36
“They left,” Ryker confirms standing on my left.
I nod, not saying a thing as I watch the man in the suit approach, followed by another who is far more threatening than the suit who stops a mere few feet in front of me. It isn’t a coincidence that they sent word the moment Heart and his entourage were airborne.
Wren holds herself by my side, chin tilted defiantly.
“Wren Valentine,” the man greets, looking her up and down, starting from her feet, all the way to the top of her head, “A surprise to see you so well.”
My anger begins to simmer, just beneath the surface, not an explosion but I doubt it’ll take long.
“You’d be surprised at what I am capable of,” she snaps back, “Do not believe me weak just because I am a woman.”
He licks his teeth, dismissing her before his eyes land on me, “You are proving quite the complication, Silver.”
“Isn’t that a shame,” I lie.
He cocks a brow and grins, “I am here to talk of surrender, no more bloodshed.”
Ryker bursts out laughing besides me and then sobers, “Oh, you’re serious,” he looks to me, “He’s serious.”
“You have the advantage of knowing my name,” I say, “what is yours?”
“Eric Ward,” he replies.
“Eric,” I repeat, “What’s your business?”
“A truce,” he grins, “If you will.”
My eyes flick to his man behind him, a mercenary, hired blade to make sure things here don’t go sour. I didn’t believe he was the only one available to him, I had no doubt there would be many, including a few snipers but as long as my plan worked, they’d all be leaving with no blood spilled tonight.
The compound is drafty, a late summer breeze drifting in through the gaping hole in the structure. “Valentine’s body has been recovered,” Eric tells me, spinning on his heel to start inspecting the space, running his finger over a shelf as if to inspect it for dust, “Quite the violent death.”
“He deserved it.” Wren says, her voice even and steady.
“Maybe so.” Eric agrees.
“Speak your terms,” I order.
“Surrender and no one else has to be harmed,” he turns to me, “We can work out a deal where you continue to sit on a throne but ultimately, this city belongs to us.”
“So, you can traffic more girls?” Wren steps forward, seething, “You are disgusting.”
“You’ll learn,” Eric hisses, “You don’t belong in these ranks, woman, you are nothing more than a wet cunt and easy lay.”
“Enough!” I roar, “And if I do not accept?”
“Then you, your bitch and everyone involved will be seen to an early grave.”
The way he says it, so calmly, as if a destruction of an empire is merely an everyday occurrence.
I was starting to understand though. They knew Ainsley had the information, but they had no clue that she had managed to deliver it to me already.
I had the advantage.
“Compelling words,” I mock, “But I do not accept.”
“Then you are a fool,” Eric spits.