Page 148 of Wicked Lord

“I’m going to get right to the point, Axel.” He laced his hands in front of him and rested them on the table. “I heard the police received the video of youaccidentallypushing poor Peter Dupont off the cliff.”

My teeth ground at his fake sympathetic tone. “Your point?”

“Of course I know all about that video since I was the former Domnus.” He raised his eyebrows, a slow smile curving his mouth. “And I know all about the unfortunate young woman who was dumb enough to record the incriminating scene.”

Dread coiled deep in my gut. Bass knew exactly what happened to Susanna then. And he seemed to find it funny that the blood of yet another person stained my hands.“Did you make it a habit of combing through the archives?”

“I might have studied any secrets my little brother and his friends had just in case I needed to use them. You four are much more interesting than people realize.” His blue eyes twinkled with so much menace it made me shiver. “Susanna Michaels might prove still useful–from beyond the grave.”

My fingers stopped peeling the candy bar wrapper off. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

He shrugged and pressed his lips together.

I cursed under my breath, knowing damn well he wouldn’t explain his cryptic words. I tore the rest of the wrapper off,letting the pieces of foil flutter onto the desk. Bass could clean them up.

“Time is ticking, Bass.” I bit into the gourmet chocolate, but it didn’t taste as good as the ones from Lorelei. “Get to it already.”

“Did Vaughn slip the video to Brock Haversham?”

I stopped midchew. “What do you know about Brock?”

He laughed and ran his hand over his slicked-back blond hair. “I know plenty about the Texas oil tycoon. He’s the anonymous person who turned the video over to the cops. And his closest connection to the Serpents & Daggers is Vaughn.”

As I suspected, it wouldn’t take long for the brotherhood to put the pieces together, but I never expected Bass to be the first one.

“It was Vaughn,” I admitted. “He’s been on my ass since the moment I more or less stole Lorelei Battenberg from Brock.”

Bass leaned back in his seat. Of course he found a cushy leather chair from somewhere. “That’s a major problem. The Domnus putting a nonmember’s desires ahead of a Lord’s is bad enough, but handing over secrets from our archives to an outsiderandthe police without just cause is, well, treason.”

I chewed another piece of chocolate and swallowed, studying the scheming, manipulating man. Sebastian Davenport didn’t do shit for free. He had ulterior motives.

“Why do you care?”

“I’m beginning to think choosing Vaughn as my successor was a huge mistake.” Shadows crawled along his face, darkening the hollows of his cheekbones. “I need to rectify that poor decision.”

“And how do you plan on doing that?”

Did I really want to know?

Bass dug into the inside pocket of his navy blazer and pulled out a small scroll, tossing it to me. I caught and unrolled it to find our motto inscribed in decorative writing at the top.

Our blood is from one cup. Our bones are from one beast. Our soul is from the same shadow. Brothers above all. We enter this world together. And we shall only leave with a dagger pressed against our throat and the serpent’s poison in our veins.

My mouth parted as I read the letter. “You’re officially charging Vaughn with betrayal against the brotherhood and bringing it to the Grand Domnus?”

“Vaughn can’t get away with this.” He reached across the table and tapped his finger on a line. “All you need to do is sign it, and I’ll file this with the Inner Circle.”

I set the remaining candy down as my flesh prickled. “What’s in it for you?”

His smile had ice pouring through my veins. “Don’t you want Vaughn to pay? He’s as much to blame for this as Brock. Besides, I’m sure the brotherhood will be more inclined to help you after they learn the Domnus leaked this.”

Bass was right. I wanted that asshole Radcliffe to pay for his involvement. I’d be on a beach with Lorelei now instead of imprisoned for murder.

As if he sensed my surrender, Bass passed over a fountain pen withFratres Super Omniaengraved across the slick black surface. “You know the drill for official requests.”

I ignored the warnings screaming in my head, grabbed the pen, and signed my name. And because the Serpents & Daggers love their occult bullshit, I flipped the pen over and tore off the cap on the other end, revealing a sharp blade.

I jabbed the pad of my thumb and let blood drip on the paper next to my signature.