Vanessa’s perfectly arched eyebrows furrowed, but not one word that had come out of Snoe’s mouth had been a lie, and she knew it.
“I get to keep my title?” she asked.
“Yes,” Snoe said.
“Fine, I’ll play along. But the moment I think you’re going back on your word, I don’t give a damn what happens, I’m dragging you down with me.”
“Take the cuffs off her,” Snoe said, turning around and heading toward the door, Dox, Gunner, Wolly, and Joker right beside him. He had complete faith in Blade, Nyght, and Smooth to have his back. If Vanessa so much as blinked the wrong way, they would kill her. He hoped they didn’t have to, but if it came down to it, then so be it.
Luckily, they didn’t have to result to killing Vanessa; she did nothing as they walked out of her bedroom and out of her home.
One down, five more to go.
Chapter Eighteen
Snoe
Snoe sat in front of Keys and Baldwin. Keys was a middle-aged man with blond hair and dark brown eyes. He had a charming smile in the way that probably made people feel at ease with him, but it only made Snoe wary.
Snoe had the mask securely on his face. Parkins sat next to him.
“Parkins, what is the meaning of this?” Baldwin asked, a dark-skinned man with short black hair and hazel eyes. On his left hand was a silver band. It told Snoe he was married, and that meant he had more to risk than just his position.
“You’re here because I asked Parkins to set up the meeting,” Snoe said.
Baldwin and Keys looked to him. “And you are?” Keys asked.
Snoe took off his mask, letting them both see exactly who he was.
Baldwin looked unsurprised, but Keys’s mouth gaped open in shock.
“So you’re alive,” Baldwin said. “I knew Alister Blake’s child didn’t die that easily.”
Like Parkins had said, the admiration for Snoe’s father went deep, and as much as it bothered Snoe that he had to depend on his father’s connections, all that mattered was the result.
Snoe and Parkins agreed not to tell them about his lack of magical ability. That was for another time.
“Yes, I’m alive, and I want to take back what is rightfully mine,” Snoe said.
“I’m all for it, but there is just one problem: you’re dead, and you stated in the meetings before that you didn’t want the position as coven leader,” Keys pointed out.
“And that still holds to this day,” Snoe said.
Both men looked confused.
“I have no interest in running a coven that is corrupt and full of people who would easily turn on me and suck up to me in the same breath,” Snoe said.
“Then what are you proposing?” Baldwin asked.
“That a new coven be established and ruled under me,” Snoe said.
“And you will need us backing you?” Keys asked.
Snoe leaned forward, placing his arms on the table. “I’m sure it’s what my father would have wanted.”
Playing up the father card seemed to work.
“I can’t deny Alister would have preferred you over that mama’s boy taking his old seat,” Baldwin said.
“Parkins, are you backing him and going along with this crazy idea?” Keys asked.
Without hesitation, Parkins answered. “This crazy idea reminds me so much of Alister. Taking the system and flipping it on its head.” Parkins laughed. “It’s just like when Alister walked into shifter territory and demanded respect.”
Baldwin and Keys both joined in Parkins’s laughter, reminiscing about Snoe’s father. Snoe sat back and let them have their moment—anything to get them on his side.
“All right then, Sn—”
“You can refer to me as Mr. Whyte. It’s best not to say my first name for now,” Snoe said.
“Okay, Mr. Whyte, we will play along.”
Perfect.
“Each of you is to gradually have things changed within the company,” Snoe said. He pushed over a tablet. “Instead of Blake Industries, have them go through this one.”
Baldwin took the offered tablet, tapping the screen. “Okay, there are a few deals with charms and such that can be easily dealt with. We can handle it as we see fit?”
Snoe didn’t see why not; Baldwin and Keys were more than capable. Not to mention they had a lot more experience in the business area than Snoe. “Yes.”
“The plan?” Baldwin asked.
“Will be on a need-to-know basis. I’m sure you can understand my precautions,” Snoe said.
They both seemed to accept that answer, and Snoe was glad. He still had so much to do before he could fully exact his revenge.
The meeting went a lot better than he’d thought. Parkins had been right; their loyalty to Alister Blake somewhat transferred to Snoe. He didn’t like it, but there was no fair play in this game called revenge. Snoe had to do what was needed even if it meant swallowing down his newfound pride and depending on the man and name that he would soon destroy.
Snoe lay in the bed, in the room provided to them. It didn’t last long as he was picked up and placed on top of Gunner and Dox, his men joining him instantly. Smooth was the first to pass out. The moment his head hit the bed, he was out, sound asleep at the foot of the king-size bed, Wolly right next to him. Blade, Joker, and Nyght were the only ones missing from the bed—something about getting some food.
Snoe lay there contemplating everything that still needed to be done and what had happened so far. He was so lost in his own head, he didn’t hear the door.
“Master,” Nyght said sweetly.
“You guys are back,” Snoe remarked.
The bed dipped and Snoe turned his head in the direction it came from, catching Blade slipping into the bed and lying on top of Gunner. Joker found a spot, picking Wolly up and taking the area he was previously sleeping in, placing Wolly on top of him.
Snoe moved his arm completely and looked up to see Nyght hovering over him, instead of joining in like the others. His dark eyes bored into Snoe, and Snoe reached out for him and Nyght joined him in the bed. Dox grunted but didn’t move as another body lay on top of him. Snoe loved how they were all so comfortable with each other and he wasn’t forced to hop from one bed to another.
Nyght laid his head on Snoe’s chest. His sweet Nyght was always ready for a cuddle. Snoe enjoyed being held so close to Nyght. During those moments, Snoe felt—dare he say—loved. He could forget everything about his revenge, about all the bloodshed, about the tough decisions he constantly had to face. In Nyght’s arms, all that mattered was matching Snoe’s breathing to the beat of Nyght’s heart.
Snoe ran his fingers through Nyght’s hair, and it relaxed him even further. Nyght’s hand wandered up Snoe’s body leisurely. Snoe’s cock hardened with the light teases, and it didn’t go unnoticed as Nyght wiggled his head down closer to Snoe’s hardening length.
Warm breath brushed against Snoe’s member, making him let out a breathy moan. Nyght hooked his fingers into Snoe’s briefs and tugged at them. Snoe wiggled out of them, and he could tell no one was napping any longer.
Dox’s breathing had picked up, but Snoe was too distracted when Nyght’s hot mouth enveloped his cock. Snoe moaned out loud, and it was like an alarm clock as bodies started moving instantly.