Ravenous Kingpin (Kingpins of the Syndicate #4)

26. Emory

CHAPTER 26

Emory

T he back of my neck tingled, and I turned my head to find a stranger watching me with palpable fury in his eyes. They were full of such acute rage that it knocked the breath from me.

He pushed away from the wall, his broad shoulders bulldozing his way through the people, his gaze never wavering.

Just as he came to stand in front of me, way too close for comfort, Killian appeared at my side, like a dark shadow.

“I think it’s time we left,” my husband said, his eyes narrowed on the stranger. “As always, nice seeing you, Bogdan.”

There was no mistaking the warning tone in my husband’s voice. I shot the man a curious look as I scanned the catalog of names in my head until I found the match. He was the head of the Serbian mafia and had a long and complicated history with the Syndicate—one that not many people knew about.

During my father’s life, Bogdan Dragovi? battled him for control of his territory. My father was ruthless and fought dirty, but he was no match for Bogdan. It was the reason my father was so desperate to get his filthy hands on Wynter and her mother. He thought Sofia Volkov would give him leverage over Bogdan and some of the territory in Europe.

Of course, nobody else knew this little piece of information. No, that stroke of luck was reserved for me, as I’d overheard my father boasting about it during my sterilization process. I hated my father so much I secretly hoped that Bogdan would find him and kill him.

“I heard a rumor,” Bogdan drawled before Killian could drag me away.

My eyebrows lifted. “Yes?”

“That you’re allowing some dubious activity in Vegas.” A drip of sweat rolled down my back. He saw too much and definitely heard too much. If this man learned of my activities, he’d kill me before I could even get to my daughter. “Color me disappointed.”

“I don’t give a shit what you think you heard,” I said with a bit more bravado than I felt. “I rule the Vegas and Nevada territories.” More or less. “And I decide what business works, dubious or not, although I assure you whatever dubious activities you’re referring to, they don’t happen in my territory.”

Technically, it was the truth since I used áine and her organization to intercept any flesh smuggling.

“Should I call you a liar?”

“Be careful how you speak to my wife,” Killian cut in. “If she says the Syndicate rules are obeyed, they are.”

“Are you in on it?” Bogdan asked, fixing him with his fierce stare.

“My husband is not part of the Syndicate,” I said dismissively. If I went down, I’d go down alone.

To my surprise, Killian seemed to have his own ideas. “Whatever my wife is a part of, so am I.”

“No, he’s not,” I countered, locking eyes with Bogdan and taking Killian’s hand in mine, squeezing it not-so-subtly to send him a message.

“Interesting,” Bogdan mused. “I’d say someone’s not being truthful here. My experience usually shows the one wearing a skirt as such.”

“I don’t give a shit about our history, so unless you take that back, blood will?—”

“With all due respect, sir”—it was my turn to cut my husband off—“you can’t apply your personal experiences with women to this situation. It has nothing to do with any of our businesses.”

He stared at me hard, so hard I feared I’d be incinerated right then and there, then be dragged to the pits of hell.

“I guess time will tell,” he replied coldly, then walked away.

I released a heavy sigh once he was out of earshot, then pinned my husband with a glare.

“Don’t ever take on my sins and my business,” I said coldly. “And don’t underestimate me.”

Killian stared at me in shock before he got himself together. “You’re my wife, and no matter what, I will always take your side. In sickness and in health. It’s how this goes.”

“For two years,” I reminded him, glancing over to see Bogdan leaving the party. I turned to find Killian’s eyes on me.

“You handled that well,” he stated matter-of-factly.

“Yeah, shocking, I know,” I said, sarcasm lacing my tone. “I didn’t get to my position by accident, in case you were wondering. Yes, my brother and cousins helped coach me, but I also worked my ass off. And I did what had to be done to grab the power and hold on to it.”

“I’m sure,” he said, scowling in the direction of the doorway where Bogdan just disappeared. “But you don’t want to get on his bad side. He’s ruthless.”

“He certainly is,” I said, twisting the ring on my finger while lost in thought. Killian was right. I definitely didn’t want to get on Bogdan’s bad side or even be on his radar, but it would seem the time to avoid that had passed, because he knew something.

The question was how much.

Before Killian could say another word, his father interrupted us with his very pregnant wife in tow.

“Hello, Emory,” he greeted me. “I didn’t have a chance earlier to welcome you to our family.”

I gave him a tight smile. “Thank you.”

“I hear he dragged you to the church,” Davina grumbled, leaning over to peck my cheek. I met her halfway, remembering too well how hard it was to have a soccer ball attached to your front.

“It’s no different than what my brother and cousins did,” I answered. “Karma, I guess.”

“And yet us women keep paying for it,” she reminded me, although judging by the way she looked at her husband, she didn’t mind it one bit. The woman was head over heels in love with Liam.

Ugh. I tamped down the urge to scream.

I didn’t want to think or talk about love. It wasn’t me anymore. I just wanted to survive.

“When are you due?” I asked, changing the subject.

Liam and Killian took a few steps to the side, whispering with worried expressions on their faces, while Davina and I stood carrying on our conversation.

“Not soon enough. I feel like I’m going to pop like a balloon.”

My lips twitched. “But I bet little Liam is looking forward to having a baby brother or sister.”

Davina’s expression softened and she smiled wistfully. “He says he is as long as the baby doesn’t cry.”

I chuckled despite my tension and worry surrounding our encounter with Bogdan. “Oh, someone’s going to be disappointed.”

“We don’t want to fuck with him,” Liam said sharply, drawing my attention to him. I turned my head, narrowing my eyes on both of them.

“It won’t touch the Brennan family. She’s my wife, and it doesn’t concern anyone else,” Killian answered, keeping his tone cold but also respectful. Yes, he could be ruthless and charming, but what I liked the most about him was how firm he was in his beliefs without being an asshole to those he loved.

“What have you gotten yourself into?” Liam asked in the most inscrutable tone.

“Like Killian said, it doesn’t impact the Brennan family.” I’ll ensure it doesn’t impact Killian either.

Liam looked me over, almost impressed, and gave me a nod of approval. “But if you need us, you will reach out and ask for help. I hope I’m making myself clear.”

My heart stilled for a moment at such an offer. I would expect it from Basilio and my cousins, but not from anyone who wasn’t family.