I hated the stupid, brainless bastard.
He looked at me like everyone else did. Like I was some little, pretty flower.
Weak. Worthless.
He wouldn’t be the first man to underestimate me, and he wouldn’t be the last.
“Erin Servant, as I live and breathe. You disappeared there for a while.”
“Redmond. How did you find me?”
He shrugged and inspected his fingers. Redmond was a handsome man, I’d give him that, and I’d heard rumors about him recently.
Bloody, black rumors.
“You left a trail. I followed it.”
“There’s no trail.”
“You’ve been traipsing around this city stealing guns and hiring mercenaries. You really thought I wouldn’t track you down eventually?”
“I thought Darren or Roman or Kaspar might, but not you.”
His expression darkened and he let out a long sigh. “You know, I saved your life months back.”
“Saved my life? I highly doubt that.” My men began loading the stolen guns and armor into a truck. I had approximately six minutes before we had to leave. Better wrap this conversation up quickly.
“Kaspar wanted you dead. He came to me and asked me to do it.”
That caught my attention.
Kaspar was wily. I never trusted him, but I needed him all the same. He performed admirably, but he refused my ultimate prize.
Which I had anticipated. While I ran interference with Darren, I was busy establishing my backup plan. Once Maeve was dead, I slipped away from the manor with Chika and began to amass my own power.
I never actually thought Kaspar would help, but it would’ve been nice.
“Why didn’t you do it?”
Redmond smiled again, but this one was darker, blacker. His eyes roamed along my body and lingered on my lips.
“I like you. I didn’t want to see you dead.”
“What a nice sentiment. What do you want, Redmond?”
“I’m here to make you an offer.”
I tried not to laugh. I couldn’t imagine what this halfwit could possibly have that I wanted.
Aside from the power of an Oligarch, of course, but that wasn’t on the table.
“Make it fast. I have to move in four minutes.”
“I know what you want, Erin. Maeve’s family is in shambles right now. She had no heir and her cousins are fighting over the fortune. They’re weak. They can be exploited.”
I cocked my head. I knew all that already. I was gathering an army for exactly that reason.
“And your point?”
“I will give you Maeve’s family. I’ll make you the Oligarch you’ve always dreamed of.”
I stared at him then laughed.
The idea was absurd. Redmond Bernhard, give me an Oligarchy? There was no way he’d ever do that. I’d become his rival, and he was too much of a coward to raise me up onto an equal playing field.
“I’m sorry, but I find it hard to believe.”
His family was wry. “I’m not lying. I’ll give you Maeve’s family and wealth. We’ll have to kill a few of her cousins but—” He waved a hand like it was no big deal.
“What do you get?”
“I get you.” He took a step closer.
I took a step back.
I went very still.
I’d met Redmond once or twice in my life. At gatherings, formal affairs. He was always quiet and reserved, and rarely ventured out of his father’s shadow. We were young back then, but I remembered speaking to him one night, talking about our lives, smiling together, laughing. We were teenagers. Young and stupid.
But maybe he never forgot.
Now, he looked at me like he remembered a lot more than I’d like.
“Redmond. Explain. And quickly.”
“I will give you Maeve’s title and power, and you will marry me. We’ll unite our two houses and dominate the Oligarchs. Can you imagine it, Erin? The power of two Oligarch families?”
My mouth fell open.
It wasn’t unheard of. Oligarch families intermarried all the time.
But never two heads of an Oligarch family. Always minor members. Second sons, third daughters. Hostages, essentially. To keep the peace.
This was something different.
It was something dangerous.
I smiled at him.
Redmond was a handsome man. He was strong and fierce.
But I was smarter.
It was a game.
We could play together, and in the end, I’d come out on top.
“I’ll consider your proposal,” I said as carefully as I could.
“Consider it quickly. From what I’ve learned, you’re running out of money, and I have a feeling your men aren’t as loyal as you want them to be.”
I clenched my jaw and looked toward Chika. She nodded at me. The truck was ready.
“If you’re serious about this, come find me in three days.”
“Where will you be?”