I lean back in my chair, my eyes fixed on the monitors.
They act tough, but the balance has shifted. With those trackers embedded under their skin, they're marked and bound to us now, and not in the way one might think. Things will never be the same once this plan roars into action.
I lick my lips,already thirsting for more. What other exquisite torments will we devise to truly test their dedication? To break them? The darkness in me hungers to find out.
I can’t help but grin. It’s a deliciously ruthless move, if I do say so myself.
Adrenaline and anticipation course hotly through my veins. I'm ready. Let the games begin.
Their loyalty to Tane is now sealed beneath their skin, as far as they're concerned. No going back now.
But I imagine for some it was a case of going through the motions. Not everybody loves Tane, despite the fact he could provide them with untold wealth. Some of them work for him out of necessity, not because they think he's a good guy. Putting a chip in their arms doesn't change what's in their hearts.
As the convoy of black SUVs pulls away down the street, I turn back to the monitor, rewinding and pausing on the faces of the two strangers.
Who are they? Why crash the party now? My instincts scream that they're connected to Tane, some kind of random countersurveillance to soothe his growing paranoia. But, more likely, they're part of a rival group vying for Tane's power, just like we are.
A goal I entirely understand, but these guys have come out of left field and they certainly aren’t part of our team.
I reach for my phone to call Aidan, my finger hovering over his name. He needs to know what went down tonight. To have the confidence to enter a building with so many of Tane's strongest guys takes confidence, and that suggests to me that these guys have a plan they're ready to put in motion.
The game just changed, the timeline shortened. I press call and wait for his smooth voice to answer, ready to lay out the pieces of a puzzle we're only beginning to unravel.
Whatever happens next, we'll handle it together. But one thing's for sure—it won't be dull.
I nod to myself as I end the call with Aidan, already feeling calmer and more focused. His quiet confidence has that effect on me.
As I head back to the main compound, Angel looks up from cleaning her knives, her piercings glinting in the low light. She can strip a man to his soul with those eyes of hers. "How'd it go?" she asks.
"Pretty successful, actually. Definitely could've been worse. But we've got new players in town." I outline what happened with the strangers at the shop.
Slade emerges from the shadows, his face unreadable as always. "I'll put some feelers out, see what the streets have to say."
I turn to Aidan and Roman. "Keep our surveillance team close to Tane’s men. If those two show their faces again, I want to know immediately." They nod, eager for action.
Finally, my gaze lands on her again. My Valkyrie. An angel of death in a sinner's body. Just looking at her makes my blood burn. There's darkness behind her eyes that calls to the darkness in me.
"It's going to get messy," I warn her.
A wicked smile curves her lips. "Good."
Messy is just how we like it.
Chapter thirty-three
Itake a deep breath and smooth my dress, surveying the scene before me. Aria's is buzzing with activity, every table filled with potential investors sampling hors d'oeuvres and sipping mocktails. Soft music drifts through the open windows, mingling with the sound of waves crashing on the beach just outside.
I weave through the crowd, pausing to chat and joke with guests, encouraging them to try the booze-free feature of the day, my own special concoction called the Tropical Breeze. It's a blend of mango, pineapple, coconut water and mint, topped with a hibiscus flower. The reactions are all positive so far, with many going back for seconds.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice one man frowning into his untouched glass. I make my way over and introduce myself. "Hi there, I'm Aria. Are you enjoying the Tropical Breeze?"
The man scoffs. "Mocktails. Are they really a thing? I wouldn't think there'd be much business for something like that."
I laugh lightly. "You'd be surprised. People are looking for healthier options these days. And the great thing about these is they can be just as fun and flavorful as traditional cocktails, without the alcohol. We want every guest, no matter what they choose to drink, to feel welcome and valued here."
I can tell he's still skeptical. Time to turn on the charm. I gesture to the woman beside him. "This must be your lovely wife. She's vegetarian, right?"
"Pesky is more like it," the man grumbles.