Sinful Empire (Mount Trilogy #3)

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 f*cking 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 f*cking 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 f*ckers who clearly have a death wish!”

“Bullshit. You put me in this position, and I want some f*cking 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. f*ck, Keira. You were so goddamned happy, and I knew it was all a lie. But how the f*ck 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 f*cking psychic.”

I jam one hand into my hair. “What the hell does that mean? You’re avoiding my question.”

“Stop your f*cking 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 f*cking 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 f*cked 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.”