“Give it to me,” I say.
“It’s just an envelope, Maddox.It can’t hurt me.”
“Still, if one of us is going to open it, I’d rather it be me.”
She hands it over.“Knock yourself out.”
I undo the metal fastener on the envelope and flip the top open.I empty the contents into my hand.
Two playing cards, with the Aces Underground logo on their back.
That’s weird.
I flip them around and my blood runs cold.
The Seven of Spades.And the Nine of Diamonds.
Both with a big black X through their numbers.
18
ALISSA
“Maddox, what is it?”I ask.
Maddox hands me the envelope, as well as two playing cards.
My heart leaps into my throat as I look at them.
The Seven of Spades—May’s assigned number at the club.
And the Nine of Diamonds—her friend Svetlana, who disappeared when her contract was up.
Both with their number crossed out in black ink.
I try to speak, but my breath catches in my throat.
This is another clue.A hint.May and Svetlana were both killed, most likely by Rouge Montrose or one of her muscles.
But… If this was left in my handbag Sunday afternoon…
It was before I had ever spoken to May.
I went to Aces after Dinah translated the note.I had left my credit card there, had to settle my tab.But I just used that as an excuse to get into the club.I wanted to check things out.See why May was asking for my help.
She hadn’t even broken the rules yet.
But unless this card was placed in my bag at another point—and I’m honestly not sure when else it could have happened—then it means that May was marked for deathbeforeI spoke to her.
My head hurts.
“Alissa.”Maddox runs his hand up my arm.“Alissa, baby.Talk to me.”
“I just… It’s not making sense.”I massage my temples as I try to process it all.“This would have been dropped in my bag before I went to the club, before I broke the rules.”
He widens his eyes.“Shit.So you think…”
“May wasn’t killed because she broke the rules.”I pace the room.“She was always going to be killed.Her decision to speak to me just gave Rouge a good excuse to explain away her so-called suspension.”
