I meet her gaze without flinching. “But staying married to Malcolm, being forced into his bed as his ‘dutiful wife,’ remaining part of the Syndicate under his control—that would be worse than death.”

I swallow hard, fighting to keep my voice steady. “So yes, I’m serious. No matter the risk.”

A small smile forms at the corners of Imogen’s lips, and something that looks surprisingly like respect flashes in her eyes.

It dawns on me that beneath Imogen’s ruthless, pragmatic exterior, we might be more kindred spirits than I initially thought. Both of us shaped by loss, both of us trapped in Malcolm’s web, both of us willing to burn it all down to be free.

“Malcolm underestimated you,” she says, and it sounds like a compliment. “He always does that with women. And yes, it could be possible. But we’ll have to be careful. Methodical.”

My heart starts to beat faster. She’s really considering it.

“We’d need to work our way from the most likely candidates to the least,” she continues, shifting into a more analytical tone. “Start with who we know is already dissatisfied with Malcolm and build from there.”

“Who would be first?” I ask.

“Cassandra,” she says without hesitation. “She and Malcolm have… history. A rocky history.”

“What kind of history?”

Imogen shakes her head. “That’s not my story to tell. But trust me when I say she has more reason than most to want him gone.”

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