Chapter 3

"Time's ticking away, Elara. The Vault is waiting on you to clear your tab so they can shut the doors."

Lila sauntered over, hips swaying with arrogance, her glossy lips twisted into a smirk.

"You can't afford a single dime, can you? And you know the house rules—deadbeats get dragged into the holding cells. Exactly like what you put me through when you blocked my card last month."

She flicked open an embossed lighter, ignited a cigarette, and blew a thick, foul plume of smoke straight into my face.

Smack!

The sharp slap caught her clean across the cheek. Her head jerked sideways, and the smoldering cigarette went flying, scattering embers across the floor.

Kai's face instantly darkened with murderous fury.

Before I could even reset my stance, two towering Rainer enforcers tackled me, pinning my shoulders against the floor.

"Elara! Know your fucking place!"

Kai lunged forward, catching Lila in his arms with sickening gentleness before rounding on me with bare hatred.

"You love throwing your weight around when you're on top, but you can't stomach the blowback when the table turns?!"

I ground my teeth, my nails digging into my palms as I stared at the ungrateful bastard.

He had no idea.

The only reason the Rainer syndicate had devoured half of Haven's Reach's prime smuggling channels in three short years was because I had been pulling the strings from the dark.

The only reason his bloodthirsty rivals hadn't turned him into fish food in Crimson Bay was because they recognized the phantom authority of the Voss standing behind him.

Tonight, on my birthday, I had planned to lay it all bare. I was going to tell him that I was Seraphina Voss, the sole heir to the continent's most terrifying mafia empire.

I had already arranged the meetings to introduce him to my father and the inner council, intending to place the crown of the underworld firmly on his head.

I never imagined his loyalty would rot through so quickly. I had vastly underestimated how blind and treacherous a petty man could be.

"Kai." My voice came out as cold as a frozen blade. "Are you truly going to let them strip me bare and march me out of here?"

Kai let out a dismissive scoff.

"Elara, take it as an overdue lesson in humility."

Humility? He had no concept of who actually ruled this city.

Flush with Kai's backing, Lila stroked her red cheek and glared at me like a feral viper.

"You've got two choices, bitch. Either you default and let Vince drag you to the back room for the strip auction... or you strip right here, bite down on a slab of raw beef, and crawl out of The Obsidian Vault on all fours barking like a stray dog."

She leaned in, her eyes manic with spite.

"And guess what? If you can somehow scrape together the cash to clear this tab, I'll do it instead—I'll chew raw meat, bark like a mutt, and crawl out the front door myself! Go on, pick one!"

Dozens of cold, predatory eyes locked onto me, practically salivating for the spectacle.

I looked Kai dead in the eye.

"Fine. You made your choice. Whatever ruin falls upon the Rainer family from this moment on—every ounce of blood and collapse—rests squarely on your head."

Lila burst into hysterical laughter before the words could fully settle.

"Did you all hear that?!" she wheezed, clutching her stomach. "Did you burn your brains out slinging takeout in the Brickside District? You think you can threaten Kai?!"

A chorus of mocking jeers rolled through the lounge.

"Just an orphan girl who caught a lucky break with a pretty face. Thinks she's an actual Donna."

Kai's expression tightened into cold disgust. He didn't register a threat; he only saw his wife embarrassing his reputation in front of the underworld.

Reaching over, he grabbed a crystal dish of beluga caviar and dumped it across the front of my gown.

"Destroy my empire?" Kai sneered, tossing the empty bowl aside. "How about you figure out how to keep the clothes on your back first."

Vince stepped forward, flanked by two armed bouncers.

"Mrs. Rainer. Will this be cash, card, or does a gentleman present wish to claim your tab?"

I pushed myself up from the floor and scanned the booths.

My gaze locked onto a middle-aged merchant sweating in the back corner—a distributor whose logistics contracts I had discreetly approved behind Kai's back.

I walked toward him. The moment he saw me approach, his face lost all color. He scrambled back into his booth, hands trembling.

"Elara, please... Don Rainer said anyone who helps is an enemy... I can't afford that kind of heat..."

"Calm down," I said softly. "I'm not asking for your money. Just let me borrow your phone."

The merchant hesitated, then shoved his phone into my hand.

"One call," I muttered. "My people will deliver the cash."

Seeing me dial, Lila glanced anxiously at Kai.

Kai merely slid an arm around Lila's waist, entirely unconcerned.

"Let her call," he drawled. "Her entire circle consists of gutter rats and broke waitresses from Brickside. I'd love to see who in this city has the suicidal balls to cross me tonight."

Reassured by Kai's dismissive arrogance, Lila's nasty smirk returned in full force.

"You've got thirty minutes, Elara," Lila barked, glancing toward the lecherous old mobsters licking their lips in the dark booths.

"If no one walks through those doors with the cash in half an hour, I'm letting these gentlemen rip that dress off you by hand!"