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“I hate to burst your bubble,” Paul says, but he doesn’t sound like he hates it at all. “I’m not here with Pocher. With the election four days away, he’s not leaving your father’s side in the city.” He lifts a chin at Lucas. “He snatched me when I arrived to pick up important documents Pocher needed. I never made it past the airport.”

The damn election.

Wait.

The election.

I pull the list from my pocket and show it to Paul. “How many of those people are on the guest list?”

He eyes me. “Why?”

“Because they’re about to die at the hands of a skilled assassin, and so are you if I leave you with Lucas. Not by a skilled assassin, but he’ll eventually hit you if I give him the gun back. Answer the question.”

“Three from memory. There might be more.”

“Call and find out.”

“Lucas has my phone.”

Lucas grunts and slides it across the table, right between Paul’s tied hands. Paul punches a button on the phone and manages to shove it to his ear. “Dave,” he greets, and after a silence, he adds, “My chopper had mechanical issues. I’m still in the Hamptons. I need you to check the invitation list for election night.”

I listen to him read off the names and argue with Dave a minute before he disconnects. “Just the three I mentioned. I need to tell my team there’s a security challenge.”

“If you think it’s a smart decision to go around me, then you go around me, Paul.” My lips curve. “I think I might enjoy how that turns out.”

I ignore him and hand the list to Lucas. “She’ll go after the ones who won’t be at the event. Find those three.” I don’t wait for his confirmation and eye Enrique. “He needs a ride home that’s not with us. Make it happen.”

Enrique rounds the table and orders Paul to his feet while Jay hovers. “I won’t say anything,” he says to me, “for now. I can’t allow the event to go down without extra security.”

“Because you want to keep Pocher and my father safe?”

“Yes.”

“That tells me all I need to know about you, Paul.” I wave Enrique on and then tell Jay, “Go with him.”

“But—”

“Don’t argue. Go. With. Him.”

His lips curl over his teeth like a dog about to bark, and he backs out of the room. I sit down across from Lucas. “What is wrong with you?”

“What is wrong with you , Lilah?” he demands, and he’s a lot more sober than I’d believed. His voice is steady, his anger precise and cutting. “You’re an FBI agent, and you haven’t done shit to get justice for my father or your mother. We know they were murdered now. That changes everything.”

“Maybe I should go kidnap everyone, kill them, and have Kane bury the bodies. Is that what you want from me?”

“You bet your ass I do, but I’d settle for you doing anything, Lilah. Your fucking brother is going to work for your father, which means Pocher. One or both of them killed my father and your mother.”

“He’s trying to help by getting on the inside.”

“They’ll corrupt him. That’s what that is. And how much money did they offer him?”

“He doesn’t need money any more than I need money. Mom left us both a small fortune.”

“Power is like a beautiful blonde with a great body and huge boobs on display while she offers to get on her knees. Do you really think your brother is strong enough to turn that down?”

“He’s one of the best men we both know, Lucas. Revenge is a dangerous high that will end up getting you killed.”

“And you don’t want it?”

“I want more. Everything Pocher and my father do relates to the Society. I want the real leader, the one calling the shots. That’s not Pocher. It’s not my father, but my father is the way inside to get at that person. And as for this case I’m working, Murphy knew a lot of things he can’t tell me now, but the victims on the hit list Elsa Walker intends to kill might. They can’t tell us if they’re dead, too. We need to stop Elsa from killing them.”

“I assume since you’re going to visit Pocher’s place, you think Pocher can help with that?”

“He only helps when I leave him no choice, which is my intent.” I push to my feet. “Elsa’s phone—”

“Is in Maryland, but she is not.”

“Exactly. Have Tic Tac send you the hit list and find a way to figure out who is next. Or just find her.” I start to move and hesitate. “Find Director Ellis. He won’t return my calls. He’s in Maryland looking for her, but it feels off.”

“You think he’s dead or dirty?”

“Maybe both if he found Elsa. Text or call me with updates. And call Tic Tac. He’s afraid to let anyone but you help him considering the high-level government officials involved.”

“You mean he’s afraid to break the rules he needs to break to give you what you want.”

“We both know Tic Tac is the light to your darkness.”

“And what are you?”

“A bitch who will cut you if you don’t get me what I want.”

“You know the worst part of you saying that to your loving cousin? I believe you.”

“My loving cousin .” I snort. “Whatever.” I tilt my head and study him. “You aren’t drunk.”

“Nope.”

“Why play drunk?”

“You took my gun. I needed a reason to be that stupid.”

I almost laugh. Almost. Right now, it’s me against Ghost, and he’s a worthy enough opponent, but arrogant to a flaw. He thinks he’s the smartest killer I’ve ever faced.

He’s wrong. That was Roger, my mentor and The Umbrella Man. And now he’s dead.