Page 45 of Silent Schemes

Korrin plants the knife point-down in the wood. “You’re fucked, man. She’s Cross’ blood. You know what that means.”

“It means she wants to kill me,” I say. “So do half the people in this city. Doesn’t make her special.”

“She’s not half the people in this city,” Korrin snaps. “She’s Cross’ heir. She’s trained. She’s a viper.”

I smile. “So are we.”

Cyrus steeples his fingers. “Strategic value if you flip her. Suicide if you fail. Which way you leaning?”

I look at the map.

Six new power shifts in the last week alone.

The city is a chessboard, pieces shifting faster than anyone can track.

“I want her on a leash,” I say. “Long enough to see which way she runs. If she comes for my throat, I’ll handle it.”

Korrin snorts. “Let me handle it. One night. No witnesses. Body will never be found.”

I shake my head. “No. She stays alive until I say otherwise.”

He glares, jaw flexing. “You’re not thinking straight.”

“Never do,” I say. “That’s why I win.”

Cyrus points at a zone on the map. “She could get to our father. To the others. You ready for that?”

“I’m counting on it,” I say.

The silence is heavy.

Korrin finally pulls the knife free, wipes the blade on his jeans. “You’re in charge,” he says. “But when she stabs you, don’t expect me to save your ass.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I say.

He storms out, slamming the door so hard the glass knives rattle.

Cyrus lingers, eyes bright. “You actually like her.”

I stare him down. “Don’t mistake usefulness for weakness.”

He smiles, thin as wire. “Whatever you say.”

He leaves.

I sit in the office, pulse still jacked, the echo of violence in my head.

When I finally come down, I go looking for her.

Sienna’s in the main bar, making small talk with Tracie.

“You could have run,” I say.

She doesn’t look up. “You could have died.”

I toss her a loaded clip.

She catches it, one-handed, slides it home with a click.