Page 43 of The Sins That Bleed

Love is a Losing Game

VALESKA

S ix weeks of stress and worry will take its toll on a person. It may not show up on me physically, but it does in all the other ways it can.

I flooded my building with my security team, and had Rai and Nico’s workload shipped over so they could work from their suites. Nobody so much as sneezes in my establishment without me knowing. I will not risk their safety for any amount of money.

They hate it, and probably hate me, but Sunny is on my side once again and it’s so nice to have my best friend back. We knew this day would come, Alaric Vonbarro is getting nervous, and he should be since his goons aren’t so good at withholding information when they’re scared shitless.

I love making men sweat.

Since Rai and Nico’s boss was murdered, they’ve been working double-time to bring in everyone up the chain of command. Their new boss has thrown every resource on this case, and they’ve been checking in via video calls.

I contemplated worming my way in with their new lead—I’d do anything to keep them safe—but I decided it’s not worth the rift it would cause between me and Rai if he found out. That’s not to say I haven’t done any research on the guy; so far I’ve found absolutely nothing on him.

Zero, nada, zilch, nothing.

He donates and volunteers for charity, helps his elderly neighbours, and is respected by his staff. It’s rare to find someone as good as Rai and Nico, especially in a position of power, but I’m relieved.

Their teams have intercepted six more raids, one every week, whilst bringing in more of Alaric’s circle. I’ve extended all my resources to the guys, including myself, to help get things moving. Although I’ve been more cautious this time to not have a repeat moment of being impaled.

The longer Alaric remains free, the more people are at risk, including the man that is an extension of me.

I’d been keeping tabs on Alaric’s movement through Zyon, but Alaric’s gone underground—nobody has seen him for over a week and I don’t like it one bit.

Alaric’s not a rat that scuttles away at the sign of danger, too proud and arrogant that he can’t be touched.

No, he’s plotting something.

“Hey, V, this came in for you.” Sunny drops a cream-coloured envelope on my desk.

“Thanks.”

I see my name scrawled on the back but no address, hand delivered by the looks of it, the ink forming my name is neat but not cursive. Butterflies erupt in my stomach. Rai must have sent me something and whilst we’ve not slept together since that night, we’ve had plenty of stolen touches.

It’s impossible for me to stay away.

I tear open the envelope and pull out the letter. The paper is crisp and thick under my fingers. Expensive and screaming wealth, it’s been a long time since I’ve received a handwritten letter. It’s only been me writing them to my dead husband and locking them away in an unused room in my apartment.

“I’m going down to Screamers, they had an issue with the bar restock so I’m going to see what we can do to bring a shipment in before tonight,” Sunny throws over her shoulder on her way out.

“Okay, let me know if you need anything, and be careful.” I don’t take my eyes off the letter.

I don’t think this is from Rai.

The door closes behind Sunny and I open it up, polaroids fall into my lap, but I gather them and place them on my desk. My eyes scan the letter. I read and re-read it before I look at the photos that were included.

Dear Valeska,

Or should I call you Lilith?

How wonderful it is to finally make your acquaintance, even if it’s only via this letter. I’ve heard so much about you. Your reputation precedes you.

I should have known you were involved somehow, after all, you are cunning and smart, not to mention beautiful beyond compare, so when I started connecting the dots of where my assets were going, I couldn’t help but be impressed that you had evaded my notice for so long.

I bet you are curious to know where you went wrong, what tipped you off to me. It’s simple, really, it was love. You and that agent, Rai Moreau. I would have never believed it if you weren’t seen by one of my men at his apartment.

You know the night him and his partner’s apartments were broken into? The ones that did it never left; they watched the whole thing. You should have been more careful with your heart, dear.

I wonder if he knows the truth, that you harbour his sister under the same roof. You see, I don’t think he does. If he did, he would never forgive you and you’ll do anything to keep him. It would be an awful shame for you to lose both of them, wouldn’t it?

I have a proposition for you, call it a gesture of goodwill since I’m feeling generous. I won’t tear your empire down to dust or touch a single hair on your friends’ heads, on one condition.

You will become my wife.

You’ll hand over the keys to your kingdom, but don’t worry that pretty little head of yours, I’ll happily let you rule over it. You’ll cut everyone you know from your life, and we’ll slowly dominate this world together.

What do you say?

I’ve reserved a table for us at the Eden restaurant Friday, meet me there at seven p.m. sharp for dinner. Wear your best cocktail dress. You have a wonderful figure and I’d love to show you off.

Who knows, maybe we’ll get on like a house on fire. There’s so many ways I can pleasure you. Riches, jewels, and in the bedroom.

If you’re unable to make it for any reason, I’m afraid that’s not good enough, and if you care at all about the people around you, you will be on time.

If you don’t believe me, the polaroids should help convince you.

I assume you know to keep this affair to yourself; you know how rumours can ruin a reputation.

Yours sincerely,

Alaric Vonbarro

An unnerving calm rolls over my body as I pick up the polaroids on my desk, I thumb through them until I vibrate with rage and something I’ve not felt for a long time. Fear . I shove the contents into a drawer in my desk before moving to the large window overlooking the city, my city, and I pace.

I need to think. The only way he can know so much about me is to have someone on the inside.

How else did he get photos of all my staff, the background clearly indicating backrooms, storage, and private floors.

The ones of Sunny and Rai are a carousel of nightmares in my mind, but it’s because of me—the way I look at them is telling.

I look at them like they’re my family.

“Putain, fuck!” I shout, my fingernails tearing into my scalp in frustration.

“Is everything okay?” I whip around at the sound of Rai’s voice.

I am at war with myself, one half of me wanting to spill everything out on the floor between us, but the other half wants to protect him and say nothing. I can’t speak, I open my mouth, but the words don’t come out.

Rai crosses the room to me in a few long strides, his hands cupping my face as he looks down at me. His eyes search mine for answers that won’t come, like my mouth has been stuffed with cotton and sewn shut.

“Talk to me, Valeska, are you hurt? Did something happen to Sunny? Fuck, I’ll call Nico.” He drops a hand to pull out his phone, but I grip his wrist and halt his movements.

“Nothing has happened to Sunny and I’m not hurt.” Yet.

He breathes a sigh of relief before pressing a kiss to my forehead and pulling me in for a hug. I let him and squeeze him back. I’ve grown to crave his comfort and I’m no longer able to convince myself I should pull away even though it’s what got us into this mess in the first place.

The longer we hold onto each other in the quiet space of the room, the clearer it becomes to me what I have to do.

I’ll have to meet with Alaric and agree to his terms.