Chapter 71

Chapter 71:

Gina's POV

“I hope you’re not still sulking,” Diane said sweetly, strutting into the candle-lit hall like she was walking a runway instead of a villain’s lair.

“I’m not sulking,” I muttered, arms crossed, watching her fix her lipstick in a compact mirror like we weren’t in the middle of planning someone’s destruction.

“You’re frowning. That counts.”

“I’m thinking.”

“Mm. Dangerous.”

I didn’t answer.

She shut the compact with a snap. “I need you alert tonight. We’re making our move.”

My gaze lifted. “Already?”

Diane turned to face me fully. Her eyes — steel blue and cold as hell — glinted like polished knives. “Robertson’s death changes everything. We can't afford to wait. Reynolds is panicking. Jayson’s pretending he’s not, but you know how boys get when they lose their toys.”

“So what’s the plan?”

A slow smirk spread across her face. “We hit where it hurts. Not just Kane. Everyone close to him. Friends, allies, secrets… including Kelly.”

My heart skipped. “Kelly?”

She nodded. “Oh yes. That little performance he put on? Cute. But he thinks he’s untouchable. That ends now.”

I kept my voice calm. “You do know Kelly’s not stupid.”

“And I’m not subtle,” she said, grabbing a dagger from the tray beside her throne-like chair. “That’s what makes this fun.”

She started to twirl the blade lazily between her fingers. “We use Kelly’s weakness against him. And that includes Kane and Caroline. You, my dear Gina, will be our in.”

I stiffened. “You want me to talk to Caroline?”

“Not yet. I want you to bait Kelly. Leak a rumor that Reynolds is working on a deal with Kane. Make Kelly paranoid. Plant doubt. Then feed Jayson some nonsense about Kelly being the next defector. Let them implode.”

“I thought Jayson didn’t trust me,” I said carefully.

Diane smiled with all her teeth. “That’s the fun part. He thinks you’re mine. Which means he’ll try to manipulate you. And that, my love, is how we manipulate him.”

I stared at her for a long moment.

There was no soul in her smile. Just teeth and cruelty dressed in red lipstick.

“You ever wonder what happens when this all ends?” I asked quietly.

She arched a brow. “What do you mean?”

“If Kane dies. If Caroline dies. If Kelly burns everything down. If you win. Then what?”

Diane walked toward me slowly, stilettos clicking on the polished floor like war drums.

She leaned in close. “Then, darling, I rewrite the story. And this time, I get the ending I want.”

“And what is that?”

She grinned, voice like venom dipped in honey. “Fame. Fire. And Kane’s head on a silver tray.”

She turned away.

I stood still for a few more seconds, then followed.

But as I walked behind her — my mind replayed Caroline’s laugh, the way she used to look at me like I was her safe place. Her family.

And maybe I didn’t hate her.

But I couldn’t let her have Kane, she should be with me.

Not when Diane had already promised him to the flames.

“He’s late,” Diane muttered, her heel tapping against the marble floor like a ticking bomb.

I stood by the wall, arms folded, watching her pace back and forth in her tight black dress that hugged her like a second skin. Her red hair was curled and wild tonight, a siren’s crown of fire.

“I thought he liked to make an entrance,” I said.

Diane shot me a look. “He likes to make people wait. It’s control. A stupid one, but effective.”

She barely finished speaking when the metal door creaked open, and he walked in — smooth, calm, dangerous.

Jayson.

At least, that’s what everyone still called him.

His walk was confident, shoulders relaxed like he hadn’t just lost a major pawn. His dark hair was slicked back tonight, suit impeccable, and his eyes… cold. Calculating. No hint of grief for Robertson.

“Ladies,” he greeted, voice smooth like whiskey and just as lethal.

“You look well for someone who just lost their right hand,” Diane quipped.

“I didn’t lose him. He outlived his usefulness.” Jayson shrugged as he sat across from her. “You should be thanking me. He would’ve sold you out next.”

“And you wouldn’t?”

“I haven’t yet.”

They exchanged smiles — the kind that didn’t reach either of their eyes. I stood perfectly still, unnoticed for now, but listening to every word.

Diane crossed one leg over the other. “You didn’t come here to mourn Robertson. What do you want?”

“A proposal,” Jayson said smoothly. “Now that he’s out of the picture, I think it’s time we fast-track our little project. Kane is weak right now. Kelly is distracted. And Caroline…” His lips curled into something between amusement and disgust. “Well. Let’s just say, I’d love to watch her break.”

My throat tightened, but I didn’t speak.

Diane tilted her head. “You’ve been quiet for days, Jayson. Now you want us to go on the offensive?”

“I’ve been waiting for the perfect opening.” He leaned forward. “Now I have one.”

Diane raised a brow. “Do share.”

“Kane and Kelly are at odds. Kelly thinks he can outsmart his own father. That ego makes him reckless. And Kane?” Jayson smirked. “He’s gotten soft. That girl of yours—” he glanced at me briefly, and I didn’t flinch, “—was right. Caroline makes him vulnerable.”

“She always did,” Diane murmured. “Even when I was with him. She was the ghost in the room.”

I wanted to rip that smug smile off her face.

Jayson steepled his fingers. “We play the long game. We let them breathe. Then strike where it hurts.”

“And where is that?” Diane asked.

He glanced sideways, then locked eyes with me. “Through her.”

My spine stiffened.

Diane smirked. “You want to use Gina?”

“She’s already inside Caroline’s head. Whether she likes it or not. Emotional leverage is stronger than bullets.”

“And if she refuses?” Diane asked, amusement dancing in her tone.

“She won’t,” Jayson said, holding my gaze. “She’s too far gone now.”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. Because part of me wanted to prove him wrong.

But another part?

The part Diane had twisted and pulled until I didn’t know who I was anymore… that part stayed silent.

Diane stood and walked to me, her heels clicking like warning bells. She brushed a curl off my shoulder, voice soft but venomous.

“You’re going to be our masterpiece, Gina. The final thread. You tear her apart from the inside.”

I swallowed hard, forcing my expression into one of cool acceptance.

But inside?

Inside, I was starting to wonder if maybe I didn’t want Caroline destroyed.

Maybe I just wanted her to look at me like she used to.

Like I wasn’t the villain in her story.