Chapter 41
Cora
My mother once told me, on one of the rare occasions she took an interest in me, that adversity reveals a man’s strength, but power reveals his true character. At the time, I didn’t understand what she meant. It wasn’t until I was older that I grasped the meaning of the words.
As I sit in the solarium at the long, intricately carved dining table, covered with trays of food waiting for Zane to arrive, I think I finally understand what she truly meant.
Power corrupts, and a life without adversity creates entitlement.
And men in the business of selling secrets and lies, have more power than life has ever tested them for.
My mother played the game the way men do. She lived her entire life that way. Unapologetic. Cruel. Unforgiving. My mother ate men up, absorbed their power, then tossed out their remains.
She did it with everything she touched. It didn’t matter who you were.
Endgame was her pleasure and whatever fed her ego and her greed.
Whether it was using my father in her sex games, fucking Rune’s protégé, or betraying her best friend by ordering a hit, she did what she had to do—what she wanted—to keep her power.
But I guess all those little tests in life that she never got meant she never saw Rune coming. She truly believed she could get away with murdering his wife. With destroying his family.
And it was all over money.
I glance at Viper sitting at the head of the table, now back in his role as Vince, wondering if money drives the men too. Wondering just how much he knows about my mother.
Does he know it was money that drove her to kill her best friend?
Because money drives everything, including Zane, who walks into the large solarium where the four of us wait, that smarmy smile on his plastic face.
Breaker stands just enough to shake his hand, greeting him with that mega-watt smile, but Viper remains seated, barely looking his way, much less taking his outstretched hand.
Instead, he grabs an olive and pops it in his mouth.
Zane, rarely ever letting a feather fall out of place, takes the hit in stride.
He oozes privilege and money, his usual tailored suit replaced with a short-sleeved polo tucked into khakis.
But the power? That’s all Viper and Breakers.
Zane is too corrupted to be anything but evil dressed up with money to disguise his weakness.
Two of the bodyguards from last night—the one who couldn’t keep his hands to himself, Damon, and the one with the blond hair—come into the room behind him and take up a spot near the door.
“Good afternoon,” Zane says, eyes moving from my red lipstick to the long, hunter-green halter dress the men provided. “You look—”
“You’ll no longer be looking,” Viper says, his tone deadly. The large dark wood armchair upholstered with heavy fabric makes him look like a king on a throne. He snatches up another olive, glaring as he gestures for Zane to sit at the table next to Clyde.
Viper’s dressed similarly to Zane today, khakis and a tight shirt that hugs every single inch of his body, so there is no hiding the power each muscle holds.
I glance at Breaker at the far end of the table sitting in his own elaborate chair as Zane settles into his seat, wondering how this is about to play out.
Today’s meeting is casual. Brunch with new business associates who deal in weapons and women.
While I feel secure we have Zane fooled, I can’t help the nervous tension that settles in my spine, making me rigid.
Zane dips his chin at Viper in understanding, ripping his eyes from me to look around the solarium. Like the rest of the house, it’s an exaggeration of wealth. Lush tropical plants reach toward the glass panes, bright sunlight filtering through the leaves, casting everything in a soft glow.
“The house is impressive,” Zane says. “Though I prefer a more modern, less—”
“Let’s drop the bullshit,” Viper says, leaning back in his seat. “The shipment will go out this evening. It will be delivered at the location you provided. I expect your men to be there at the designated time. If my men have to wait, the deal is off.”
Zane leans back in his seat, his features turning hard. It’s obvious he doesn’t like Viper, and the need to impress him has passed. “When will the larger shipment for the lodge arrive?”
“As I stated before, that one takes several weeks,” Viper says. “When we finalized the hotel sale, Ben made sure you understood that it was well over a month out.”
“We have to pass through customs,” Breaker adds with a slight smile and a wink as he snags a cube of cheese from his plate.
Wait. Did he just wink at Zane?
Zane leans forward, picks up his water and takes a sip, gaze slipping from Breaker’s face to his broad chest and the gold chain at his neck. A faint smirk touches his lips.
My stomach drops. I clutch my water glass and bring it to my lips, eyes darting between Breaker and Zane, doing my best to school my features. When I glance at Clyde, checking to see if he sees what I’m seeing, I catch the knitted brows and the way he’s watching Viper.
Like he’s waiting for him to explode.
Breaker leans back in his large chair, propping his elbow on the armrest, and pops the food into his mouth, sucking the tip of his thumb as he eyes Zane.
Is he flirting?
There is no way he’s flirting with Zane.
Viper clears his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “The number of items in the shipment, and the preferences mean they are being shipped from overseas.”
Zane nods, eyes tracking over to me again. “And she’s aware of the agreement?”
I shift, noting the subtle shift in the air.
“She’s no longer your concern,” Viper says. “If I remember correctly, Rune made me an offer. One I accepted.”
“I’m aware. But it’s also not finalized.” Zane sits upright, shifting to look at Clyde. “And you can attest that Rune will be content when I report back to him?”
Clyde gestures to me. “She looks fine to me.” He stands, pulling his phone from his pocket and tossing it on the table in front of Zane. Forks and glassware clink. “Call him. I’ve kept him updated. He knows Vincent accepted.”
I bite my cheek to hide my smirk as Zane glances my way.
Zane shoves Clyde’s phone toward him. “But did she accept?” he asks. “Last time she was asked to marry, she didn’t take to the idea.”
Breaker clears his throat.
My heart stutters.
Rune said he had renegotiated.
He’s making me useful.
I blink in the aftermath of Zane’s words, slowly absorbing them. My gaze slips from Zane across the table to Clyde at his side. My hands fist.
“Ah,” Zane says, glee staining his words. “I see she wasn’t told her duties went beyond spreading her legs as wide as they can go.”
Taking a deep breath, I unfurl my fists, and gently place them on the tabletop.
Clyde conveniently left this bit of information out.
Sort of like he did when I was promised to Zane.
Maybe he knew it would never happen. He’s been feeding Reaper and their father information for years.
Did he tell Reaper when he found out about the deal Rune made with Zane?
He must have told Reaper, because I’m pretty sure he planned this.
My hand in marriage to Viper. Or rather, Vincent Campbell.
I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Keeping my eyes on Clyde, I reach for my water glass and take a sip.
My head spins, unsure how to react. I’d be lying if I said this was the least preferable option.
Vincent Campbell checks all the boxes for a woman in my position.
The problem is, Vincent isn’t real, and now that I have refused to marry Zane, I can’t accept this without a fight.
And Rune knows it. Is that why he threatened me? When he told me I was to make up for Zane’s refusal to marry me by doing everything he asked? Because he knows I’d fight this just as hard as I did Zane.
If I don’t, he’ll be so paranoid that the men’s entire plan could derail.
Clyde has risked his life to help avenge their brother’s death. The men have worked for years to infiltrate Rune’s inner circle. I’m just a pawn, and my part to play right now is indignant, mouthy, and disobedient.
Because that’s exactly how I’d react.
And Zane knows it too.
The paranoia from last night sweeps through me again, the fear that they are about to get caught nearly crippling, but I clench my jaw, shoving it down as deep as it will go.
“I wasn’t aware my loose cunt was so sought after,” I say to Clyde. “It appears men will do anything to get a taste.” I shove my water glass away, and turn my focus to Viper. “I guess the taste you got last night made you delusional enough to think I’d want to marry you.”
Viper bites his bottom lip, which does nothing to hide his grin.
“Cora,” Clyde says, the single word a warning.
Zane’s soft chuckle sends fire through my brain. “It’s your money, not your pussy, that’s desired, Cora,” he says. “Who’s the delusional one again?”
The urge to pick up the heavy crystal water glass and toss it across the table at him nearly owns me, but I gain control of myself.
This is the second time Rune has tried to marry me off to further his business ties and get his hands on my money, and this is the second time they—Clyde, the men—have left me in the dark.
The anger that spikes is real. I don’t have to pretend that.
I shove back from the table as I stand, hard enough that my chair rocks backward.
Breaker gives me a warning look that would have had me cowering in terror before.
Before I had this man on his knees last night begging to have me.
Before I knew he’d sooner chop off his own arm than hurt me, because he’s that in love with me.
My heart tumbles, crashing to my stomach. The absolute certainty of his feelings, their feelings, hits me so hard that my head swims.
Fear sears through me at the thought of something happening to them.