“She is special to me. I’m sure you see it.” I turn my head again to look at my mother. I know she loves me, but it’s nice to hear. “Not one hair on her head is to be touched. She is a good faith offer so you know I will be back with what you have requested.” She gives Aidon a look, and I know she is delivering some message without words.
“Wait outside.” He motions for me to leave. I don’t move; instead, I look to my mother. She starts to speak, but Aidon barks at me again. Still I stand there staring at my mother, waiting for her direction.
“Wait outside.” She gives me a nod, and I turn, fleeing from the room and the sound of the dripping blood. I step outside of the office door to see three giant men standing there.
“You’re scaring her.” I glance over my shoulder to see Aidon standing in the door that I exited out of moments ago. “Back the hell up and don’t let her go anywhere.” I spin around.
“What if I have to go to the bathroom?” I blurt out the ridiculous question.
“You’ll sit.” He points to a chair. “I said sit.” I shake my head no. His nostrils flair. I’m pissing him off. I will myself to tilt my chin up in defiance.
“You can’t give me orders unless you’re agreeing to the deal.” I expect him to shout another order at me, but he doesn't. Instead he smirks.
“Deal.”
Chapter 3Aidon
Karin Vieth is a wily one. She couldn’t have built a better honey pot to trap me if she tried. Beautiful, vulnerable, with a dash of sass was the perfect combination to lower my guard. She will seduce me, pleasure me, and when I’m dizzy with lust, she’ll take the knife and stab me in the back.
I don’t believe this girl is Vieth’s daughter. There’s never been a whisper on the street of Vieth having any family. The beautiful girl out in the hall pretending to be a shy virgin, but failing miserably, is one of the Vieth orphans. She finds these girls who don’t have families and promises them riches and safety in exchange for their blood devotion. It works for her, but I wouldn’t be where I am today if I fell for tricks like these.
“She’s your parlay?” I ask Vieth, whose eyes keep darting toward the door. Is she worried that her lure is being eaten up by the hungry men outside? I suppose she has to be used to the worst of men’s appetites. She trades in them, so she knows how depraved we can be, but how easily led by the cock as well. Or how easily led we could be if we allow it. I’m not a monk by trade, but in practice I am. Too many men have been felled by dipping their dick in the poisoned pot, and so I have abstained all these years.
Vieth’s eyes snap back to meet mine. Clear brown eyes very similar to the girl’s meet my gaze without a flinch. “She is. I bring my only child to the priest knowing that you will not touch her. She’s safe here. Seven days and I will bring you the proof that the body lying on your desk does not deserve the honor you are giving it. Seven days and I’ll be demanding reparations from you. Touch her and I will demand payment regardless, and it will be a price that you will not be able to pay with coin.”
Vieth rises as if she can get the last word here in my office. I let her reach the door before replying.
“You better hope she is not your daughter, Karin, because the stories she will bring home from this place will not be the kind a mother wants to hear from her child.”
Vieth’s shoulders tighten, almost imperceptibly. I want to applaud the woman. Even on a stage, I’ve hardly seen better acting.
“Bring the girl in to say goodbye to her mother,” I call out.
The door immediately opens, causing Vieth to jump out of the way. Bran, Hunt, and Pole bring the delicate flower in. Cora’s eyes aren’t on the floor anymore. They fly to Vieth, waiting for more instruction. I’ll give them the room.
“Give us a minute and you may say your goodbyes.”
I motion for my men, and together we carry Poppy’s body out. “To the basement,” I order. “Kailler, when Vieth is done, search the girl and then take her to the tower room. Make sure you lock the door and turn the cameras on. Do not trust her. The Vieth orphans are experts at weaponizing your sympathy.”
“Yessir.”
Not for the first time, I’m relieved I have a woman as my second. She’s not going to fall for any of Cora’s tricks.
“The truck is here,” Pole tells me.
I shake my head. “No. We’re taking Poppy to the basement. I want an autopsy.”
“We know how he was killed,” protests Pole.
“No. We know how it looks like he was killed. His lips are blue, which could be from rigor mortis or it could be from poison. Vieth is claiming that Poppy was into some shit I wouldn’t approve and is promising to bring me evidence. Let’s make sure we aren’t missing something on our end.”
After we place Poppy in the basement freezer, Pole leaves to call for a medical examiner. My other men are sent off to do some evidence gathering while I return to my office. Someone has cleaned up, and it smells slightly of bleach and some faint hint of perfume.
My wool pants feel tight as I imagine how Cora must’ve prepared for this encounter. She would have
