Page 113 of Brutal Knight

“You’re ready, then.”

I turn to look at him as he drives. I find comfort in his face, in looking at the features of the man I’m going to spend the rest of my life with. He supports me and protects me more than anyone has in my entire life.

“You’ll do fine,” Connor says, bringing me back to the moment. “You’ve worked hard for this. They’ll respect that, even if they don’t love it.”

I laugh nervously. “I don’t think they’ll even like it. I don’t know that theywillrespect me.”

“The Assembly may be fools at times, but the one thing they know is respect. They’ll have it for you, for what you’ve done. They can’t help but recognize what you’ve done for the Ravens.”

I hope he’s right. His reassurances help me feel stronger, even if part of me still wants to run in the other direction.

When we arrive at the meeting place, a rush of memories hits me. I remember being in a place like this before, when Dmitri brought me to testify against the O’Reilly family, in his favor. He drugged me beforehand, beat me, threatened my life.

Those memories should bring me to my knees. But when I step out of the car and walk in with Connor, I realize they don’t anymore. I’m greater than the memory of Dmitri. I’m stronger than the scars he gave me.

I’m going to do this.

Just like when I made a power move and cleared out the old Raven Syndicate players, I need to show my strength now. I took control then. I can do the same now.

This is my right. I earned this.

And I’m up to the challenge.

“I’ll be right there with you,” Connor says quietly as we walk. “I may be an O’Reilly, but I’ll be helping you. We’ll be the king and queen.”

I trust him, and I believe him. I know he isn’t offering his help because he wants control of the Raven Syndicate.

He’s doing it because he sees me as his partner in this.

His queen.

Just like he’s my king.

We walk into the room together, and although I want nothing more than to sit by his side as his wife, I want the Assembly to see me as an equal. So the moment I step through the door, I lift my chin and take my place. I might be beside Connor in my heart and at the table, but right now, I’m the head of the Raven Syndicate. This room is for business, and it’s for showing them just how much power I hold now.

For the first few minutes, I just listen. The Messina head, Enzo, starts the meeting. Connor told me before how these things usually go—that they take turns leading the meetings, that it’s formal but not ceremonial.

He told me how to respond, when to give input. But the last thing that Connor told me wasn’t what to do. It was,show them what you are.

Show them what you can do. You’re a queen.

So I hold my head high, listen, nodding when it’s appropriate. But after the niceties are out of the way and it’s time for business, I finally take my first step forward.

My heart is pounding and my body is buzzing with energy. I feel wired and restless, nervous but ready to go. I take a steadying breath and start.

“Before I say anything else, I want it known that my ambition stops at maintaining the Raven holdings and territory,” I say. “Our alliances will remain intact.”

The men at the table turn to look at me, suspicion in their eyes. They clearly don’t trust me, and I know they’re unsure about how to react.

Maybe some of them think I’ll become like Dmitri. Maybe they think I’m just a puppet for Connor, that he’s the one in control of the Ravens. Maybe they think I’m crazy.

I don’t care. I know what I’m doing.

“In the aftermath of the upheaval months ago, the syndicate fell into disarray,” I continue. “It was a shame, but I’ve reorganized. The changes I’ve made are sweeping, and they are strict.”

“Changes?”

The Kozlov head watches me steadily. I don’t know if he wants to intimidate me or not, but I can feel the pressure in his gaze. I won’t bend to it.

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