Exodus (The Ravenhood)

Fuck.

It’s time to show my card, but we already know what it is—my silence. If I speak up, I may be able to stop him from taking my inheritance, from getting his revenge. He sees it the minute I figure it out.

He lifts his chin. “Name your price.”

“You really don’t believe I’m capable of keeping my mouth shut without being blackmailed?”

“This isn’t blackmail. And your real question is, do I trust you? Fuck, no. But don’t take it personally.”

I open my mouth to snap out a worthy retort, but he raises his hand.

“Let’s save the insults for dessert. You need to really think about what you want.”

I want him to pay, that’s what I want. I want to strip him of some of his confidence, to humiliate him the way he has me. I want to hurt his pride and his feelings if he’s capable of having them. And that’s when the idea strikes me.

His eyes flare when he reads the price in my expression. “Cecelia—”

“Promise me my father’s safety.”

“You can’t be serious.” He curses and shakes his head disbelieving.

“It’s the only thing I want. Maybe he does deserve whatever you do to him financially, but you yourself said you were never going to hurt him physically, so what’s the harm in making you swear to it?”

“Like I said, he has other enemies.”

“And you know of them?”

Another nod.

“Even better. You’ll be the one to watch over him.”

“You’re putting way too much stake in your place, Cecelia. Either way, he’s going down. The when is up to you.”

I palm the counter and lean in. “You want to buy my loyalty? Then you wait until that money hits my bank account and guarantee my father’s safety.”

“You’re asking too much.”

“He’s my father, Tobias. Whatever he’s done, I assure you he’s paying for it. The man is bankrupt in life already. His company is all he lives for. You take that, and I guarantee you will have taken everything from him. Just give him a chance to do something different with his life after you’re finished with him.” I circle the counter and look up at him. He towers over me, his posture rattling with anger, his eyes bleak. “You take his wealth and position, and he’ll have nothing left. It’s not like you can get revenge on a corpse. Consider it protecting your interest.”

“I told you, this isn’t just about me.”

“But the victory will be much sweeter if you gain control as he is forced to watch.”

It takes nearly a minute of staring off before he finally dips his chin.

“With words, Tobias.”

“He’s under our protection, from here on out, until we’re done with him.”

“Swear to me.”

His eyes flare. “I’m not repeating myself.”

“Fine. So now what?”

He nods toward the cutting board. “Dinner.”

Tobias sits on the floor across from me in his slacks and starched shirt, his hair slightly askew as he studies the pieces on the board before moving to claim one of my pawns.