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I freeze.

One of the guards steps forward, flipping a switch.A mechanical hum fills the air as a lift lowers from the ceiling.

Ruairi is loaded onto the crude device, and it’s lowered into a hollowed-out pit.The guard pulls out a knife and cuts through the ropes that bind him.Then, he’s lifted back out, and the grate is slammed shut over the hole, locking Ruairi inside.

I take a breath, schooling my features into something calm and controlled.Then, I wait.Minutes stretch before a low groan echoes from below.

Ruairi stirs.His movements are sluggish at first as he fully regains consciousness.He jerks upright as his eyes snap open, taking in his surroundings.Slowly, he pushes himself to his feet and looks up.I know the moment his gaze lands on me.

“What the hell is going on, Evie?”he yells.His voice echoes off the cavernous walls.

“I was hoping you would’ve seen reason.That I wouldn’t have had to resort to this.”

He glares up at me, his hands clenching into fists.“Are you fucking crazy?”

“No, Ruairi.I know exactly what I’m doing.”

He exhales harshly, pacing beneath me like a caged animal.“Do you think locking me up is going to get you what you want?”

“The ball’s in your court now,” I say and fold my arms as I stare down at him.“Agree to let me run the Syndicate with you, and this ends right now.”

His laugh is harsh and humorless.“You’re crazy.”His voice hardens.“And after this, you’ll never run the Syndicate with me.”

I let out a quiet hum, tapping my finger against my arm.“We’ll see about that.”

Seamus steps up beside me, arms crossed, as he watches the pit below."I don’t know what’s more fucked up.The fact that you pulled this off or the fact that you think it’s going to work.”

I don’t take my eyes off Ruairi, who’s pacing below."I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t sure."

He studies me for a long moment."You’ve got ice in your veins.I’ll give you that," he mutters, rubbing a hand over his jaw."But if this backfires?If he doesn’t cave?"He pauses, his voice dropping lower."What’s your next move then,princess?"

I don’t let the nickname or the skepticism in his tone shake me."He will cave," I repeat, my voice steady."Because the alternative is worse."

I turn on my heels and address the guards.“Cut the lights.”

A second later, the room is swallowed in pitch black.

Ruairi’s curses follow me as I make my way through the castle with Seamus following close behind.

Neither of us speaks as he starts the drive back to the hotel.I keep my gaze fixed on the window, watching as the dark countryside blurs past, nothing but twisted trees and moonlit fields bathed in shadows, all the while telling myself I did the right thing.That I had no choice.But the doubt lingers, quiet and insidious.

It hits me in the silence between breaths.This isn’t a step forward—it’s a fall.And the pit I’ve thrown him into may be the one I can’t crawl out of.

Cian

I stridethrough the halls of Ruairi’s Belfast office, a smug grin tugging at my lips.I’ve got something worth boasting about, and I want to see how he reacts.

Spending time with Aoife in Dublin had been productive.Perhaps not in the way Ruairi was hoping, but he doesn’t need to know that.I’m here to plant the seed, to make him think I’m getting closer to her in a romantic sense.If he believes I’m just another suitor, he won’t see what’s really coming.

But when I push open the door to his office, he’s not there.Ronan, his second-in-command, sits behind his desk.

"Where’s the boss?"I ask, keeping my tone casual.

Ronan sets down a stack of papers, leveling me with a look."He’s off on business."

“Business?”I echo, brow lifting.That’s news to me.“He didn’t mention anything to me.”

“I’ll give him a call,” I reply, already reaching into my jacket for my phone.