Page 147 of Deadfall

We stared at each other. I studied the way the flames danced in his dark eyes, casting shadows over his expressionless face. I could tell he wanted me to react to his comment, but I gave him nothing.

“So tell me, Emersyn North, what are you going to do now that you have me at your mercy?”

Albatron’s voice was as seductive as it was sharp.

I scoffed. “Even if I had a weapon, I have no doubt you’d kill me where I stood if I so much as sneezed.”

He pursed his lips. “Perhaps.”

The amusement was back, and he took another sip of his drink.

I wasn’t nearly as amused. “Why am I here?”

“I wanted to meet you.”

I raised my eyebrows skeptically. “And how do I match up to your expectations?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“Okay, well, I’m not really a small talk kind of girl,” I said dryly. “Why am I really here?”

Albatron’s lips twitched. “Three days ago, your father went to war with Vetticus. Based on our shared history, he will most likely come for me next. I can’t afford for that to happen.”

I shook my head. “I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe you shouldn’t have shot me.”

Albatron hummed in acknowledgement. “I’m going to tell you something not very many people know.” He paused dramatically. “My brothers and I do not see eye-to-eye.” He waved his drink, brow furrowed. “We never really have. However, recently the conflict has escalated beyond repair.”

This surprised me. I’d thought the brothers were a cohesive family business. All of the information pointed to it. When Albatron saw he had my attention, he continued.

“For years my brothers have wanted to take me down. They have struggled. And because of said struggles, I believe Octavius would have used you as leverage to get your father to take up arms against me, and turn the tides in his favor. As powerful as I am, I cannot fight my brothers and your father at the same time”

“But, Octavius is dead now.”

“Which, I do wish to thank you for,” Albatron inclined his head with a small smile. “But, Basilion will take up what little slack there is. They were always a cohesive unit.”

“What about Mahoney?”

Albatron waved his hand like he was nothing. “He knew you would be valuable, so he simply waited until he saw an opportunity to gain favor with the brothers by delivering you to them. Thanks to Dante, your team is now well aware of how deep his activities go.”

“Yeah—about Dante—”

Albatron’s lips thinned slightly in displeasure. “Dante sometimes steps out of line. I wanted him to retrieve you. That was all. He felt it necessary to involve your team.”

Interesting.

“But, you have the leverage now,” I said, unable to keep the distaste from twisting my features. “Are you going to demand that my father fight for you against your brothers? I can tell you right now that’s not going to happen—”

Albatron waved a hand as though flicking away my words. “No, no. Nothing that juvenile. I’m under no such illusions that he would ever side with me. Yes, I have the leverage now, but my plan involves giving you back to your father.”

I froze, convinced I’d heard wrong. “What?”

“I will deliver you in exchange for his word he won’t kill me,” Albatron said bluntly. “At least not yet.”

I scoffed. “He won’t do that. You know he won’t let you live after shooting me.”

“But, I didn’t kill you.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t see it like that,” I said dryly. “I don’t see it that way.”