"I will try," she replied, her heart pounding. "But I need your help to do it."
A flicker of something—fear, perhaps—crossed his face, but he quickly masked it with indifference. "And if I refuse?"
"Then you'll be outnumbered, and your empire will crumble. You know how ruthless the underworld can be when they smell weakness."
Silence stretched between them, thick and heavy. Cherry held her breath, hoping he would see reason. She couldn't afford to be the pawn anymore; it was time to take back the power.
"Fine," he finally said, his voice low and gravelly. "You've got yourself a deal. But remember, if this goes south, you're on your own. I won't risk my neck for a naive little girl who thinks she can play the game."
Cherry nodded, steeling herself for what came next. "Where do we start?"
"First, we need to make sure my men are out of the picture," he said, glancing toward the door. "You'll have to create a diversion."
