Black Collar Queen (Black Collar Syndicate Book 2) by An Latro Read Free Book Online Page A

quietly,
calmly, but she hears the edge in his voice.  
    “Seth and I wouldn’t
bring this to you if we weren’t in agreement,” she says. Stands, and smooths her
skirt. “Look at the proposal, Rama. Talk to your people. We need an answer by
the end of the week.”  
    She takes a single step
away from the table, and his hand closes around her wrist, a light grip that
stops her effortlessly.  
    “Of course, Emma. All of
it—yes.”  
    She stares at him for a
long moment, and then nods once, a tiny smile slipping through, the only
expression of her sudden relief. “Then we’ll put everything in motion.”  
     
                  

 
    Chapter 7. Morgan Continental Hotel, Ballroom D. October 3 rd
     
    The
Clinks Of Silver On plates and the soft murmur of voices overlay the low lighting of
the banquet room. This is strange formality, tables full of old acquaintances
with the same ties to high crime. An event such as this is extremely hush-hush,
and closed to all press.  
    It's
a fitting thing to honor, Seth thinks as he stands back in a hallway behind the stage. This
is a proper family reunion, something that hasn't happened since he was too
young to care what it actually meant.  
    For a moment, he just listens.
Then, unexpectedly, come flashes of his brother's funeral, when Mikie told him
he would go because it was expected. And when he naively told Nicolette that
they could change the way of things. All of it, every single anguishing moment
of it, comes to this.  
    He had blatantly ignored
his father's last words, and because of it he learned the hardest way possible.
The Ouroboros——that goddamned snake eating its own tale. The Morgan mark since
well before Seth was a twinkle in the universe. He is stone sober, but his
anger makes a rise, not at the way of things, or the universe, or the life he
was born into but at himself.  
    The clues had always
been there. The means had always been there. He had thought he knew what it
meant to lead, or maybe he just thought everyone would always melt at his
stunning charm. Now that he's taken the reins, he realizes he knows nothing of
leading. How can he change anything if he can't even hold it steady?  
    “Looks like everyone's
mostly finished eating.”
    The voice is close makes
him jump; moments later he regrets it. Of course it's her. The tone registers
immediately. He turns to find Emma eyeing him with a mixture of concern and
surprise that only she can perfect. He laughs at the expression, but it comes
out more sheepish than he intends. There's no denying that she caught him, lost
in introspection.   He says, “I'm ready
whenever you are, boss.”
    He makes 'boss' as
sarcastic as possible, and her expression breaks, torn between the desire to
say something comforting or just slap him.   She says, “Then lets do this, princess.”  
    She turns and leaves
him, her back stiff with nerves.
    Dammit. Her jabs are
getting better every day. He rubs his ribs as if she actually hit him, and
shakes his head. He never dreamed this would be a lose/lose game. Still, a
melancholy smile takes his lips. She's always looking out for him, and she’s
young enough to think he doesn't notice—but hasn’t that always been her way?
Assuming that Seth didn’t notice her infatuation and her blushes, the anger she
never hid very well when Nic came around.  
    His hand slides from his
side to his shoulder. He's taken off the sling, and the wound aches. Maybe it
always will.  
    You were right, Dad. And so was I. If I had
known it would be like this, I would have changed it all, but then I never
would have gotten here.  
    He straightens his tie,
which is surprisingly in place, and takes a deep breath. When he rounds the
corner, and mounts the stage, he is an enviable echo of his father's calm. The
room has quieted by the time he reaches the podium. What was it Remi had said
at Caleb's funeral? That Seth was the only one who could quell the unrest.
Another boding omen