Page 40 of Vicious Kingdom (Dynasty of Queens #3)

S weet Annaliese, she thought I didn’t know.

But I did.

Every night, she snuck into my bedroom for a couple of hours, napping on the opposite side of the bed. She would set her alarm to vibrate and sneak away, thinking I didn’t know. But that was one of the few secrets I’d discovered.

That and the fact that after all this time, she was still my little authoress.

And yet, standing under the harsh lights of the Coliseum, the truth was glaringly obvious. Neither of us trusted the other with our secrets. The only difference was, she was good at unraveling mine.

She knew about this place, knew where I was going tonight. Apparently, Penelope begged the don to let her come along, to wait in the upper room and watch the fun below.

It was simply out of the question.

My wife belonged at home, where she was safe.

I sat at the poker table and pushed the chips in for the opening bet.

A six-and-a-half-foot frame folded into the seat at the other end. So wrapped up in my own inner turmoil, I hadn’t noticed the politician’s arrival.

“Mr. Voss,” I greeted him. “Fancy seeing you here.”

“Mr. Baldwin,” he replied with a shark’s smile. “I didn’t realize you were a gambling man.”

The dealer silently distributed cards around the table. I kept my expression neutral as I assessed my hand—a pair of kings. Promising, but far from a guaranteed win. Just like my marriage.

“We’re all gambling men here, aren’t we?” I replied, adjusting my chips with calculated precision. “Some of us just have more to lose than others. Tell me, how would your constituents feel knowing their beloved leader is here? ”

Voss chuckled, the sound hollow beneath the low-hanging lights. “We have to go where the money is. Places like this are ideal for backdoor deals, are they not?”

The other players—three businessmen whose names I knew but whose faces I’d forget by morning—shifted uncomfortably. They recognized a predator when they saw one, even if they didn’t know which of us was the more dangerous animal.

“How is married life treating you?” Voss asked casually as he raised the bet. “I heard the ceremony was…short. I would have been there to see it myself, but my invitation must have gotten lost in the mail.”

“Pity, but that’s what happens given the short notice.” I kept my expression neutral as I studied my cards.

“Society has been wondering about that.” The man was immaculate in his tailored suit, not a hair out of place despite the late hour.

His political smile didn’t reach his eyes—cold, calculating pools that assessed everyone at the table with practiced precision.

“They wonder a great many things about you, Mr. Baldwin.”

“Such as?” I tossed a few more chips into the pile.

Voss met my bet.

The dealer flipped another card.

“Oh, the fact that you rose to such heights as an unknown youth,” the politician drawled. “And then, there are the other whispers.”

Fucking hell.

My blood boiled hot. The wise thing to do was fold and walk away from the table.

One glance at Voss’s thin lips curling upward had me doing exactly that.

“Sorry, gentlemen, the cards are against me tonight,” I growled and began to walk toward the bar.

Quick steps sounded behind me.

“Wait just a minute, Mr. Baldwin.” His voice carried the distance, deep and measured. “I want to know if I have your support in the upcoming elections.”

I made it to the bar, where the good staff already had a fresh scotch waiting for me. I slugged it back.

“Support?” I turned, glass in hand, liquor burning down my throat. “That’s a bold request from someone who just implied he has dirt on me.”

Voss sidled closer, lowering his voice. “Not dirt. Information. There’s a difference.”

“Semantics.” I swirled the scotch, keeping my face impassive. “You want my money or my influence?”

“Both—you’re a man of exceptional talents.” His smile never reached his eyes. “And I suspect your influence extends far beyond what appears on paper.”

I studied him over the rim of my glass. The lights of the coliseum cast harsh shadows across his face, highlighting the predatory gleam in his eyes.

This man was dangerous—not in the way I was, with blood on my hands and secrets in my vault—but in the way of men who wielded power through public perception.

“My support comes with strings,” I began as my brother hissed in my ear in warning.

“Oh, no, you misunderstand.” His eyes gleamed with the knowledge that he held all the cards. “I offer you my protection, but you’re in no place to bargain.”

“Protection?” I scoffed. “Good night, Mr. Voss.”

“From scrutiny. From questions about your past. From further inquiries by our boys down at the Bureau.”

My blood turned cold. He had me. I’d underestimated just how much.

Voss’s smile widened, showing teeth. “Yes, Mr. Baldwin. I believe now you understand my offer. It’s made with your best interests at heart.

You see, I knew I needed men like you on my side.

Men with your particular set of talents.

Men with resources.” He leaned back, casual, as if we were discussing the weather over cocktails.

“Your trail of secrets is not as well hidden as you think. A little birdy told me to dig into your connection to this—” he gestured toward the gambling hall, the lights casting long shadows around us “—and wouldn’t you know it?

He was right.” He let the words hang. “The IRS is closing in.” His voice was a whisper, barely audible above the din, but it carried the full weight of his threat.

“Who?” I demanded, although there was only one guess in my mind. And if I was right….

“That doesn’t matter. I’ll silence him.” He waved a dismissive hand. “Your ill-gotten gains can go public.”

From the control room, the don roared. The sound crackled in my ear, nearly rendering me deaf.

“Unless I back you.”

“Precisely.” Voss’s smile widened. “Consider it a mutually beneficial arrangement. Your money and connections help secure my position, and my position ensures your…enterprises remain unbothered.”

The glass nearly shattered in my grip. This bastard had me cornered like a rat. My mind raced through options, calculating risks and outcomes with the precision that had kept me alive all these years.

“You should know,” I said, keeping my voice low and steady, “that threatening a man like me is dangerous business.”

Voss laughed, the sound genuine this time. “Oh, I’m well aware of what you’re capable of, Mr. Baldwin. That’s precisely why I’m approaching you directly. Men like us understand each other.”

“Men like us,” I repeated, tasting the bitter irony. “And what exactly do you think we have in common?”

“Ambition. Ruthlessness. A willingness to do whatever it takes.” He leaned closer, his cologne—expensive, subtle—filling the space between us. “The difference is merely one of method. You operate in shadows; I work in the spotlight.”

My jaw tightened. The line between us wasn’t nearly as thin as he believed.

“Tell me what you want.” I kept my voice level, though rage simmered beneath the surface.

“Five million. Untraceable.” Voss swirled his drink. “Consider it an investment in your future peace of mind.”

“And the Bureau?”

“Will find their investigation hampered by bureaucratic red tape. Files misplaced, warrants delayed.” His smile was serpentine. “Amazing what can happen when the right calls are made.”

I drained my glass, calculating. If Voss had what he claimed, I needed time. Time to neutralize whatever evidence existed.

“I would say it’s a pleasure doing business with you.” I held out my hand, and he placed his sturdy palm in mine. “But it’s not.”

“We’ll be in touch.” He released my hand and straightened his already perfect tie.

It would be a first, but killing a politician was going to be a new mark on my already tainted soul.