“You will tell your people to stand down.”
Eli stares out the windshield. “And if I don’t?”
Harlow opens her mouth, but I shut her up with a hard look. This is between me and Eli. “If they try to fight, I will cut them down without hesitation. If they start shooting, they’re not going to just hit me and my brothers, Eli. They’re going to hit Amazons and Mystics and Harlow.”
He clenches his jaw, still not looking at me. “I’ll give the order.”
“Good boy.” Even with that order, his people can’t be trusted. Eight years ago, I might have believed otherwise, but most of them were part of the coup. The laws of Sabine Valley won’t make them hesitate if they see an opportunity to strike me and mine down. “They’ll have an hour to collect their things and get out.”
“What?”
“You heard me.” I have my own people, ones who have walked through hell and back with me. I might not trust them as intensely as I used to be capable of, but they have no reason to betray me at this point. It’s not in their best interest, and that I trust.
It takes fifteen minutes to get to Eli and Harlow’s headquarters. It’s a compound of sorts that stretches an entire city block, tucked safely behind a ten-foot wall with guard posts on each of the corners. Eli’s father learned from mine’s mistake and tucked the things he cared about behind enough security to make a small army hesitate.
I pull up to the gate and glance at Eli. “Now’s a good time to prove that you intend to keep your word. For once.”
Eli glares, but by the time he leans out the window, he’s got an easy grin on his face. “Hey, George. Open up.”
The man standing outside the gate walks up to the car. He’s a short and stocky Black man, and he’s got his hand set easily on the pistol in a holster at his hip. “Heard you had some trouble during the festival.”
Eli shrugs. “You win some, you lose some. You remember Abel.” He motions idly in my direction. “He’s in charge for the time being.”
Damn, he couldn’t resist even that little dig, could he? I keep my expression locked down. George’s eyes widen a little, and he looks back at Eli. “Sir—”
“Open the gate. And then let everyone know to meet us in the inner courtyard as soon as possible. That’s an order.” He says it so casually, but then Eli was always a fan of using honey instead of a knife to get what he wanted. He used to argue that it was better to have people underestimate you than fear you—something I’ve never agreed with.
Back then, between the two of us, my brutality and his cunning made us damn near unstoppable.
I knew being back in Sabine Valley would have those memories surging, but fuck if it doesn’t sting after all these years. We had so much possibility. If he’d just been patient, had just been fucking honest with me, we could have pulled off all our plans without so much loss of life.
I’ve never forgive myself for being unable to see that he was ambitious enough to never want to share the throne. Eight years, and he hasn’t changed. He has a perfect partner in Harlow and he keeps her hobbled so he’s got the power all to himself.
George finally nods and hustles back to the gate to open it. I drive in slowly, taking in our surroundings as I do. Two rows of short, squat buildings that I suspect are barracks for Eli’s people. Past that are a pair of warehouses on either side of the road. Their doors are open, showing civilian vehicles in one and combat vehicles on the other. Interesting.
Next up is the house. It fits in with the rest of the compound, though it’s three stories tall and nondescript with small windows on the sides facing the exterior walls. “Expecting a siege?”
“You never know,” Eli says softly. “Especially these days.”
It will serve nicely. I pull to a stop in front of the house and grab Harlow. “Just in case anyone gets any funny ideas.” I haul her over my lap, and she’s the one to exit the truck first. I keep a hand on her hip, not letting her get too far away.
Harlow gives me a sharp look. “A human shield? Really?”
“No one will shoot if they might hit the princess of this faction.” I look up at the building. Sure enough, there’s a sniper on the roof. I give him a cocky wave. “Eli.”
Eli takes his time getting out of the truck. I can’t tell if he’s being difficult or if his injuries are giving him issues, but I choose not to comment on it. He rounds the truck to stand by me as a white woman with a rifle stalks out the front door. Eli holds up a hand. “Call them off, Marie.”