Chapter 10
Blake
Nico's waiting at the bar when we arrive, and he looks like absolute shit. His clothing is disheveled, his hair a mess, and there's a bruise blooming along his jaw, fresh enough that it happened today.
"Blake." Nico stands when he sees us, but doesn't extend a hand. We're past that. "Thanks for coming."
"You said it was urgent." I don't move closer, keeping Peyton slightly behind me. Family or not, I don't trust anyone in Wintervale. "Make it quick."
"Can we talk? Alone?"
Peyton's hand finds mine immediately, chin lifted. She's not letting me out of her sight. Nico notices and gives me a judgmental look.
"No," I tell him plainly. "Say whatever it is you came here to say."
Nico studies her with something that might be equal parts shock and respect. Then he turns back to me. "Silas is planning something for tonight. Something big."
“Not really surprised.”
"No, you don't understand." Nico runs a hand through his hair, agitated. "He's not just trying to control Peyton's proxy votes. He's planning to eliminate the entire Kingsley board. Edmund, his heirs, everyone. One move that wipes the slate clean."
Ice slides through my veins. "How?"
"I don't know all the details. He keeps me compartmentalized, only tells me what I need to know." Nico's jaw tightens. "But I heard him on the phone with Domenic. Something about 'removing obstacles permanently' and 'the Gala provides perfect cover.'"
"Wait." Peyton steps forward. "You think he's going to murder them? Tonight? At the Christmas Gala in front of hundreds of witnesses?"
"I think he's going to make it look like something else.
An accident. A tragedy. The kind that gets investigated and closed quickly because the right people are motivated to move on.
" Nico looks at me. "Blake, I know we're not on the best of terms. I know things between us are complicated.
But I can't be part of mass murder. That's not what I signed up for. "
"What did you sign up for?" I ask. "Nobody forced you into this life."
"No, I asked to be included. I wanted to be part of the family business like you and Talia.
Make money, wield power, put some respect on the Delano name.
" He touches his bruised jaw, winces. "But I didn't sign up to wipe out an entire generation of people just because it's an advantageous business strategy. "
"Who worked your face over?"
"You know who."
Fucking Silas.
"Why tell me? Why not go to the police, the FBI, anyone with actual authority to stop it?"
"Because half the cops are on Silas's payroll and the other half won't believe me without proof. And because—" He stops, something vulnerable crossing his face. "Because you're the only one in this family who ever gave a damn about doing the right thing even when it cost you everything."
"What do you want from me, Nico?"
"Help me stop him. Just be there tonight and watch for the threat.
Stop it when it happens." Nico steps closer.
"Silas thinks you're compromised, that you'll be too focused on protecting Peyton to notice what's happening in the wings. Prove him wrong. Save them, tell them who you saved them from, and they will do the rest. They’ll cut Silas at the knees out of gratitude.”
"This is a trap," Peyton says flatly. "Silas sent you here to lure Blake exactly where he wants him."
Nico's eyes flash. "I'm trying to prevent a fucking massacre—"
"By conveniently telling Blake to show up at the exact location where Silas is planning this violence?" Peyton's voice is cold, certain. "You're either incredibly naive, or you're playing us."
"I'm trying to do the right thing for once in my fucking life," Nico snaps.
Peyton and Nico stare at each other, two people who understand power and manipulation, neither willing to back down.
I should intervene, but instead I watch the exchange quietly, because Peyton's right to be suspicious. Nico needs to prove himself if he expects us to trust him.
"You want proof?" Nico reaches into his jacket.
My hand moves to my gun automatically.
He freezes. "Easy. Just getting my phone."
"Slowly."
He pulls out his phone with exaggerated care, unlocks it, shows me the screen. Text messages between him and Silas, timestamped throughout the day.
Silas: The girl is a problem. Blake is compromised. We move tonight. Everything must be clean.
Nico: Define clean.
Silas: No witnesses. No loose ends. No one left who can challenge our claim.
Nico: That's a lot of bodies.
Silas: It's necessary. You're either with the family or against it. Choose.
I scroll through more messages where I see logistics, timelines, and names I recognize. Edmund Kingsley. His children. Board members. Even some Hollow Club members who have apparently become liabilities.
He never says explicitly the words "kill" or "murder,” but it's absolutely a hit list disguised as a business plan.
"Jesus," I breathe.
"Yeah." Nico pockets his phone. "So you understand why I'm here. We stop this tonight, or Wintervale wakes up tomorrow with a dozen dead bodies and Silas controlling everything."
Peyton moves beside me, reads over my shoulder. Her face goes pale. "My name is on there."
"Last entry," Nico confirms. "Listed under 'contingency if primary plan fails.' Meaning if they can't control you, they'll eliminate you."
"They've been planning this for months," I say, pieces clicking together. "The threats against her father. The surveillance. Even bringing me back. It was all part of a power grab.”
"You were supposed to deliver her to Silas compliant, signed, and useful. When you went rogue, Silas had to accelerate the plan.” Nico's expression is grim. "He's desperate now. Which makes him more dangerous."
I hand back his phone and make a decision that could cost us everything. "What's the method? How's he planning to kill them? Fire? A bomb? What?”
"I don't know. That's what I'm trying to tell you.
What you read is all I know. The only details I have are that it may go down between nine and midnight, based on what I overheard.
" Nico looks between us. "But if we're there, if we're paying attention, maybe we can spot it. Stop it before it happens."
"Or walk directly into the trap he's set," Peyton says, sucking her teeth. “I don’t understand how a man who’s as calculating as you say Silas is would plan something this…messy.”
"Maybe it is a trap. But what's the alternative? Let them all die?" Nico's voice rises. "These are people, Blake. Yeah, they're corrupt, and sure, they've profited from some of the same shit Silas has, but they don't deserve to be massacred at a Christmas party. None of us is a saint.”
He's not wrong.
"Give us a minute," I tell Nico.
"Blake—"
"A minute, Nico.”
He nods and moves to the far end of the bar. Out of earshot but not out of sight.
I turn to Peyton. "What do you think?"
"I think he's either genuinely trying to help or he's the best liar I've ever met." She keeps her voice low. "The messages looked real. The fear in his eyes looked real. But that doesn't mean it's not orchestrated."
"Agreed, but I don’t understand what the hustle would be of sending him to tell us this. We were already going to the gala anyway. Silas knows that.”
"Or Nico could be telling the truth." Peyton's eyes are sharp, calculating. “And now we know we’re walking into a much more dangerous situation than we realized.”
"If it's real, and we don't go, twelve people die. Including possibly Edmund, who's the only Kingsley left who may know something about your mother's murder,” I say carefully.
"And if it's a trap, we walk into an ambush designed specifically for us."
"Then we go prepared. Armed. With backup." I pull out my phone. "I'll call Talia. I also suggest you decide whether you’ll take Helena up on her offer. If so, we tell her what we know so we don't go in blind."
"We're really doing this."
"We don't have a choice. We need to deal with both of them. Silas is not going to stop, and Edmund’s thrown the gauntlet down at your new Kingsley feet.” I cup her face. "But Peyton, you stay with me tonight. You don't leave my sight. And if things go wrong—"
"I know. I run. We've had this conversation." She covers my hands with hers. "But Blake, I’m not letting you die for me tonight. We both survive, or I’ll kill you myself.”
I forget that Nico is watching from a short distance and tug Peyton forward against my chest. “You’re cracking jokes at the most inappropriate time.”
“I’m not joking.”
My heart beats stronger when she’s this close, reminding me of the connection to her that is growing without my goddamn consent, so I kiss her. It’s a chaste one compared to what we did last night but it’s one of ownership all the same.
Peyton is mine.
Mine to kiss.
Mine to fuck.
And mine to protect.
I call Nico back over. "We'll be there, and we’ll be ready,” I tell him, being sure to keep an eye on his affect.
Nico checks his watch. "Gala starts at seven. Whatever Silas has planned happens between nine and midnight. That's our window."
"What about you? Where will you be?"
"Wherever Silas puts me. Probably close to him, following orders, pretending I don't know what's coming." Nico's jaw sets. "I'll try to signal you if I spot the threat. But Blake? Be careful. Silas is paranoid. If he suspects I've warned you, he'll move up the timeline or change the plan entirely."
"Understood. I have a very deep understanding of how Silas operates, especially under pressure.”
Nico starts to leave, then stops. "Thank you for trusting me enough to at least listen."
"I'm not trusting you yet, but I'm giving you a chance to prove yourself." I hold his gaze. "Don't make me regret it."
"I won't."
He leaves.
Peyton and I stand in the empty club, the weight of what we just agreed to settling over us.
“I’ll feel better about this once you loop in Talia,” Peyton says.
“You trust my sister, huh?”
“Yeah, and I like her too.”