Pretty Sinner (The Oligarchs)

“It was touch and go there for a moment, Kaspar, my good friend, but you did it.” Redmond beamed like a schoolboy after winning a soccer match. “I’ll admit that I had my doubts.”

“You shouldn’t doubt me. Your father never did.”

“My father’s dead now so that doesn’t matter anymore.” Redmond laughed heartily. I noticed that his soldiers weren’t smiling.

“Have you consolidated power?”

“Oh, yes, I tossed out the old guard. My father’s advisors weren’t happy about his untimely death at the hands of some very rough Sicilian gangsters, but these things happen in our line of work.” He winked absurdly and drank down his glass. “Some didn’t want to go quietly, but any that were disloyal are now dealt with.”

Which meant the Orchard house went through a very bloody purge.

“Good. You don’t have time for a protracted ascendency. I had hoped that you had plans in place before taking over.”

“Plans, don’t worry about plans. I grew up in the Orchard house. They all know I’m their master now.” Redmond grinned back at his men.

Neither of them smiled.

Not that he noticed. He looked back at Kaspar, his cheeks pink and healthy, and raised his refilled glass.

“To our little deal.”

“To our war.” Kaspar toasted him and drank.

I cleared my throat. “What war?”

Both men looked at me like I was a fern that decided to spread legs and tap dance.

“Kaspar, why do you insist on letting the dogs sit at the table?” Redmond’s eyes twinkled like he’d told the greatest joke ever.

But fear jolted through me as Kaspar slowly looked at him.

“Penny will be my wife. If you speak of her that way again, I’ll cut out your tongue, Redmond.”

“Oh, lighten up. She’s only some Servant bitch you want to impregnate. Pretty though, I’ll admit it, and she must be a nice—”

Kaspar slammed his wine glass into Redmond’s face.

Redmond’s soldiers reacted fast, to their credit. Their raised their weapons and began shouting as Redmond toppled to the floor, grabbing his cheek. Shards of glass were embedded in his skin, his blood mixing with the thick red wine. Kaspar’s men threatened Redmond’s and the room exploded in shouts.

“Enough,” Redmond shouted, standing. He held his hands up. “Enough, god damn it.”

Kaspar sat motionless, glaring at Redmond, seemingly oblivious to the guns pointed at his face.

Slowly, Redmond’s soldiers stood down. Redmond picked glass from the wounds and flicked it onto the floor, sighing like he’d read a particularly sad scene in a book.

“Last warning,” Kaspar said.

“I hear you loud and clear. But understand something. My father is dead, and Orchard is all mine. If you want my help, you will treat me with respect.”

“Respect is earned. You give it to me, and I give it to you.”

Redmond took a breath and sat. “That is why I’m not killing you.”

“That, and you need my help to maintain control.” Kaspar leaned forward. “Watch your tongue around Penny.”

“Do I get a say in any of this?”

Kaspar glanced over. “No, you don’t.”

“I want to hear from the girl,” Redmond said, dabbing at the bleeding cuts with a napkin. “What do you think about the way your future husband’s been acting?”

“He’s not my future husband, and I don’t much care for this jealous stuff.”

Kaspar grimaced. “Penny,” he said, warning.

“No, I think your new ally should hear this.” I leaned toward Redmond, who looked totally amused. “I’m not a willing participant. My sister all but sold me to Kaspar, and now this insane bastard’s keeping me prisoner until I agree to marry him. What do you think about that, Redmond?”

Redmond only laughed. “Sounds about par for the course, darling.”

“Leave it alone, Penny,” Kaspar said, sounding exasperated.

“You all play your games and expect everyone else to fall in line.” I leaned back, crossing my arms, feeling powerless.

“She’s not wrong, Kaspar. You do tend to nudge things in your direction.” There was a menacing edge to Redmond’s tone.

Kaspar sighed and wiped his face with a hand. “We’re wasting time. The longer we sit around and talk, the stronger Maeve becomes. If you think she doesn’t know what we’re planning, then you don’t know her at all.”

“Maeve’s crafty, but she’s not omnipotent.”

“She’s as close to that as any woman could be. You need to be careful.”

“I’m not concerned.”

Kaspar’s fingers clenched his knife like he wanted to jam it into Redmond’s throat, and I had no doubt that he’d do it.

“Gather your strength. I’ll lend you as much of mine as I can until your house is completely in order. Then we’re moving on Maeve.”

Redmond waved a dismissive hand. “I’ll be ready whenever you are.”

Kaspar stood abruptly. He glared down at Redmond then turned away. “Maeve can’t survive this year. If we don’t hit her hard and fast, the others will rally to her defense. Including Darren and Roman.”

“What is it with you and the old witch? You’ve always disliked her. We all know it.”