Pretty Sinner (The Oligarchs)

He leaned closer, his eyes sparkling with intensity. “Is she afraid of me?”

I let that one sink in before answering.

“I think so, yes.”

He smiled like that was the answer he wanted.

“I want you to tell her to come out with me.”

“Why the fuck would I do that?”

He stood up and brushed his hands against his pants like he had filth on them. “Because your room is shockingly bland. No personal effects, no letters from home, no pictures, nothing. It’s like you have no past at all.”

I opened my mouth and snapped it shut. That fucking bastard went through my things. He must’ve done my side first before moving on to Penny’s. I wondered how long he’d been in our freaking room and who the heck let him in.

He was right—I had nothing personally identifiable. I had the surface-level trappings of a life, like books, posters of favorite movies, and a few small Ninja Turtle statues that could’ve been from home but were actually bought from the dollar store a week before leaving.

But nothing that would’ve passed any sort of scrutiny. Fortunately, Penny wasn’t exactly the most paranoid person I’d ever met.

Kaspar was dangerous, and he was clever.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said defiantly, tilting my chin up to stare in his eyes.

His grin widened. “I don’t know who you are or what you’re playing at, and I truly don’t give a shit. The Servant family can deal with their own shit. So long as you leave Penny alone, feel free to hang around and spy.”

“I’m not spying and I don’t know what Penny’s family has to do with any of this.”

“I’m sure you don’t.” He drifted toward the door. “Tell her to come out with me, little spy. Otherwise, I’ll cut your throat and toss your body in the lake, and don’t think that’s an idle threat.” He waved and left.

I collapsed back onto my bed, heart racing.

That man was a nightmare. He was a freaking monster.

He saw right through my cover and knew something was wrong with me.

But he didn’t realize why I was here. He thought I was sent to spy on Penny—but he had no clue the extent of the plot against her.

I was an assassin, not a spy.

A killer, not a watcher.

I’d have to move up my timetable if I was going to pull this off. Kaspar’s scrutiny was getting too intense, and he was getting much too close to my real identity.

Except the same thing holding me back before was still there, making me hesitate now.

I could strangle her tonight, drag her body into the quad, and leave her there, dismembered and oozing. I could slam her head in the door until her brain leaked all over the floor.

But I didn’t want to.

As soon as I did it, my life as a college student would be over.

The truth hit me in the chest. It took my breath away and I couldn’t identify the feeling that flooded me.

Regret? Nostalgia? Anger?

A little of all three, and so more much.

I spent my life with Maeve. I owed her everything and loved her like a goddess.

Only I’d never had freedom like this before.

Never really had any friends.

Penny was the closest I’d ever gotten.

I liked her. I hated myself for it, but I liked her. She was sweet and funny and earnest, and not at all like what I imagined the daughter of an Oligarch family would be. There wasn’t a hint of pretention in her, which might’ve been to her detriment.

Still, she was smart and she was strong.

And she was trusting.

I wanted to stay here. I didn’t want to kill my only friend and run back to Maeve’s quiet, cold manor house. She’d give me a job, more responsibility, more opportunities than I could ever imagine, but it was like a wall had grown between my life there and my life here, and I didn’t want to cross back over.

Kaspar might force my hand, and I hated him for that.

I rolled onto my side, two warring desires fighting for control, and I didn’t know which would win.

12

Penny

Present Day

Rome, Italy

I expected Kaspar to seem triumphant. He helped take down a notorious and powerful Oligarch, and installed his ally as the head of the Orchard family. Most men would’ve gloated about that.

Not him. If anything, he seemed even more angry.

We met Redmond at a quiet restaurant in a working-class neighborhood tucked in the back of a water-strewn alley. I thought the whole house might crumble at any moment, but as soon as we stepped inside, the heavenly smell of freshly cooking pasta sauce, mussels, chicken, and more assaulted me with heavenly spices.

Redmond and his soldiers were already there. He stood and greeted Kaspar like a brother, hugging him, kissing his cheek. Kaspar managed to smile back, though I got the sense that he wasn’t happy about anything at the moment. The two men sat back down and Redmond lounged, offering wine and bread with spiced olive oil. I took the chair next to Kaspar and tried to pretend like I didn’t exist.