Chapter 5 - Thomas's Reckoning: The Cousin Who Tried to Humiliate Me Learns a Brutal Lesson in Power
Sokolov signed the digital transfer with shaking hands, transferring seven million dollars in back taxes into the Steves offshore accounts before virtually running out of the conservatory.
When the glass doors closed behind him, Larkin turned to me. The tension in the air was thick enough to choke on. He caught my chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing me to look up into the fire of his gaze.
"You are the most dangerous creature I have ever employed," he whispered, his thumb lightly stroking my lower lip.
"I’m not your employee anymore, Larkin," I retorted, holding my ground. "After tonight, I’m your partner, or I walk out that door with every encrypted password to your entire financial grid."
Before he could answer, the conservatory doors burst open. Thomas stumbled in, flanked by three rogue enforcers from the southern territory. His eyes were bloodshot, his tie undone, and in his right hand, he held a suppressed 9mm pistol aimed directly at my chest.
"You ruined everything, you little bitch!" Thomas screamed. "Larkin was supposed to look like an idiot tonight! You were supposed to be our joke!"
"Thomas," Larkin warned, his voice dropping to absolute zero as he stepped smoothly in front of me, shielding my body with his own. "Put the gun down before I skin you alive."
"No, Larkin! You gave everything to this nobody! I built the southern routes! I took the money because it was mine!" Thomas shouted, his finger tightening on the trigger.
He never got the chance to fire.
I moved with the speed of a striking cobra. Reaching beneath the long slit of my silk dress, I drew the slim ceramic blade I had strapped to my inner thigh. In one fluid motion, I stepped around Larkin and hurled the blade. It struck Thomas dead center through the meat of his right forearm.
Thomas shrieked, dropping the gun as blood splattered onto the white tile floor. Larkin moved like lightning, drawing his Kimber and putting two rounds through the kneecaps of the two guards behind him before they could even raise their weapons. The third guard immediately dropped to his knees, throwing his hands in the air.
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Larkin stepped over the groaning enforcers, grabbed Thomas by the hair, and forced his bleeding cousin to look at me.
"Look at her, Thomas," Larkin snarled. "Look at the woman who just dismantled your entire life. Beg her for mercy, because she’s the one holding your leash now."
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