Enemy of my Enemy

𝕿𝖜𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖞 𝕿𝖜𝖔

Six limousines pulled up to the gates of the Redwood House. From each of them, an alpha and the guest of their choice emerged. The alphas nodded to one another subtly, and allowed themselves to be led into the manor before them.

Grayson had had his chefs prepare the perfect dinner feast, not to impress The Six, but because a lavish meal was the bare minimum for these people. Grayson had heard various tales about them, each more gruesome than the last.

He was sitting at the head of the table, with Kenna on his left and Bianca on his right. He'd had all his guards leave the room, for not only would their presence be considered an offense to The Six, but his guards would also be of no use, anyway. If The Six truly decided to cause a bloodbath as Bianca had so cheerfully suggested, then there would be nothing any of them would be able do to fend them off. Only Grayson, being an alpha himself, might just be able to get away with his life.

He knew how big of a risk he had taken by inviting them here so boldly, but as of this moment, he was too busy marveling at Bianca to care. The black wrap dress she'd picked out for herself accentuated her figure perfectly. But it was more than that- Something about the way she was carrying herself, like she was the queen of the world and there was nothing that could hurt her- It gave Grayson an abundance of help in calming his nerves.

That aura surrounding Bianca disappeared the moment The Six and their guests filed into the room. The ones that stood out the most were Argus Cai, known as the head of a multi-million dollar law firm to the human world, and the wolf who'd torn the heads off his previous alphas to the supernatural world, and Catherine Kane, who'd become an alpha after marrying, then killing, her alpha husband nearly two decades ago. The Six's guests included people ranging from spouses to children to trusted second in commands.

"Mister Briare," Cai spoke first. "What a charming event you've put together for us. And what lovely guests, too." His eyes passed over Kenna, and settled upon Bianca. Kane, on the other hand, was staring at Kenna with a look of fascination. "And who might you be?" she asked.

"Kenna Chase," Kenna replied in the calm tone Grayson had insisted she use. "Pleasure to meet you. I'm Grayson's... Friend."

"Pleasure is all mine, darling," Kane smiled in a way that sent goosebumps crawling up Grayson's skin. "I hadn't realized you keep such interesting company, Mister Briare."

"We've heard of you, Mister Briare," spoke a woman in a crimson suit. Alaina Vargas, who, unlike most of the people at the table, did more than just 'dabble' in criminal activity. Most wolves preferred to stay off the human legal enforcement's radar, but Vargas thrived in the underworld society of drugs, laundering, and smuggling. "I've been keeping an eye on you ever since what you... What happened," Vargas glanced at Kenna, "To your father."

"Yes, well," Grayson clasped his hands together. "We're not here to talk about the past, are we?"

"I have no idea," Cai replied. "Your invitation didn't specify."

"May I assume you know who my other guest is?" Grayson nodded toward Bianca.

"Miss Blackburn, what an honor," Kane said, a mocking tone hidden in her words.

"Now you, we've known about for a very long time," Vargas smiled. "Have you had a chance to talk to your father recently?" 

Vargas's guest, her seventeen year old daughter, snorted loudly.

"Are any of us truly surprised at Lorenzo's reaction to..." Cai thinned his lips.

"To my employing Bianca, you mean?" Grayson asked.

"Well, if there was a soul out there that would do nothing and say nothing when his daughter's been... Employed, did you say?"

"It would be Lorenzo," Kane finished Cai's sentence.

"Lorenzo has been a problem for you for the longest time," Grayson took the opening. "I'm offering you a way to break down his entire business."

"What, by waving her in his face?" Vargas gestured to Bianca.

"Bianca knows things about his business that not even your best spies would be able to figure out."

"And she's told you these... Things?"

"Not yet," Grayson calmly answered. "But she will. Isn't that right, Bianca?" 

He'd hidden a particular emotion in what he had said, just as Kane had done. But instead of sounding mocking, he applied a layer of menace to his statement, so that those with the ears for it would be able to hear it.

"Yes," Bianca replied softly. 

The Six seemed impressed. Unfortunately, Bianca hadn't been able to mask enough fright in her voice to keep it from reaching Kenna.

"Bianca, why are you-"

"What do you want in return, from us?" Cai interrupted Kenna, to everyone's relief.

"Men. Resources. Your official ties and contacts with the rest of society."

"And you're going to get rid of Lorenzo for us? Just like that?" Cai seemed amused.

"I have what you never had in the past."

"Good point. But what's stopping us from taking Miss Blackburn from you and doing the dirty work ourselves?" Kane asked.

Grayson stilled. He didn't have an answer to this one.

Kane burst out laughing at his expression. "I'm kidding, Mister Briare. Us Six go to impossible lengths to keep from getting our hands dirty. Well- Apart from Vargas, that is." She glanced in Vargas's direction with an expression of distaste. "We'll give you resources, and people who are so far down the food chain that their deeds will never be traced back to us. If the other smaller businesses find out we've completely annihilated one of their own, we'll have a full scale revolt on our hands, after all. Just make sure the work gets done neatly, won't you?"

"Here's to war, then," Vargas raised her champagne glass into the air.

"To the start of something new," Cai corrected her. "Our blessings are with you, Mister Briare. Do not disappoint us."