Page 88 of Broken Discipline
“Thanks,” the man said.
Zira and I followed the couple out of the estate, and once their car left the long driveway, Zira took my hand, leading me to a shadowed area underneath two giant magnolia trees. The sweet fragrance of the flowers drifted down to us, nauseating and pungent.
“Who were they?” I asked.
“The woman got herself into a bit of trouble. Killed her husband, and Desmond used that as blackmail against her. To make it short, she was stolen, and Desmond neededmyhelp to get her back. You could say that he owes me.”
A chill crept down my back. I had a feeling that many,manypeople owed Zira, and I was about to add myself to that list. She unnerved me.
“Now, what can I help you with?” she asked.
I swallowed a gulp, then went for it. “I need to get into the Masquerade,” I said. “Finn’s being sacrificed, and they’re going to kill him. I can’t let that happen.”
She leaned forward. “Do you love him?”
“Yes,” I said. I didn’t even question it this time. “Growing up here, you’ve seen it happen a lot, right? Have you ever had to save someone you love?”
Zira’s eyes shifted away, staring off into the darkness. I rubbed the back of my neck. Maybe that was the wrong thing to say.
She changed the subject: “What’s in it for me?”
I had been considering my options on the drive over, and I had a pretty good theory about what would appeal to Zira the most.
“Your father doesn’t care about the fight between Carter and Upchurch, right?” I asked.
“As far as I know, he just wants it to be over,” she said. “It’s petty drama. Blah, blah, blah.”
“Well, I need to get into the Masquerade so I can kill Upchurch.”
A grin flitted across her face, her smile eerily charming. She tapped her lips.
“How fun,” she said. My stomach twisted into knots. That was her reaction to murder?
But I shook those thoughts away; it didn’t matter why she was so flippant about violence.
“With Upchurch gone,” I continued, “there will be another seat open on the board. Saunders is dead, and soon, Upchurch will be too. So that leaves two spots. One for you, and one for someone else.” I widened my stance. “But if you’re in power,you can decide.It won’t be up to your father and some rich old man.”
Zira straightened, the smile dropping from her face. She peered at the dark sky, then tossed the blond hair off of her shoulders.
“Two open spots means my husband and Ibothhave the potential to get on the board,” she said.
I bobbed my head eagerly. “Think of the power you’d have. The ultimate power couple, dominating the Marked Blooms Syndicate. Ruling the world.”
Zira’s alert gaze found me. She licked her lips.
“All right. You have my attention. What do you need?” she asked.
I let out a breath. “I just need a way to get into the Masquerade.”
“Consider it done.”
My chest tingled. I was one step closer to saving Finn, but I was nowhere near finished.
“Thank you,” I stammered. “Thank you so—”
“Don’t thank me yet.” She cocked a brow. “We’re going to pretend that you’re a new potential member. You need to wear all white and a white mask. Don’t do anything until you get Upchurch alone. Otherwise, they’ll figure it out, and the Syndicate can get—” she lifted her shoulders, “—a little feisty around women.Especiallyduring a Masquerade. You need to blend in as much as possible.”
My heartbeat raced, the memories floating back like flashes of lightning. With the exception of Zira, womenneverwore masks at the Masquerade. The only people I had seen wearing masks weremen.There was no way that I would ‘blend in.’
