by Meghan March
“You’re the most real person I’ve ever met in my life. You don’t hold back a single one of your sins. What you do hold back is the motivations behind your actions, and those motivations make all the difference in the world.”
I’m not going to lie and say that all my actions have noble motives, but most of them have reasons that I consider completely justifiable, not that I’ve ever felt the need to justify them to anyone, including myself. Remorse isn’t something I feel. Some people need killing, and I have no problem being the man for the job.
For Keira, I should wish I’ve been a better man, but I can’t put any power behind that thought. If I were anyone other than exactly who I am, I wouldn’t be holding her in my arms right now.
I’ve walked through the shitstorm life threw at me, and I’m beginning to believe she’s the reason. She’s my reward. I may have forced her into this, but she just gave herself to me willingly, and that’s not something I’ll ever forget. I’ll protect her with my life and all the power I have at my disposal.
No one touches her. Ever.
I drift off, but like usual, I sleep with one eye open. When the door opens, I have a gun in my hand before I even realize I pulled it from beneath the pillow.
J.
I lower the weapon as my second-in-command enters. Keira continues to snore softly in my arms.
“We got ballistics back on the bullet we pulled from the car.”
“And?”
J crosses the room and hands me the report. “Five-seven. Subsonic.”
That caliber of bullet is a favorite of the cartels in pistols and rifles because the ammo is armor-penetrating. They’re distinctive weapons. You can’t miss them, and in New Orleans, there’s one particular cartel that flashes those weapons every fucking chance they get. Subsonic means they were trying to keep it quiet.
“Definitely a five-seven rifle,” I say. “The shot came from the roof. I saw the laser sight. That’s the only fucking reason I was able to swerve.”
J nods. “Too bad you weren’t able to get the fuck out of the way quicker, boss. Maybe then they wouldn’t have had to pump so much blood back into you.”
“Fuck my blood. They took Keira’s, and for that, they all die. The streets of New Orleans are going to run red with it. Confirm who took the shot before we retaliate. Then we take them all out.”
J’s eyes widen. “All of them?”
I nod. “Every single fucking one. Get the confirmation on the shooter before midnight and rally the troops. We meet in the war room at twelve to make a battle plan, and then we roll out. We’re going hunting.”
J’s lips twist into a cruel smile. “You mean, we’re goin’ killing.”
I nod. “Go.”
“On it, boss.”
As soon as the door closes, Keira jerks awake in my arms, her lips pressed together, turning white. “What’s wrong? What’d I miss? Is everything okay?”
I press a kiss to her messy red hair as pain creases her features. “Nothing. Everything’s going to be fine. But you need more drugs. I can see it on your face.”
She opens her mouth to argue with me, but I put a finger to her lips.
“This happened because of me. I brought you into my world. Let me take care of you. Let me make it right.”
“Okay.”
I remove my finger and press a kiss to her lips, my side twinging in pain as well, but the adrenaline already rushing through my system suppresses it. I don’t care if I need to duct tape over the stitches. Nothing is stopping me from getting my vengeance.
I meant what I said to J. For spilling a drop of Keira’s blood, all their lives are forfeit. The second they fired on me, they broke the compact they agreed to in order to sell their drugs in my city. If they’re smart, they’ll be ready, but they won’t expect a response this brutal.
They should.
There will be no mercy for the men who made Keira bleed.
Keira
Lachlan leaves the room to handle business, promising to be back soon. V’s on guard duty outside the door. I’m left alone with my thoughts, at least until a man brings down a wireless router, a signal-extender thingy, and my laptop bag, which was apparently retrieved from the car. Now I can do actual work.
I should be wondering how Lachlan handled the police about the accident, but let’s be honest—I don’t care. My thoughts are focused on something completely different.
My best friend.
Or maybe ex-best friend?
What was in Magnolia’s head when she decided to give Lachlan the note instead of Brett?
I want to think she was protecting me again, doing what she thought was best. But being lied to by your best friend calls a lot of things into question.
She told me his mistresses went missing. How could she have wanted me to be one of them? I realize that’s one question I forgot to ask, but in all truthfulness, I don’t need to ask it. Lachlan wouldn’t kill an innocent woman, and I know down to my bones that he would never hurt me. Ever.
But still, Magnolia doesn’t know him like I do. If she thought there was even a chance . . . how could she have done what she did?
She’s closer to me than either of my sisters. I text them for their birthdays and send them a gift card. But for Magnolia’s, I put in serious thought, just like she does for mine. A few months ago, I had her favorite restaurant cater an amazing dinner in her condo, and I commissioned a silversmith to forge these incredible silver chopsticks for her hair because she’s been obsessed with wearing kimonos.
So, how could she gamble with my life so easily?
I can’t stand to lie in bed anymore. The painkillers are doing their job, so things aren’t hurting like they were. The nurse took me off the IV last time she came in to check on me, saying I no longer needed it. Now I’m free to pace back and forth across the room as I try to come up with some kind of explanation that would make any sense.
But I’ve got nothing.
Because of Magnolia’s actions, I had the most incredible night of my life, but with the wrong man. Or, if you want to be specific, with the right man, but I went off and married the wrong one.
I remember how surprised Magnolia was when I told her what Brett and I had done. I thought she’d be all high-fives about my impulsive move, teasing me about finally pulling the stick out of my ass, but she just looked at me in shock.
Magnolia isn’t stupid. I know that for sure.
Like Lachlan said, she rose to her position by being cutthroat, but I’m not her competition. I’m her friend. Is this a case of treating your closest allies worse than your enemies? I don’t believe it.
I don’t have any answers by the time the tech guy finishes getting me set up. As he leaves, V gives me a disapproving stare and jerks his head at the bed, clearly indicating that I should get back in it.
I turn in the direction of the bed where my laptop waits, but I make a statement just to be sure we’re clear on one point. “I’m only going to sit down again because it’s easier to work that way.”
He responds with a predictable grunt before leaving me alone once more.
I stare at my phone and hover my thumb over my Wi-Fi calling app with Magnolia’s contact info, wondering what the hell I can say to her.
Actually, screw it. All I have to do is ask her one question.
Why?
I tap on the icon and wait for her to pick up.
Keira
“Thank fucking God you’re okay, Ke-ke. I heard someone tried to take out Mount, and there was a woman with him. That you might’ve been collateral damage. I’ve been freaking out of my fucking mind because you haven’t been answering shit.”
Magnolia’s tone borders on hysterical, but I force myself to go ice cold, Mount-style.
“If I were collateral damage, who would’ve been to blame for that, Mags?”
“The fuckers who clearly have a death wish!”
“Bullshit. You put me in this position, and I want some fucking answers about what
possessed you to give my note for Brett to him.”
Magnolia goes quiet.
“What? Nothing to say? Thought I’d never find out?”
“Ke-ke . . .”
“Don’t even try to deny it, Mags. He told me you gave him the note. You set me up.” I’m off the bed before I realize it, pacing with the phone in my shaking hand.
Silence hangs between us, and the fabric of our friendship shreds further with each passing second.
“Please say something. I’m trying to understand, but you have to tell me why, Mags.” My voice cracks on the last word. Even though I wouldn’t take back where I am, her betrayal is too fresh and raw to approach rationally. “You’ve been a sister to me, and you offered me up on a silver platter to a man you thought was pure evil. What am I supposed to think? Why would you do that?”
When Magnolia speaks, it’s like we’ve changed roles completely. There’s no emotion in her voice because it’s all ravaging mine.
“You wouldn’t listen to reason about Brett Hyde. The most logical, smartest woman I’ve ever met, and yet you were totally unreasonable when it came to him. I tried to steer you away but you wouldn’t listen. He had you under his spell so tight, I couldn’t get you free.”
“You could’ve told me what he was!”
“Would you have believed me? Every time I brought it up, you went on and on about how he was your soul mate. And you were sure of it. Fuck, Keira. You were so goddamned happy, and I knew it was all a lie. But how the fuck could I just tear your heart out and stomp on it? You are a sister to me, and I had to find a way to make you see it for yourself so you would run the other way.”
“And setting me up to have sex with a man I’d never met was the way you planned to do it? Are you insane?” I spin on a heel, my voice shaking as hard as the phone.
“You don’t live long working street corners unless you develop your gut instincts fast and sharp, and you sure as hell don’t rise to where I am without having intuition bordering on fucking psychic.”
I jam one hand into my hair. “What the hell does that mean? You’re avoiding my question.”
“Stop your fucking pacing, Ke-ke, and sit down. I’m trying to tell you why I was willing to make the wager of a lifetime with one of the most precious people in my life.”
I growl, hating that she knows I’m pacing even though she can’t see me. I sit back down on the bed, but only because my head is pounding again.
“So, tell me. Tell me why you were willing to gamble not only my life, but my family, my friends, my employees, my business, everything on your fucking intuition, and then lie to me about all of it.”
My stomach turns as I think about all the lies she fed me . . . and how I believed every single one of them like she spoke the gospel truth.
“I told you, you were wasted on Brett Hyde. And I watched Mount go through woman after woman, not a single one keeping his attention. The blood of voodoo priestesses runs in my veins. I may not be psychic, but when I feel something as strongly as I did about how Mount would react to you, I couldn’t not do it.”
“You played with my life!”
“No.” Magnolia’s cool streak snaps, and fervor intensifies her tone. “I was trying to give you a life beyond what you could ever imagine. You were born to be treated like a queen. You’re everything that’s good and loyal and true, and your strength shines through like the brightest fire I’ve ever seen. Every king needs a queen like you, even if they don’t see it. In my gut, I knew that if Lachlan Mount got one single taste of what you had to offer, he’d be hooked.”
This time, I’m silent. I don’t know what to say to her. She was right, but I still can’t get over how she played us both. Magnolia doesn’t need me to answer, though, because she’s not done.
“I was right. But you went and fucked it all up and eloped with that piece of shit who didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as you. If I could’ve killed him myself, I would’ve.”
“And why didn’t you bother to let me in on your grand plan, Mags?”
“How could I? You would never have agreed to it. I’ve always done what’s best for you. Always, even when you didn’t know it or couldn’t see it. I shield you when I can. I push you when you need it. I was setting you up to be the most treasured possession Mount has ever had in his life.”
“A possession, not a relationship! What if he wanted to own me and then got sick of me and shipped me off to God knows where like the rest of them?”
“I told you how to handle him, and you did it. I. Was. Right.”
Magnolia’s conviction comes through clearer than anything I’ve ever heard. She believes she did this for me, and that it was completely justified.
“You could’ve been wrong!”
“I wasn’t, though, was I?”
My free hand clenches into a fist as my head throbs. I want to strangle her right now for her self-righteousness and inability to admit she played with fire and could have incinerated my entire world. Even though part of me knows I should be thanking her, the other part, the part that goes back to childhood, can’t get over her deception.
“Why keep up the lies? Why not just tell me when he came for me?”
“I did what I had to do. Just like I’ve always done. From sucking cock to taking it up the ass, to making sacrifices that rip me apart. Just like I’ll keep doing. Tell me you wish I hadn’t done it. Tell me you want me to take it all back. I dare you.”
“I can’t and you know it, but that doesn’t make it right. Years of friendship, and then I find out from Lachlan that you’ve been lying to me for months?”
“Lachlan, is it now? Right there, with one goddamned word, you just proved that everything I planned came together like a perfect roux. You’re calling the most feared man in this city by his first name. And why’s that, Ke-ke? Tell me you’re not in love with him. Try to make me believe it.”
I want to tell my best friend to go screw herself, because I hate how satisfied she sounds. Then again, she sees the truth too clearly.
“I shouldn’t even tell you.”
Magnolia’s laugh, harsh but clear, comes through the speaker. “Get over your fucking self, Ke-ke, because I will never apologize for what I did. You’re right where you need to be. Sitting on a throne next to the man who rules this city. I don’t have to hear you say it, because I heard how he swept you away to Dublin. That man is gone for you. I may be getting my information from the outside looking in, but I know I was right.”
“And the ends justify the means? Is that what you’re saying?”
“Fucking right they do.”
A violent torrent of emotions swirls through me at her certainty and lack of remorse. I don’t know why I expected anything else from Magnolia. She’s unapologetic about who she is, what she is, and what she always has been. But there’s more. There’s always more when it comes to her. I want to believe Magnolia’s motives are as pure as she claims, but I know her better than I know my own sisters.
“So, tell me, Mags, tell me you did this only for me and there was nothing in it for you.”
That shuts her down for a solid three seconds.
“You really want to go there, Ke-ke?”
“We’re already there, Mags. No more lies. No more hidden motives. The only way we survive this with some scrap of our friendship intact is if you tell me everything right now.”
“Can’t you just be happy that you’ve got a real man like you’ve always wanted?”
That’s when I know I’m right. There’s more she’s not telling me.
“Now, Mags. Or I hang up this phone and never speak to you again.” Even voicing the threat eviscerates me. It would be like cutting off a limb to lose her, even now.
“Fine. But don’t you dare get all high-and-mighty on me. I put you first. So what if having Mount fall in love with my best friend made my life a little easier?”
And there it is. My brain spins at her confession. Even though I suspected an ulterior motive, hear
ing it packs the force of a Hulk-like blow.
“What the hell do you mean by that?”
“Use your brain, girl. Say your sister marries the prince of goddamned England. You don’t think you’ve just hit the jackpot right along with her?”
I laugh, or at least that’s what the harsh sound coming from my lips should be.
Now it’s all clear. Crystal, like the award that shattered and stabbed into my side. “You just tried to justify it as being all about me. You setting me up for life. But this was about you from day one. I was a pawn in your little game.”
“You don’t think I deserve a little easier time in life? I’ve seen and done things that would have you blowin’ your brains out in seconds. You want to begrudge me the little bit of slack I’d get by association if you’re with him?”
Guilt—slippery, slimy guilt—snakes through me. “You told me yourself you have no remorse for what you did, for the chances you took with my life, so don’t you dare play on my sympathies after everything you’ve said and done.”
“Don’t be a bitch, Ke-ke. We both know I’m better at it than you.”
“You’re right. You are.”
Magnolia muffles the phone and I hear her yell, “Hold on, I’m coming!” before she returns to me. “My appointment’s here. I gotta go handle some business because that’s how I make my livin’. You wanna hate me for what I did? Go right ahead. But don’t you dare think I didn’t have your best interest at heart. You’re where you were meant to be, with the man you were meant to be with, and it’s because of me. Now, I gotta go.”
“Mags—”
“No, Ke-ke. I ain’t got no more time to hear you throw your shit at me. I’m busy.”
The call ends and I lower my phone, staring at it like it just grew limbs. My lungs heave and my blood races as all of Magnolia’s confessions replay in my head.
How is it that the ones we think we know the best are sometimes the ones we truly know the least?
I can’t deny that her instincts were right, though.
Either way, Magnolia and I are not done with this conversation.