“Let us hear what she has to say,” Viktor said.
The room grew uncomfortably warm, and I pushed up my sleeves. “I have until midnight to finish the job. This isn’t something I can run from. He threatened to hunt me down and kill everyone I know—innocent people. He wants me to return when I finish so he can send in two men to confirm everyone’s dead.”
“And what did he offer you?”
I swallowed, my throat dry.
Viktor stroked his beard. “He wouldn’t have set you free on a promise of letting you live. That’s not enough motivation to assure him you won’t run.”
“He offered me money and a position working as a partner.”
“A partner,” Viktor repeated. “That’s a generous offer.”
“He thinks I’ll either complete the assignment or flee, but he won’t expect what I have planned.”
“And what do you propose?”
“Attack him when he’s least expecting it. Tonight. His mind will be so preoccupied with what I’m doing here that he’s not going to think for a second that I’d actually return and raid his home. He doesn’t think I have a strong enough alliance with you, and maybe I don’t. That’s what I’m here to find out. He lives in an old brownstone building on the east side, and I happen to know they have underground tunnels that lead to some of the basements. Wyatt probably knows about them from his research, but I once heard two guys who were planning a robbery talking about it. The tunnels were built around the turn of the twentieth century as an escape route from humans. I guess they were afraid if humans discovered them, they’d burn the buildings or something. Anyhow, every basement has one, although some might be sealed off. He said most people had just forgotten about them over the years, especially as properties changed hands. The entrance looks like a storm drain.”
Viktor waved his hands and circled around his desk, taking a seat. “Wait a minute. You are suggesting we raid his home and fight who knows how many guards?”
“He has exactly four in the house, excluding a personal secretary who only works days. Is that too many for you?”
Christian crossed the room like a slow-moving shadow, his eyes still on my face. He stood in front of the desk, gripping the edge and facing toward me. “And how do you know so much?”
I lifted my chin. “Darius likes to talk, and he had no problem telling me about how he’d outgrown that little building—that it was too small and he was always running into his guards. He wants more security but doesn’t have the room. I offered him my protection since I’m worth at least four of his guards.”
“Was this before or after he burned your face?” His knuckles whitened as he squeezed the edge of the desk.
“Darius didn’t do this to me; one of his men did.”
Christian lowered his head until all I could see was his scruffy beard and dark hair.
“I’m begging you, Viktor. This isn’t a trap. I’m here because… Darius is going to kill my father. Please…” Tears stung my eyes, and I quickly wiped them away before they reawakened the searing pain on my face. “Please don’t let him kill my father. I can’t do this alone.”
Viktor shaded his eyes and fell silent.
I advanced a step. “I want Darius gone, and so do you. There’s enough evidence to support any action you take. You have motive, and you also have that Mage buried in the cemetery that the higher authority could question. Whether you turn me away or not, he’s still coming after Keystone.”
Viktor flashed me a stony glance. “And what does he know about Keystone?”
I looked between him and Christian. “I told him.”
Viktor sat back. “Yes. You told him.”
Christian spun around to face Viktor, waving his arm at me. “Of course she told him. Just look at her! He burned off half her fecking face. What do you think a man will say when he’s put to the fire?”
“You would have said nothing,” Viktor replied.
I pointed at Christian. “But he’s a loyal member of Keystone; I’m not.”
Viktor laced his fingers together, resting his chin over them. “Your motives are self-driven. How can I trust you?”
I shook my head in disbelief. “You can’t throw me out and still expect my loyalty. If you’re not convinced, have Christian charm the truth out of me and you’ll see that I’m not lying. After tonight, Darius is going to be on the defense. He employs several men who rotate their duties, but there are only four in his house at the moment. Consider that. He’s also talking about moving, and if that happens, you’ll have lost your chance. Maybe you just have to trust me.”