Page 40 of Inside the Wicked

The eruption of yaps as little fur bullets dart for Shadow pulls away everyone’s attention. Oma comes out. A woman hugs her, and when they part, Oma is staring right at us.

“Now, who is this handsome young man you’ve neglected to bring to me?” Her cane taps the ground in sync with her shuffling footsteps.

“This is Adam Sullevan. Adam, this is Oma,” I introduce.

“Ahh,” she says, instantly recognizing the name. Her blue eyes shift to Rix for a beat. “Now it makes sense.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” Adam says politely.

“So posh and proper, you people are. Come here, boy. We greet with love in here.”

Adam stands, giving Rix a once-over and muttering, “Never would have guessed.”

Then he looks to me for help, but I shrug. He goes over to her, and I bite my lip at the awkward way he leans down to Oma’s awaiting arms and she hugs him tightly with a content smile.

“So tall and strong,” she says, approving of his embrace.

“Well, Oma, we have work to do,” Rix says, grabbing his jacket.

“We do?” I say.

“Not you. I’m looking forward to meeting the Vice President of the United States.”

“What?” Adam snaps. “No way in hell.”

“You want in? This is it. Tell me now, before I waste my damned time.”

Even I’m confused. “Why do you want to meet Rolf?”

“My little brother is out there. This is a place he frequents by Alistair’s demand. If Adam is getting a way in, I’m damn well going in too.”

“If it’s as confidential as you say, it’s going to be a challenge to get a plus-one invite for hisson,never mind a plus-twofor a guy he’s never met,” Adam argues.

“Best convince him how much youtrust me. Lucky for us, I happen to have a particular knowledge of golf, and I’m a spectacular actor to pull off our years-long friendship youneglected to tell him about. As it so happens, I’ve just arrived back in town, and look at us, joined at the hip, inseparable. It’s like I never left.” Rix plays out the vague rundown of their story off the top of his head, and I’m impressed. It could work, and I don’t doubt his ability to pull it off.

Adam, on the other hand ... I’m concerned for his ability to act and lie to his father.

“That isnotgoing to work,” Adam grumbles. “And I don’t want you in my house.”

“Are we doing this or not?” Rix says, bored.

Seeing it as an ultimatum—this plan or leave—Adam simmers in his reluctant acceptance.

“What should I be doing?” I ask as we head out.

“As I hear, you have your hands perfectly full. We’ll keep you updated. You keep us in the know about the shit with Lanshall and Balenheizer. Anything goes to shit on either end—” Rix pauses, pressing his thumb to the scanner in the elevator. “Well, make sure nothing goes to shit. There isn’t really a plan B for either of us.”

CHAPTER 16

Anastasia

Kenna is untraceable. Impossible. The only way I can get a moment with her is if she comes out of her shadowed seclusion to seek meout. I don’t like the lack of control. The waiting. I’ve tried to ask around the manor for her, but all I receive are bored shrugs, scared glances when they hear her name, or grunts that mean “piss off, little girl.”I hate most of the brute statues roaming around here.

I’m about to try the gym when Alistair calls my name from inside his study. I need to pass it to get to the stairs. I shiver at the slow, enticing way he speaks it, as if he’s a snake charmer and I’m the cobra charmed to obey him.

When I slip inside it’s an effort to keep my mouth from dropping open. I find Kenna at least. She’s perched on Alistair’s desk, and his hand is on her leg absentmindedly while he looks over a piece of paper. He sets it down when I enter, and those deep blue eyes never fail to cut through me.

My anxiety explodes like an ant’s nest across my skin. I consider Kenna’s presence, their closeness, why he’s called me in here with her.

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