Ruby’s fangs gleamed between her lips. “Oh, I was hoping you were going to say that.” In a flash, Ruby rushed across the room and grabbed a sword. A second later, she pressed the blade to Napoleon’s throat, nicking his neck in the process. “Oops, and here I was trying to be careful. My bad,” Ruby said, pretending to pout as blood trickled from the wound. “Now, I would prefer not to kill you, Napoleon, but that doesn’t mean I won’t. So, will you allow Bennett and me to leave freely, or do I make a sloppy mess? Because trust me, it will be sloppy.”

Napoleon’s already pale face lost what was left of its color. “You…you can…you can leave.”

“I thought you’d say that.” Ruby tossed the sword aside, and striding past Bennett, she cocked her head toward the door. “Let’s go.”

***

Neither spoke a word as they walked through the house and down the drive. Ruby hadn’t dared look in Bennett’s direction, and she wasn’t at all surprised Bennett had remained mute, for there was no hiding the rage etched in the woman’s face. Her nostrils had yet to stop flaring. The veins in her temples appeared like dark snakes under her skin, and the heat burning in Bennett’s cheeks had nothing to do with embarrassment.

Bennett had silently watched the verbal tug-of-war between Ruby and Napoleon because it hadn’t been the only fight going on in the room. The second was Bennett…against Bennett.

She couldn’t help but feel elated, knowing Napoleon would finally get what was coming to him, and the chair he coveted would never, ever be his. Except, Bennett now knew she’d been but a pawn in Ruby’s plan, and that didn’t sit well. In fact, if Ruby hadn’t been Etienne’s daughter, Bennett would have killed her before they reached her car.

“I know I owe you an explanation,” Ruby said, unlocking the car with the remote. “I’m sure—”

In the time it took to blink, Bennett had her hand around Ruby’s throat. “Not another word,” she said, and tightening her grip, Bennett drilled her gaze into Ruby’s. “Not another bloody word. Just get in the car and get us out of here.”

Ruby sucked in a sharp breath as soon as Bennett released her, and after a few quick coughs to clear her airway, she made a beeline for the driver’s side. Before the passenger door was closed, Ruby had her seat belt fastened and the car running.

There was little sign of life as Ruby drove from Napoleon’s house. It was far enough off the beaten path that other than a few estates well back from the road, there was nothing to be seen but forest and nothing to be heard except for the sound of the tires on the asphalt.

“Stop the car.”