I laughed and shook my head. “That’d only start a war.”
“We can take him.”
“I doubt it.” I sucked in a breath and let it out before ringing the bell to my own house.
The door opened and I took a step back.
Mother smiled as she spread her hands. “Welcome home, honey.”
I didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t come to the front door in years, if ever. The staff cowered behind her like they were terrified she’d scream at them for allowing her to sully her hands with such a mundane task, but her smile didn’t flatter.
“Hi, Mom.” I hesitated, chewing my lip.
I screwed her over back then. She planned no usurping power from Darren, but I took over her plan, stole away Chika, and relegated her to nothing more than the widow of a powerful man. She never recovered after that, and from what I’d heard, she spent most of her days locked away in her wing of the house.
“It’s good to see you. I’m happy you’re home.” She held out a hand.
I took it and she pulled me inside. I hugged her, and though she felt like skin and bones and looked ten years older than I remembered, it felt good.
“This must be Redmond. Hello, dear.” She hugged him too, and I stood there flabbergasted, trying to understand who this woman was, and what she did with my cutthroat, haughty, horrible mother.
She took us into the house and asked all about the wedding. Redmond kept it small by design—just the two of us plus Cosima and Palmira. We rented out city hall, which I didn’t think was possible but apparently Redmond could take anything happen with the right amount of money. I read in the paper that the building was being fumigated on the day that a judge made things official.
I danced with Redmond in the mayor’s office and he fucked me on the desk. It was the most absurd and blatant display of power I could’ve imagined, and I loved every minute of it. I didn’t tell Mother about that part.
“Sounds lovely,” she said with a sigh. “Whatever happened to old-fashioned? Your father married me in a church in front of a hundred guests.”
“We wanted something for ourselves.” I paused in the middle of a familiar hallway. “Where are we going?”
She seemed surprised. “Darren’s waiting. You were going to visit him, weren’t you?”
I glanced at Redmond. I hadn’t realized Darren would be around. I planned on seeing Mother, saying hello to some of the staff, then getting the hell out of there. I hadn’t interacted much with my brother since taking over Maeve’s position.
But I nodded and we continued on. Darren sat in his massive library beside the fire with a book open in his lap and a drink in his hand. He looked tired, but he stood when we approached. He smiled, shook Redmond’s hand, and hugged me.
Mother disappeared without a word.
“I didn’t think you’d show,” he said, gesturing for us to sit.
“We considered snubbing you,” Redmond said with a shrug. “But I thought it would be tacky.”
“I’m not sure how to take that.”
I laughed and pushed Darren’s arm. It was strange, being near him again in this house, like back when we were kids. Except I was so much more composed and together than I was back then.
“I guess we should talk since I’m here.”
Darren nodded and put his book away before sitting. “Penny says you want to ask me a favor.”
“Something like that.” I glanced at Redmond and he nodded encouragingly. “I need an introduction to Nervosa.”
Darren laughed. He leaned back in his chair. “Shit, are you serious? Nervosa? Can’t Redmond do it?”
“He and I don’t get along,” Redmond said, crossing his arms. “Stupid, soft, West Coast piece of—”
I cut my husband off. “We need his permission for something. I thought you’d be able to get me in touch.”
“Nervosa’s a tough man to track down. He may be an Oligarch, but he doesn’t get out much.”
“Try, please. Redmond’s sister wants to go to school in his territory, and I want to make sure there won’t be trouble for her.”
“I’ll try, but no promises.”
“Thank you.” I smiled and shook my head. “This is weird, isn’t it?”
“Extremely. You still talk to Penny?”
“All the time. We haven’t seen each other though.”
“Kaspar holds grudges,” Redmond said with a dramatic sigh. “He can be so sensitive.”
“He’ll get over it eventually,” Darren said. “Maybe I’ll talk to him too.”
“You’re being too nice,” I said, narrowing my eyes. “What’s wrong?”
He sat forward, frowning down at his hands, and my stomach fell. I was kidding when I said that—but he seemed like there was a problem bugging him.
And when something bothered an Oligarch, it was never good.
“Back when you were still my sister, you tried to screw me over.” He spoke quietly, but there was no anger in his tone. I sat so still it felt like my bones might snap under the tension of my muscles. The fire popped and the noise sent a jolt of adrenaline down my skin.