Page 15 of Queen of Madness

I’ve already gotten in, now all that’s left is to get the information I need and get out.

* * *

After getting dressed and measured by Maddy, the other twin showed up with a map of the state. His breath wafts in front of me, the telling smell of vodka coasting under my nose.

“This red line here is our side. These stickers signify our rental properties, but you don’t need to worry about that.” Trick points to a different side of the map, just outside the forest near my house. “This is Murphy territory. After running your search, we saw you live here in neutral territory. But based on your debit card usage, you sometimes go to bars or markets on their side. You can’t do that anymore. As an associate for Onyx, you now have a target on your back.”

Though the only people I should fear are under the same roof as me currently, I feign concern, drawing my eyebrows together. “Should I worry about my mother?”

Maddy speaks now, her voice giddy as though she has a joke she’s just waiting to tell. “Nope. They are killing Onyx’s boys to prove a point. They don’t bother threatening them or targeting their families.”

“Am I bait?” I’m not sure where the question came from, but the moment I say it, it all starts to make more sense. I got in too easy. And sure, I don’t know how the Mafia works, but I don’t think a simple background check and having muscles immediately gets you in the damn club.

The twins stiffen at my side but don’t say anything. Instead, Maddy leans off the bed, a far-off gaze making her eyes widen. “Yes, and no. YouareOnyx’s type. She likes burly guys, you know, the whole tall, dark, and handsome thing. Plus, you fit our normal profile with good qualifications when we look for new recruits. Little family, no known group of friends, only work cash jobs. I mean, the list goes on. You really are a magical fit. Hell, the only thing that could make you perfect is if you had military or combat training.”

She hops off the bed, a small hand finding my chest and a sincere look of concern pulling down the corner of her lips. “But also, Onyx is so close to achieving something we’ve wanted for a very long time, and with her men being knocked off so easily, it forces us to postpone our plans. If we can figure out how they are finding them and killing them, we can get back on track.”

I sigh and shake my head, a slight burn itching the back of my throat. I’m positive all the people working for the Murphys know I’m not to be killed, considering I’m a fucking rat. But also, that means without me being a target, the Embros will catch on and become privy to that information too.

I’m going to have to work fast.

Isuppose I should have smoked a bit more before coming down here, but the twins wanted a few more minutes wrapped between my limbs and my time was cut short. In truth, I hadn’t wanted to leave their warmth at this hour either, but alas, duty calls.

Biting back a yawn, I lean into the cool concrete wall, drawing my sweater closer around my shoulders. Onyx always keeps it so cold down here, it’s a wonder I can’t see my breath billowing from my mouth.

Goose bumps prickle along my arms as my low gaze flits to the goddess herself, standing near the basement stairs. As always, she’s donning an elegant black outfit, and an abundance of jewelry that keeps them so distracted they don’t see her when she makes a move. Tonight, though, there is something different, a very thick metal bracelet that Trigger has been working on for months. It’s about five inches in width, matte gold, and has pretty little intricate roses burned into the material. There’s also a small chain that hangs from underneath, attached to a ring resting on the upper part of her middle finger.

The realization settles over me, and I nod to myself. Whether I’m here for ten minutes or six hours, tonight will end with death.

I look around the basement to find our guest. Unlike the modern estate just above us, this place is nothing more than stained concrete, a pair of metal chains hanging from the ceiling, and the usual lone foldable chair in the middle of the room.

In the chair is a battered blond male with his hands bound behind his back. His head is slumped almost to his chest as he continues to sleep. Judging by the blood stuck to his temples like ’90s hair gel and stained into his tattered jeans, I’d say he’s been unconscious for a few hours.

I know she didn’t take either twin to go get him, and I’m more than positive she didn’t take the new guard. Anger swells in my limbs, locking them in place to prevent me from doing anything that will get me scolded. My voice remains calm. “Where did you find this man?”

“You think too little of me, Shire.” Onyx takes a step forward, and the single dome of light on the ceiling spills over her, casting her face in an ominous shadow. “Becker found him on our side. Seems as though he tried to take one of my guards. I’m beginning to think it’s a sport of some kind.”

I blink a few times, embarrassment briefly sweeping through me. Of course, she wouldn’t leave without us. She knows the importance of her life, especially since we are so close now.

A wide smile takes my lips as I bow my head. “Of course. And I agree. A game to see who can catch the most of your soldiers. The reward must be big.”

“It must. But I’m growing tired of losing them. Perhaps it’s the greed in me speaking but those men are mine. And I don’t like my things being broken.”

She moves in front of the man and lifts one sharp heel, pressing it into his chest. It’s always mystified me how she can wear heels meant to be kitchen knives, while I creep the estate barefoot and pout when I must leave because I have to put on shoes.

A quick hiss of air informs us our guest is awake. Unlike most, he doesn’t lift his head and look around frantically, or ask who we are, or what we want.

Good.

“Good.” Onyx says it the same time I think it, as she shoots me a wink. “Now, let’s get some answers, shall we?”

He peers up, and though we both know he’s well aware of where he is, no one is ever ready for when they first lay eyes on Onyx. She’s been a ghost in the public eye since she was fourteen, and when an entire decade passes, you can only imagine how much someone can change.

For starters, she’s got the figure of Athena—strong, yet curved, feminine, yet toned. She’s an hourglass thanks to her Jamaican side and the perfect shade of amber because of her father’s Italian blood. Now her face? It would bring Aphrodite to her knees. Large, round eyes under a forest of thick lashes, and perfectly set cheekbones with the cutest freckle under her pillowy lips.

Onyx is not cocky by any means, but she uses her beauty to her advantage, and anyone with eyes falls victim to the tactics. Like now. The fool in the chair is so focused on the barbells on her nipples poking through the sheerness of her blouse, he doesn’t notice me walking to his back.

“Do you know who I am?”

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