Page 77 of The Crimson Lily

“Don’t let yourself be fooled, William,” a woman says. I recognize that voice. I can’t place it, but I don’t care either. Because that woman uttered William’s name.

William is here.

“She…‌your liability.” The woman says words, but I can barely hear her through the microphone. Maksim needs to get closer. “The other lords think…‌you should…‌terminate.”

“What is she saying?” I ask.

No response from Maksim.

“Relax, Margaret.” William’s voice and nothing more, only distant mumbles.

“Who’s Margaret?” I urge Chiara.

Chiara stares into the abyss, her eyes wide. She frowns when she finally decides to look at me. “If you mean Margaret Rose, she’s a Syndicate lord.”

“Why are you frowning? What’s a Syndicate lord?”

“Something’s not right,” Chiara murmurs to herself. She switches to Giovanni. “Tell theRussoto come back.”

“What’s wrong?” I ask while Giovanni relays Chiara’s request.

“If there’s a Syndicate lord, then there are armed soldiers, and Maksim could be in danger,” Chiara explains.

“Oh, so now it’s dangerous!” I scoff. “Isn’t there a freaking Syndicate lord at every meeting?”

“No,” Chiara shakes her head repeatedly. “Barons like William, maybe, but never a lord.”

These ranks mean nothing and everything to me, but I have other things to ponder. I steal Giovanni’s headset from his head and make it mine.

“Maksim, please come back,” I plead.

Thumps. Grunts. More voices.

“The Bratva dog…” William’s voice.

Fuck. Shit. Maksim, no!

“Where is she?” William’s voice, again. “Where is Liliana?”

Fuck.

No.

Maksim!

I discard the headset and step out of the car, panic gripping my throat.

I run into the dark, into the woods, Giovanni screaming for me to come back.

Maksim.

I have but one idea in mind: Maksim.

Arms forcibly wrap themselves around me and hold me back. I am hurled to the side and crash-land on the ground.

“Liliana, there’s nothing we can do!” Giovanni yells. “We have to leave.”

I roll on my back to shoot arrows at him with my eyes. “What the fuck happened? How…” I can’t speak.