Page 18 of Inside the Wicked

“Why are you telling me this? I have no care for your petty feud.”

Alistair smiles. The kind that delights in my question, for it opens the door for him to share his delusional brilliance. “I have one way I plan to win over Forthson, but should that fail, I always like to have a backup.”

“I have no connection to Jacob Forthson. In fact, I want him dead, second to you.”

“See? We do have a common goal, nephew.”

“We have nothing in common.”

“He has a younger brother, only twelve. Did you know that? He’s kept him a secret from me for so long, but he slipped up recently, and I found him.”

I have a really bad fucking feeling about where this is going.

“Going after his brother won’t gain you shit.” I know I’m wrong, but this kid’s only crime is being blood-related to an evil being, and he doesn’t deserve to be a target for his brother’s crimes.

“My reports say they’reveryclose. That Forthson is highly protective of him, which must be true if he’s hidden him all this time.”

“What’s your point?”

“I want you to extract him and kill him.”

An incredulous, breathy laugh accompanies the shake of my head. “You put a weapon in my hands, you know I’ll aim them at your guys.”

“Not when it’s her life at stake.”

“You son of a bitch.”

He takes an arrogant drag of his cigar as he stands, and I contemplate how I could end his life with the chair. It’s dragged out again before I can think of a sure, efficient way.

“I will have both of you or neither of you,” Alistair says as he leaves. “The choice is yours.”

I ponder his words in silence, pacing the room. The habit reminds me of Ana. I’ve often wondered how she didn’t turnherself nauseous with the back and forth, but now I get it. As if I’m a human metronome, it unwinds my restless thoughts.

Alistair wouldn’t have spent these past three months with Ana if he was prepared to kill her because of my noncompliance. It’s a gamble, but I can’t help but think she’s too valuable to him.

Having to choose between my morality and the thing I love the most in this fucking world might be what breaks me once and for all.

CHAPTER 7

Anastasia

Isit in a rooftop restaurant, the midday sun streaking through the window as I sip my tea. It’d be beautiful, peaceful, if it weren’t for my company, which leaves little to be desired about being here.

“You seem ... distracted today, darling,” Jacob says across from me.

This venue is exclusive, private. Alistair’s men can’t follow me in here, and I always arrive a half hour after Jacob and leave first so he’s never spotted. Alistair agreed to let me have an hour here alone when I begged after a month with him, telling him I needed the moment of complete unsurveilled freedom before I lost my mind.

“I’ve given you intel on several of Alistair’s movements,” I say.

A smile shadow’s Jacob’s mouth. He’s dressed in an impeccable casual light suit, the top buttons of his shirt undone. It’s almost frighting how innocent and charming he looks when he harbors so much evil.

“You have,” he drawls, taking a sip of his coffee.

He knows I’m about to ask for something. My adrenaline threatens my composure as I reconsider despite lying awake all night reeling over what to do with Rix’s information.

“I need something in return before I can take down Alistair for good.”

His dark brow hooks with intrigue. “What can I do for you?”

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