Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 94834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Nervous glances are shared between one another, and a thrill shoots through me. They don’t know where I’m going with this, nor how it will end for them. “What tradition does not dictate is that the name of my sacrifice become common knowledge among our members,” I state. “Over the past two weeks, there have been multiple attempts on her life in a bid to ensure I do not complete my sacrifice, therefore making me unable to take my rightful position at the head of this organization.”
I step directly into the center of the circle, shifting around and letting my hard stare lock onto each man, letting them feel my wrath. “Let me be very clear,” I state, each word loud and authoritative, reverberating through the office. “One of the twelve men standing before me tonight has betrayed me by sharing Oakley’s name with those who mean us harm. In doing so, that person has betrayed Empire, our blood, and our way of life. A betrayal against me is a betrayal against your brothers, and you will be punished.” I pause, shifting around the room to see the true fear in their eyes. “Do not be fooled, brothers. I will find who is responsible. And when I do, I will enjoy holding this person to the full extent of our laws. There will be no trial, no vote . . . no hope. Just my dagger across his throat.”
With that, I turn and walk out of the room, each step echoing through the silence.
Making my way out the front door of the mansion, I hit the grand entry stairs and sail down them before leaning up against a post at the bottom. One by one, The Circle members exit the Thorne estate and quickly hurry to their cars. Those who are usually quite vocal are now quiet and timid.
A moment passes before the last Circle member is gone and a shadow steps in beside me. “Starting strong,” Nikolai says. “Some aren’t going to take well to that.”
“I don’t give a shit what they take well to,” I tell him. “If I don’t set the tone now, they’re going to walk all over me, and I don’t take kindly to that. Within a week, they’ll be dead and buried. I won’t hesitate to make an example of anyone who refuses to fall in line.”
Nikolai watches me for a moment, both concern and curiosity deep in his stare. “Come and join me for a drink,” he says. “It’s about time you learned some things.”
Nikolai doesn’t wait for a response, simply turns on his heel and climbs back up the grand entryway. I trail back into his estate behind him and to his home office. He offers me the leather-studded armchair across from his desk and I take a seat, watching as he crosses to his liquor cabinet and pours two drinks.
“What’s this about?” I question as he hands me a glass.
Nikolai takes the armchair beside mine, taking a slow, heavy breath and reaching for the pack of cigars on the small table between us. He cuts the end before resting it between his lips and lighting it. Impatience gnaws at me, and as a cloud of smoke puffs out in front of him, I have to ball my hands into fists to keep from ripping the fucking thing right out of his mouth. “Nikolai,” I warn.
He glances my way, and after getting his fix, he lowers his hand, the edge of his cigar dangling over the ashtray. “You mustn’t tell Myra I was smoking in the house. She’d have my balls for it.”
“To be quite honest, I don’t give a shit what your wife does with your balls. I am, however, interested in what things you feel I need to know.”
“Patience is a virtue, Zade, and unfortunately, it’s not a lesson you were ever fond of learning,” he states before his face becomes shrouded in seriousness, finally getting down to business. “What do you know of Oakley Quinn? Have you looked into her background?”
My brows furrow. What kind of stupid question is that? Of course I’ve looked into her background. I nod. “There’s absolutely nothing interesting about her. She lived here as a kid. Her father died and she went to live with an aunt in Missouri. She had issues with a troubling ex-boyfriend, then decided to move back here.”
“What do you know of her father?”
I try to rack my brain for what I found on the man. “Not a lot. Matthias Quinn seemed to be some kind of hero within the community of Faders Bay. He was dumped with Oakley as a newborn after a one-night stand and worked as a local firefighter. Wasn’t winning awards for his lifesaving work, but he wasn’t exactly the runt of the station either.”
“And if I told you the background check you did on him was all fabricated?”