My blood turns to ice. “She’s half your age.”
“It’s perfect,” he nods. “I need someone to give me more… worthy heirs, and in return, she’ll be given certain allowances.”
I bite back the retort and study him further.
I’ve underestimated the mayor.
He doesn’t just want more money and power, which I can help him expand upon.
The thought of offering up Olivia like a breeding mare makes me want to put the mayor’s face through a wall.
He’s a sick, old fuck, but I know I need to entertain the idea, at least until another one comes along.
I’m sorry, Olivia, but for the good of the empire, he needs to think it’s on the table.
The mayor claps me on the back before he sits back down. “I don’t need an answer right away. There’s still a lot more for us to discuss.”
I offer him a cold smile. “Indeed.”
“Excellent. Now then, about those assets…”
An hour later, there’s a dryness in my mouth I can’t shake as the mayor stands up and opens the door for me.
How much more of the empire will I serve up?
How much more of it will they demand?
You won’t have anything left at this rate, and when the dust settles and there’s no longer a threat, they’ll come and demand what they’re owed.
There won’t be a damn thing I can do to stop them.
I’m selling off the Payne name little by little, and I hate myself for it.
“He’s going to bleed you dry.” Noah appears a moment later. His wet hair is plastered to his face, and he’s wearing clean clothes. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”
“Don’t tell me you’re going soft.” I glare at him. “Your concern is misplaced and unwanted.”
“It’s not a concern,” Noah spits. “It’s a warning. I know London is the reason you kept me alive, so consider my debt repaid.”
I offer him a bored look. “The debt is far from repaid.”
Not that it matters.
Noah has nothing to offer me, nothing I want, and the fact that he’s grasping at straws would be hilarious if it weren’t so sad.
The sad little shit is so desperate to remain relevant, to hang onto the last thread tying him to London.
Noah folds his arms over his chest. “Where’s Ryder?”
“He’ll be returned when I’m done,” I reply flatly. “I wouldn’t do anything stupid if I were you.”
“If you think I’m not going to do everything I can to try and save my brother—”
I slam him against the wall before he can finish. “See, that’s what I mean by something stupid. You’re meant to be the levelheaded and cautious one.”
Noah draws his lips back and bares his teeth at me. “Iam.”
I place my elbow over his throat. “I’m starting to doubt that. No wonder your father is ashamed of both of you.”