“I’m sure you have good reasons.” Cosima sighed and smoothed out the front of her tasteful top. “But here’s the truth of your situation. You need me more than I need you. I’m going to talk to Redmond, and hopefully I can find a way out of this mess without getting myself killed. I’m willing to bring you along if you’ll help to negotiate.”
I wanted to scream.
Negotiate with these monsters? Give them what they wanted?
The Oligarchs owned the world already. How much more did they need?
But I knew the answer to that.
They needed everything.
I was nothing. I was a speck, piece of dust, a microbe.
And they could crush me without thinking.
“I’ll do what needs to be done.” I bowed my head in deference.
Cosima watched me carefully. I wasn’t sure what she saw.
It didn’t matter.
There was no saving my life.
Not after I turned my back on Erin and betrayed them.
And if Cosima thought she could talk her way out of this, she was going to learn what an Oligarch was truly like.
Chapter 28
Erin
The meeting was in one of the most iconic and recognizable public spaces in Chicago. The silver bean was a twisted, reflective sculpture in the middle of a set of terraced concrete steps. Trees ringed the space, and benches were scattered along the edges.
But the open area was vast and packed with tourists. Redmond hesitated as we reached the steps. Palmira continued on, swaggering toward the mirror-like monstrosity with a smile on her lips.
“I wish you’d stay behind.”
“Cosima’s my family,” I said with a little shrug.
He laughed. “Now you care about that?”
“I need to be a part of this. If she’s going to back down, I want a say in the terms.”
He nodded, but didn’t look happy. I couldn’t blame him. There was a lot at stake, and Cosima had already tried to kill us more than once. If this was a trap, we were walking right into it.
I didn’t think it was a trap and Redmond agreed. She wouldn’t try something in such a public place with so many witnesses. Not even an Oligarch could kill indiscriminately and get away with it, not when every person walked around with a little camera in their pocket at all times. Too much could go wrong, and Oligarchs didn’t like bad publicity.
I strode ahead, following Palmira. Redmond caught up, face serious and drawn.
Palmira stood in front of the bean, grinning into its warping surface. The sculpture was huge and perfectly silver, and the landscape was twisted and bent by its reflection. It was like a hole in the air, like a convex lump in space and time itself. Tourists took photos and stared at themselves, marveling at how pristine it remained, even though it sat outside day after day, weathering slowly.
“I have to admit, I’m not an art girl, but this isn’t so bad.” Palmira adjusted her hair.
“It’s a giant mirror, of course you like it,” Redmond said.
Palmira laughed and nudged him. “Ah, come on. It’s cool, isn’t it?”
“Modern art’s not my thing. I prefer the old masters.”
“That’s because you’re a rich prick.” Palmira sighed and stretched. “What about you, Erin?”
“I like it. I especially like that Chicago keeps it here. Not many places give a crap about art anymore.”
“Good point.” Palmira touched the smooth surface. “Shame we don’t have more murals and such, isn’t it? I like living around beautiful things.”
I squinted at Palmira, trying to make sense of the strange woman, when Redmond put a hand on my arm.
“They’re coming,” he said softly.
I turned and saw Cosima walking with her soldier, Chuck, the man that survived the ambush, and Chika Abarra.
I felt a cold twist in my guts. It was dread personified. Chika smiled at me, big and bold, like she was proud of herself for turning coat. I hated her but wasn’t surprised. I expected this from the start, and still it hurt.
She served my family faithfully for so many years, and finally decided to twist the knife when I was at my weakest.
Cosima stopped a few feet away. Redmond held up a hand in greeting and Cosima nodded back.
“Thanks for coming,” she said. “I wasn’t sure you would.”
“I’ve been looking for you.” Redmond stepped forward. Cosima didn’t move. “You’ve been a real pain in my ass.”
Her eyes drifted to his injured shoulder and back. “I suppose I have. Anyone ever get that close before?”
“Never. I’ll admit, you’ve done very well.”
“I guess I should be proud. Nearly killing an Oligarch is better than most people do.”
“But we’re ending this now.”
Cosima nodded sharply. “Yes, we are.”
There was a heavy silence. Nobody moved. I wondered if Chika had convinced Cosima to try to kill us one more time. Palmira was a heavy weight to my left, like a ghost.
I broke the silence. “May I speak with Cosima alone?”
She looked surprised. Her sharp eyes studied me, her lips frowning slightly. Chika looked like she wanted to claw my eyes out.