𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡

9

ANTHEA

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

The room went quiet the second I walked in.

They were already seated-half-drunk, half-smirking, half-underestimating me. The table was a haze of cigar smoke, murmured threats, and polished silver rings tapping against tumblers of bourbon.

"Look who finally showed up," Viktor muttered, loud enough for the others to hear. "Hope it's not past your bedtime, little girl."

A couple of the older men chuckled.

Arlo leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "If you can't handle the heat, sweetheart, we'd be happy to take over the real work."

My heels echoed as I crossed the room, slow and deliberate.

I didn't respond-not yet.

Let them talk. Let them dig their own graves with their mouths.

I took my seat at the head of the table without looking at any of them. Just sat. Owned the silence. Let it choke them a little.

Then I reached for my drink. "If I wanted amateurs to run this business, I'd send you all to the street corners where you belong."

Viktor's smirk faltered. Arlo's jaw clenched.

Good.

Nico slid a folder across the table. "Update on the properties you wanted appraised."

I opened it slowly, flipping through the pages. Buildings moving too fast, deals falling through the cracks, one of our top sellers found dead, and two of our partners in the Brunos group unaccounted for.

"We finalized the deal on the Riverside apartments?"

"Half," Nico said. "The buyer backed out on the second half of the portfolio."

"And the Brunos?"

"They're avoiding us," he said. "But someone's tipping them off about our moves."

I looked up, my gaze sharp. "Then we have a leak."

The room went still again.

"Start tapping phones. I want every conversation recorded, every deal logged. I don't care if it's a broker or someone sitting in this room-if there's a rat, I want their name."

"You're being paranoid," Viktor said.

I met his eyes. "You think paranoia's a bad thing in this business? You think trust keeps us strong?"

He didn't answer.

"Trust," I said softly, "is the only reason we're still standing."

My phone buzzed on the table, cutting through the heavy quiet. Tyson.

I picked it up, eyes never leaving Viktor's, letting the moment drag just long enough to make sure he felt it.

"Yeah?"

"Meet me at the basement. Now," Tyson's voice crackled through the line, low and urgent.

I didn't hesitate. "Be there in ten."

Without waiting for a response, I hung up and shoved the phone back into my pocket. The room was still, every eye on me now.

I stood, taking a slow, deliberate breath.

"Gentlemen," I said, my voice sharp. "Business is done for today."

I turned without another word, heels clicking on the concrete floor as I made my way toward the door.