The people living there wouldn’t go for it, for one. The only reason Abel managed a mostly bloodless coup was because he operated within the rules of Lammas and the Paine family was here long before Eli’s father took over. Not to mention Abel smoothed things over and promised not to rock the boat beyond the compound. That wouldn’t work in any other territory.

There’s just one thing that doesn’t make sense. “How would Fallon even find out? Were one of the Mystics around when you spoke with Abel?”

“No.” Broderick narrows his eyes. “But I talked to Ezekiel not long after. Maybe Beatrix heard something.”

This is all getting very convoluted. “Ultimately it doesn’t matter how Monroe’s mother found out. We still have to deal with it.”

“There’s nothing to deal with.” Broderick sips his coffee. “We figured things out.”

“Cute, but that won’t stop my mother.” Monroe closes her eyes. For the first time since I’ve met her, she looks exhausted and stressed. “If she thinks there’s the slightest danger to me, she’ll act.”

I stare. “Even at the expense of the faction?”

“It won’t be at the expense of the faction.” Her smile is mirthless. “We’re better prepared than you are. That’s not me being an asshole; that’s facts. The Raider faction is three weeks and a few days into a regime change. No matter how easily Abel managed it, that still destabilizes things. You brought your own force into Sabine Valley, and they haven’t had a chance to integrate with the locals properly. You’re outgunned and outmanned.”

Broderick doesn’t move. “There will still be a high cost on the Amazon side of things.”

“Yes, there will. Which is why I can’t allow it to happen.”

“But…”

Monroe’s voice goes soft. “Who do you think will be the first person harmed if things go sideways? It won’t be me, Broderick. It will be Winry or Jasper. My mother might be willing to gamble with their safety, but I’m not. We can’t conclusively figure out how my mother got her information, but in the end it changes nothing about our plan.”

It certainly seems like the only person Aisling will move heaven and earth to protect is Monroe. She wouldn’t threaten me otherwise. The truth coming out about my parents won’t change anything on the grand scale in Sabine Valley. They only had the faintest bit of power in the Amazons, let alone in the entire city.

No, the only person who will care is Monroe. It will potentially damage her relationship with her mother, and that’s something Aisling is willing to kill to prevent.

It’s sweet in a really fucked up sort of way.