Page 62 of Silent Schemes

“When she betrays you,” Korrin starts.

I cut him off.

“If,” I say.

The room goes silent except for the hum of the electronics and the city outside.

I take a long drag on the cigar, stare at the board, and picture every piece moving.

Sienna is the queen, the unpredictable.

But I’ve always played chess without a king.

“She won’t betray me,” I say, softer now.

Korrin’s laugh is low, dangerous. “Hope she strangles you, at least.”

I grin. “Get in line.”

Cyrus sets the tablet down, and I see a flicker of something in his eyes. “You really trust her?”

I tap the ash off my cigar. “No. But I trust myself more. Now get out and go home.”

The meeting is over. They know it, even if they want to argue.

I take the cigar, the pain in my hand, and head back to the kitchen.

My brothers mutter under their breath as they file out of the apartment, not sparing Sienna a glance as she leans over the sink, running cold water over her hands.

She doesn’t look up.

I stand next to her, so close our shoulders brush.

She whispers, “I could have run.”

I whisper back, “You never wanted to.”

She turns, finally, and faces me.

For a moment, she looks small, almost breakable.

Then she squares her jaw.

“If you ever lie to me, I’ll cut your heart out,” she says.

I nod.

“If you ever try, you’d better not miss,” I say.

We stand there, side by side, smoke curling up toward the dead lights above.

In this house, every day is a war.

But in the wars that matter, I never lose.

She grabs the cigar, takes a drag, and turns, her hips swaying as she walks back down the hall.

This woman will be the death of me.