“If you know all of that, then you’ll also know that King has been ordered off-limits by Cavalno. He’s untouchable.”
“You’re Kingmaker. You determine who is and who isn’t untouchable.”
“That’s not exactly—”
“We’re the same. We manipulate and rig the game. The only difference is, you do it for your clients, while I do it to ensure my own supreme standing.”
“I’m not doing it. I won’t.”
He sneers and rises to his feet, beginning to pace up and down at a slow, unnerving pace in front of the couch. “I don’t believe you’re quite grasping your predicament.” He chuckles darkly. “You don’t own a choice in this. It’s not a request. It’s a command, pure and simple.”
It’s bad enough that I was strong-armed into working for Priest at all. I don’t like people pulling my strings, having any sort of power over me. That was largely why I chose not to reconnect with Cal when I found out he’d come out of hiding. He’s an overbearing, possessive alpha male, and I didn’t want to have to fight against that day in and day out through being with him. But now Priest is pushing things so far beyond that with me. Incapacitating me, kidnapping me, now trying to force me to do a job that goes against everything I stand for. He’s right about Cristian being an important client of mine. We made each other and I’ll never forget that. But he’s not only a client, we’re friends, not something I have a lot of, given my dangerous line of work.
There’s always a choice. And I’ll always uphold that with everything I have. No matter how steep the price is.
“There’s always a choice,” I seethe.
He snickers. “Such an idealistic notion for one so incredibly jaded.”
“You know nothing.”
Thatgets an intense reaction from him. Matthew Priest doesn’t like his knowledge called into question, his so-called omnipotence. He breaks his rhythm and storms toward me, getting right in my face, his hands slapping down either side of my head against the couch. “I know everything. That includes every little detail about you. I’ve been watching you closely for the last couple of years. I’ve researched you, your jobs, your clients, your limited personal connections, strengths, weakness, all of it. It was why I was able to bend you to my will the first time with the supposed James Cannon hit.”
“What are you talking about?”
He reaches out and brushes a strand of my red hair behind my ear, making me jerk my head away. It’s to no avail with him boxing me in.
“Do you really think it’s a coincidence that all the jobs dried up for you, for so long too? I engineered it. I wanted you desperate, because desperate people make mistakes and compromises.” His eyes flash. “They make deals with the devil.”
Oh my God.
“When I had you in that unfortunate position, I manipulated the Veritino job. I ensured the intel was incorrect. I wanted you to take out Will Land.”
“He was your right-hand man.”
“He was a has-been. He couldn’t keep up. He started making mistakes. I couldn’t have that. But I also couldn’t be seen turning on one of my own, especially not one so close to me. The Gatekeepers respect me for my loyalty. I couldn’t undercut that just to divest myself of the problem that was Land. And, as a bonus, it got you in my pocket, beauty.”
Manipulative doesn’t even cover it.
He takes a seat on the couch opposite me. “In case you’re trying to determine a way to avoid doing what I’ve ordered, I’ll spell it out for you very clearly. Like I said, I’ve been watching and researching you. Very closely. I know your clients, your relationships, and every one of your contacts inside out. I even know the guy you go to in order to maintain your anonymity, the one who creates your aliases. You refuse this job, you don’t get it done like I’ve asked so nicely, then you’re burned. Completely. Your career will be over.” He snaps his fingers. “Just like that. And as extra insurance, if you try to cross me following the job, I’ll put out word that you are the one who took out Julian King. That won’t just burn bridges, it will put a huge target on your back, one that even someone as accomplished as you won’t be able to survive.”
Son of a bitch.
“Now, things don’t need to get nasty like that. Not at all. I’ve brought you in very nicely. No significant harm to that pretty little body of yours. All I ask are two things from you. The hit on King, and allowing yourself to remain here under my supervision for a little while longer. You do both of those well and our business will be concluded without any issues.”
“Why do you need me to remain here?”
“That concerns the bait aspect of your apprehension.”
“You think Cal will allow himself to be lured here to facilitate my release?”
“I have no doubt.”
“What do you want from him?”
“I’m down a right-hand man.”
I scoff. “No way. He’ll never do it.”