Page 41 of On Edge

“Dante Black’s offer just landed. He wants to buy our disposal company.” It’s Mundel.

“My company,” I correct. “And no, that’s not happening. But I wouldn’t mind Harper Black Industries instead. Those government contracts are worth more than he’s offering.”

“He won’t sell Harper Black.”

“He will. Everyone has a price.”

“Even if he agrees, the government has to approve the ownership change. They’re already asking questions about your background after that Executive Review piece.”

“Which is why we need Ragg’s article yesterday. Has he responded to the invitation for a high-profile exclusive?”

“Tobias Ragg has. He’s very interested. But he prefers to interview you over dinner, not at your office, and has suggested The Dorset.” He pauses. “Smart. A public place. Do you think he suspects who you are?”

“He hasn’t got a damn clue.” I snort. “He just wants to eat at the most exclusive restaurant in town.”

Tobias Ragg, who turned my family’s tragedy into a media circus, painted my parents as monsters, ruined my name and reputation, and is next on my list. I would have preferred to meethim at one of my businesses, but I let him come to me instead. I want him to sit in my chair, sip from my glass…And look me in the eye when I carve the truth from his throat.

“He wants the exclusive; he can come to me. Tell him we will host him at Grayfleet.”

“Is that wise? Grayfleet is?—”

“The ideal place to meet that son of a bitch. Now arrange it and leave me to hunt.”

“He wants to meet this week, but you’ll still be out hunting then.”

I pause. My plan was to be out for the next two weeks. Stalking, planning, and laying the groundwork for my next kill takes time.

“Too soon, right?” Mundel asks. “I can tell him another time?—”

“Send the helicopter for him on Thursday afternoon, before the storm blows in. And make sure he signs an NDA. If he tells anyone he’s coming here, the deal’s off.”

“Tomorrow? You’re coming back?”

“Yes, I’m coming back.”

“Won’t you need more time?”

“I’ve already set the groundwork. I only came to get my damn dog before the storm.” The lie rolls off my tongue like a smooth whiskey.Storm Pirelli is about to hit, and the last place I want to be stranded is Grayfleet.

“And the girl?”

My grip tightens on the phone. “What about her? Didn’t I make myself clear earlier?”

“She didn’t get on the boat.”

I run my teeth over my lower lip. Why am I not surprised?

“Just keep her in her room until I get back. We don’t need Ragg getting distracted by a different story altogether.”

I hang up before Mundel can question my decision. The lie I told him (and myself) about retrieving Ben prickles under my skin. The thought of Sage alone at Grayfleet with Mundel and now Ragg makes my blood run cold.

It was a mistake to leave.

But I shove the reason why away and focus on what I’m going to do about Mundel. He’s been poking at the wrong things lately, testing the walls. He’s forgotten who I was at Port Penn. That I didn’t just survive that hellhole, Ithrivedin it.I didn’t have money or connections then.

Just absolute fear.

But now all he sees are custom cars, silk sheets, and a corner office with a view of the city. He thinks the empire softened me, but I’ve evolved, taught myself how to make cruelty appear civilized. Prison rules don’t work out here. No one deals with the devil unless he’s in a sharp suit and owns half the damn city.