Page 85 of Reaper Flame

“That you’re back in town?” the Blackbird asked. “Of course, but he’s not ready to make a house call yet.”

“So what are you doing here?” I crossed my arms. “Keeping tabs on me?”

“I invited him,” Zander said smoothly. “We have an understanding.”

I turned on Zander and jabbed my finger into his chest. “Do you even know who he is?”

He hadn’t invited the fucking tooth fairy over for a tea party. He had allowed someone with the knowledge and connections to bring the Sevens to their knees into our safe haven.

“We’ve known each other for a while,” Zander replied. He glanced at the Blackbird with disgust. The same way you’d regard someone who smelled bad on a cramped subway when there was nowhere for you to move. He clearly didn’t like him but tolerated him.

I poked Zander again. “How long?”

The Blackbird was like a shadow. He never stayed in one place for too long. Hiram was the only person to know where he was at all times. How had Zander tracked him down? It wasn’t as easy as stalking him on social media!

“We met at the auction,” the Blackbird said. “Don’t you remember?”

I cast my mind back. The auction had been my first official outing as a Seven. The Blackbird attended briefly, but I never saw Zander speak to him. Had he managed to corner him without my knowing?

“I’ll give you one chance to tell me what the fuck you’re doing here,” I said, glaring at the Blackbird. “Or else these will be the last walls you’ll see.”

“Always so feisty...” The Blackbird shook his head. “It wasn’t always that way, was it Kitten? You didn’t have claws at the beginning, but you’ve grown into them now.”

“You may be a guest in our club, but it won’t stop me from crushing your skull,” West threatened. At least he would have my back when it came to disposing of the Blackbird’s body. “I won’t warn you again.”

“Suit yourself.” The Blackbird held up his hands in surrender. “The auction house was the start of a… mutual understanding.”

“I knew we couldn’t take down Hiram from the outside,” Zander stepped in. “I had to find someone on the inside who wanted the same thing we did. To see Hiram pay.”

“He’s been at the top for too long,” the Blackbird said. “It’s time someone else takes over.”

I burst out laughing. “And you thinkyoucan do that?!”

The Blackbird was a creep, but he didn’t inspire the same level of fear Hiram did. He was a follower, not a leader.

“Hiram has become blindsighted,” the Blackbird continued and ignored my comments. “He’s neglected parts of the business. I have connections and know people who would be happy to take his place.”

“So, you’re looking for someone to take him out, then you’ll auction off his services to the highest bidder?” I asked.

“He’s losing his touch,” the Blackbird said with a shrug. “People are ready for a change.”

Hiram’s most loyal servant wouldn’t turn his back on him so fast. I held my chin up high and said, “I don’t buy it.”

“How do you think you were really able to slip away so easily at your lover’s funeral?” the Blackbird asked. “Do you think that Hiram’s security would really be that sloppy? Times are changing, Kitten.”

My blood boiled. Following my return to Blackthorne Towers, the Blackbird watched on from the shadows while I had lessons with Hiram. He never said anything other than demeaning remarks and attempted to make my life more miserable.

“You used to report back to Hiram about what was going on in Port Valentine,” I said.

“Keep up, Kitty!” The Blackbird clicked his tongue impatiently. “I only told him what we wanted him to hear. If he caught word the Sevens were preparing a luxury yacht, do you really think it’d have still been floating when you left?”

“Did you tell everyone here what was happening at the Towers?” I pressed. My shoulders shook in anger. “Why didn’t you tell me that you were working with the Sevens?”

“And blow my cover?” He laughed coldly. “You should know better than that. Living a double life is your area of expertise, after all.”

“So is being able to skin your scrote without you losing consciousness,” I snarled.

West snorted in amusement, reminding me that the Blackbird wasn’t the only person in the room who had questions to answer.

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