“Unless Poppy was seeing one of Ashford’s crew, there’s no reason for him to be here,” Kailler murmurs.
“And the likelihood of that?” It’s not like I keep track of the sex lives of my people. As long as it doesn’t interfere with their work or their loyalty to the family then they are free to do whatever the hell they want.
“Very low,” Kailler replies.
“All right. I’ll see Ashford first and then Mallard. Get Mallard some lunch and make sure you send a food cart up to the tower.”
“Should I question the girl about Ashford or Poppy?”
“No. I’ll do it later.”
Kailler looks disappointed. Her eyes drop to my neck where Cora bit me. She left a mark behind for anyone to see. I fight myself to not reach up and touch it right now. I’d gotten hard all over again when I saw it in the mirror while changing my clothes. I didn't want anyone to see the wet spot on my thigh. Not because I was embarrassed by it but because it was mine alone. I was the one who got her off. Every drop of her orgasm belonged to me and no one else.
Kailler’s probably concerned that I’m putting myself into danger again, and while I know I should stay away, I can’t. It would be easier to gouge my eyes out or cut off my arm than to stay away from Cora. Even if my second is unhappy, she doesn’t show it. Instead, she fetches Ashford, returning with the fifty-year-old man a minute later. Ashford was Jason’s contemporary. He likes to claim they grew up as petty thieves in the same gang, but Jason had always denied this. Either way, Ashford is a reminder that this business favors the young. People of a certain age either accumulate too much power, don’t know how to manage it, or gather weapons to protect that power that are eventually used against them.
“My boy,” Ashford proclaims as he enters the office. His arms are spread wide and welcoming. I make no move to budge from behind my desk, and eventually Ashford gets tired of waiting for a response. His hands fall to his side, and his smile is replaced by an indignant frown. “No welcome for me?” he chastises. “We’re not enemies.”
We aren’t friends either. “What do you want, Ashford? I’ve got a lot of things on my plate.”
“I know.” He rubs his hands together and takes a seat in front of me. “I hear you have Karin Vieth’s daughter locked up in your tower room, and I’m here to take her off your hands.” He raises a palm. “No need to thank me. I’m doing it to prevent a civil war between you and Vieth. Inevitably someone will die, and I don’t want that someone to be me caught in the crossfire.” How does he even know about Vieth’s daughter if she’s been kept a secret? Someone is out there spreading the word, it seems.
“If Vieth meant for you to have her daughter, she would have taken the girl to Lakewood.” Lakewood is Ashford’s estate north of the city.
Ashford laughs lightly. “This is true. I suspect Vieth does not trust me like she trusts you. But I don’t really give a fuck about all that. We have a perfect opportunity here.” He leans forward, inviting me to copy him. In a much lowered voice, he continues, “Give me the girl, and you will have fulfilled whatever bargain Vieth made with you. When she’s unsuspecting, we’ll smash the nests and root her out of here once and for all.”
“And then what?” Ashford never thinks ahead. It’s a miracle he’s still alive, but I guess it’s because he pays well.
“And then we rid ourselves of the scourge that is Karin Vieth and her girls. I don’t have to worry that every time my man gets his dick wet, he’s going to be spilling all our secrets out on the pillow. You have to feel the same way.”
I think of Poppy and the execution-type bullet hole in the middle of his forehead. I do not like that he’s dead and that he was killed by a Vieth orphan, but giving Cora to Ashford is never going to happen. Not while I’m still breathing.
Chapter 8Cora
I lie on the bed bored out of my mind. That woman Kailler came and took the old food cart and left another. I prefer to call her killer in my mind because she looks so damn deadly when you look into her eyes. I tried to get her to talk to me, but it was like pulling teeth.
I don’t think she likes me. I’d gotten so excited when I saw it was her that was dropping off the food. I would have preferred Aidon, but I wasn't going to turn my nose up at another woman. I figured we could bond on some sort of level, but I’d been wrong. Not that I’m going to give up.
I shoot up to a sitting position when I hear the elevator. The doors slide open a few seconds later. Kailler steps out with a box in her hand. I slip off the side of the bed. She’s dressed in black slacks and a buttoned-up plain white shirt. Her hair is tied back in a tight ponytail. There is not a speck of makeup on her face. She is beautiful without trying.
“You’re back.” I smile at her. Her face remains unreadable. Yeah, she really doesn't like me. It
