“So, what happens now?” Langston asks.
“I’m not sure. I guess I keep competing while we try to find any other way to find me a successor that fits the rules to keep Milo from taking the empire. And we try to find a way to save Enzo,” I say.
But I have no idea how to do any of those things.
The silence starts again, because none of us have answers. And honestly, I’ve given up hope of keeping Milo from taking the empire. All I can think about is finding a way to save Enzo.
A knock on the door brings us back to life. A man pokes his head in.
“Um…” he says, looking around the room. “Who is in charge? Is Enzo here?”
“No, I’m in charge while he’s gone,” I say.
He nods and enters. “A new client is here. She says she needs a security system and protection. I don’t know who she’s running from, but it’s bad. She’s scared shitless. I told her I would have one of you go talk to her and decide if we can take her on as a client, but from the look of her, I doubt she has much money.”
“Bring her to Langston’s office, and tell her I’ll be right there,” I say.
This is bigger than just saving Enzo. Although, I wish that was all this was because saving Enzo would be easy. Gather all our men and attack, get Enzo out, and put him into hiding. But the Black empire is so much more. It has the ability to help so many people.
And if Milo gets his hands on it, then women like this will have nowhere to turn—that can’t happen.
I stand up. “I’m going to go help this woman, which is what this organization should be using its power—helping those that need protection. And if Enzo or I get to have full control, that is how we will use that power. We can’t let Milo win.
“When I get back, I want every idea you two have on how to stop Milo from becoming Black. Either find me an heir or convince Enzo to change his heir from Milo to his own child or a different relative.”
“What about saving Enzo?” Liesel asks.
“I already know how to save Enzo.”
“How?” Liesel asks, staring into my soul. And I know she can read me as well as Enzo can. Maybe I wear my feelings on my sleeve too clearly.
“You already know the answer to that. It’s the only solution I’ve ever had.”
She nods.
And Enzo is going to hate me for it, but it might be the best way to save the empire as well.
8
Enzo
The bedroom is dark when I enter. Felix got me in, but that was all he could do. He can’t risk his life to help me save the girl. And if Milo finds out he helped me, he will kill him, so I’ll have to tell Milo I escaped on my own if he finds out what I’ve done.
But for now, I have more important things to focus on, like finding a way to actually save the girl, so this won’t all be for nothing.
The lights are off, but it’s not pitch dark like the dungeon Milo keeps me in. This bedroom screams luxury. The bed is an oversized king with gold and white sheets and a canopy overhead that looks like the bed belongs in heaven instead of this hell of a house. The floor is slick hardwood, and there are large mirrors on every wall, including the ceiling.
So the bastard can watch himself as he rapes women—disgusting.
But what I don’t see is the girl the guard brought here. Did we get the wrong room?
“Don’t take another step,” the girl’s shaky voice orders.
I stop. I don’t want to scare her, but I don’t have a lot of time to convince her to trust me.
“It’s okay, I won’t hurt you,” I say, trying to make my voice sound sweet. But it still comes out deeper and darker than I intended.
I spot the girl in the corner of the room. Her body trembles, and she’s holding a lamp in her hand.