Chapter 43
43
Raze
T he council of the Midnight Syndicate has called a private meeting with me this evening. It’s unusual for them to communicate outside of vague texts from burner phones or messages sent through other members. That’s why the sticky note sitting on my desk this morning, scribbled down in rushed handwriting, has taken me by surprise.
I had planned to spend the night tracking the newest victim they’ve assigned me, but there’s no room for argument when the council sends out a summons. I have no choice but to go.
When I make it to the assembly hall, all six members are seated and waiting. They direct me to stand before them at their raised altar. With confident steps, I obey the order, crossing my arms behind my back to give the illusion of submission.
Ashton Payne wastes no time confronting me. “We’ve received confirmation that you put your hands on the legacy of a Ravenshurst University board member.”
I tip my chin. “He put one of my students in danger. A Syndicate member’s daughter.”
“Then you should have elevated that information to us,” Mayor Stanson chastises impatiently, as if this whole ordeal is an annoying inconvenience he would rather not deal with. I make a mental note to exploit that if I need to.
“Understood,” is all I say.
Arguing will only prolong my suffering. They’ve already decided among themselves if I’ll be punished. This meeting is a formality.
“Ezra Ashbluff is calling for your execution. He claims his son has sustained irreparable damage to his arm that will impact his future,” Terry Florwyn explains in a lifeless tone.
“I hardly touched his arm. I’m sure a Viridian could repair him in no time.” It’s a bit of a challenge. One that is met with Terry’s pinched brows.
“What did the boy do?” Harold Mirasen questions with a matching scowl.
I hesitate. This feels like something Ellery should explain on her own, if she wishes. I’d rather respect her privacy. Although, with my life on the line, I have no choice but to respond.
“He placed a drug in my student’s drink and brought her back to my office, where he attempted to . . . take advantage of her.”
James asks, “How do you know this?”
Terry twirls her pen in the air, as if trying to recall a memory. “Wasn’t this boy working under you?”
I calmly address them both. “She told me. And yes, he was my assistant until I terminated him.”
“Who was the girl?” Angelica Sunspire calls out, addressing the last thing I want them to know.
I’m not entirely sure that the woman attending Ravenshurst as Penelope Ellery is who she says she is. If the council catches wind that they’ve been deceived, they’ll send me to kill her before I ever find the answers I want. Especially if they drag that snake Divina into this mess.
When I hesitate, James asks again, this time more angrily.
Again, I’ve been backed into a corner. With no other option but to comply, I tell them the truth. “Penelope Ellery.”
All six of them sit back in their seats, the sounds of their irritation filling the empty space. Ashton curses and Terry rolls her eyes.
“Divina’s girl,” James states, holding his head.
They know as well as I do that Divina will make this a nightmare for everyone if she catches wind of what happened.
“I’m fairly certain her daughter didn’t say anything to her,” I supply.
Mostly because I’m fairly certain the woman posing as her daughter doesn’t speak to her at all, if she’s smart.
“An offense against a Syndicate member is far worse than one against a board member,” Ronald Everwatch remarks, turning toward his peers to gauge their reaction.
They shrug, mumbling their agreements as if this is a new rule they’re making up on the spot.
“We were prepared not to have you leave this room alive, Raze,” James informs me matter-of-factly.
I nod my head in understanding.
“But defending a fellow Syndicate member’s legacy has spared your life. You’ll be expected to pay any reparations for the Ashbluff boy’s injuries. Any other misstep on your end will result in your immediate execution. You’re on thin ice.”
The rest of the council agrees.
The iron fist gripping my heart lessens a bit, hot relief flooding my chest. At least I’ll get more time to carry out my plans for the Ellery girl. However fleeting that may be.
“For the sake of all our sanity, this issue is to remain between the seven of us. No one tells Divina what the Ashbluff boy has done,” Ashton practically begs. This time, we all nod.
I walk out with a new sense of purpose. I’ve got to pull my head out of my ass and get back to the reason I started this in the first place. All of this.
Back to prioritizing the only thing that matters: Revenge for my brother’s senseless murder.
I should thank that sniveling piece of shit, Ezra. He knocked me back on my path when I had fallen off. And now that he’s attempted to put a target on my head, I’ll be sure to include him and his disgusting little roach of a son.