Page 3 of Ruin Me With Lies
“Whatisher style, then?”
He scratches his jaw.“How loyal is this city to you?”
“I rule with fear, not benevolence.Outside of the people closest to me, I’m convinced of no one’s ‘loyalty.’”
“Hm.”He tilts his head.“Not as narcissistic as I thought.That’s good.”He leans forward, elbows on his knees.“Because that loyalty is about to be tested.While you were busy grinding down the patience of the strongest ally you could ever have, someone’s been moving against you.Right here.Inyourcity.Right under your nose.”
He lets that settle for a beat, then adds, “They’ve already locked in four strong allies who have agreed to back them when the time comes.And because of your unrelenting defiance?THE Olet it happen.”
He checks his watch.“Now, JB’s stipulation: Uncover this person’s identity, their allies, and take them all out.Prove to her that this cityisyours.You fail, then you don’t deserve this city.Or your life.”
Translation: she decided a clean assassination would be too dignified for me.A disgraceful fall at the hands of my own city, however?Savage.Wickedly cruel.
She’s got me right where she wants me.
This isn’t the first time power-hungry ingrates have tried to take me down.But here’s the thing about being hand-picked as king of a territory,no onecan move me except the one who crowned me.HavingTHE O’s protection makes me bulletproof, invulnerable.Withoutit?Things could get…wild.
“And my protection?Is that gone?”
“Your protection is still in place.For now,” Santo replies.“Mypersonal advice, though?Don’t trust it or rely on it.JB wants topunishyou, so there’s a very high chance she will allow random cracks in the shield.”
“A simple point-blank execution would’ve been nice,” I grumble.
“They’ve also barred Red Cage—and that includes me—from helping you,” Santo adds.“So here’s my last piece of advice: assemble a tight team, with people you trustimplicitly.Get yourself a tech expert.Restrict all details to that team.Consider everyone else your enemy.Stay sharp.Stay smart.Good hunting and good luck.”
With that, he stands, buttons his jacket, and walks out.
Goddamn black cat Santo.
CHAPTER TWO
Raya
VIVIENNE TAKES A SLOWdrag from her cigarette, her gazesweeping over us in the foyer.Her kimono flutters around her ankles, curlers slipping from her muddy-brown hair.“For Christ’s sake, ladies, lookaliveif you want them to choose you.”
The women straighten, backs arching, postures sharpening.
Vivienne’s eyes land on me.She gives me a slow once over, then sighs.Resigned, dismissive.
She had rejected me at first.Said I looked “too American”—whatever that means—and the Castellos didn’t take American girls.Too much trouble.Not worth it.
Only after I offered to triple her fee did she relent, but still warned me that the likelihood of me getting chosen would be low.
Of the five women here with me, three are Latina, one Asian, and one Romanian.
Louisa edges closer to me.In the week and a half that I’ve been here, she’s the one I’ve clicked with the most.She’s a prattler.Talks enough for the both of us.Just the way I like it.“Don’t worry, Raya.We will make it in.”
Outside, engines sing and tires crunch over gravel.
Vivienne swings the door open and shuffles out.
A minute later, she returns, cigarette pinched between her bony fingers.“Come, come now.”She waves us forward.“Stop standing around like useless furniture.”
We file out onto the front steps, where two stalwart, tattooed men are waiting.One by one, they size us up.
The taller one, a spiderweb inked across his neck, stops on me and grunts.Disapproving.“Tryna be slick sneaking in an American, Viv?”
“She isn’t,” Vivienne says around a puff of smoke.
