His sidelong glance was measuring. “I met Dan Wirth at a reception. He’s your brother Derek’s tool, isn’t he? A poison-coated sliver aimed right at your dear Uncle Miko’s heart. I thought the good Mister Wirth, despite all his exotic wealth, was little more than a loathsome creature escaped from the sewer.”

“A cogent assessment,” she agreed, remembering her own reaction to the man. Loathsome? A creature? She couldn’t have said it better. “To our dismay, he’s also the richest bit of toilet-sucking slime in Solar System. Whatever Derek’s goals, Dan Wirth hasn’t just upset the Taglionis. All of the families have been stunned by his sudden explosion on the scene.”

“Explosion?” Cinque asked.

She tilted her head to see him better. “Seems like every action he takes sends tremors and shock waves through the highest tiers of society.”

He gave her a studied nod; it served as the barest acknowledgment in the dangerous game they played. “A narcissistic and antisocial criminal personality, one without empathy or the capability of remorse, is suddenly catapulted into the highest realms of power and culture.” His eyes narrowed. “Uncle should have let me break his neck.” His hard eyes met hers. “But Wirth has Taglioni protection.”

“Not mine,” she told him, weighing the implication of her words. “Doesn’t matter to me that he is Derek’s protégé.”

Cinque laughed, the sound of it harsh. “Ah, but that’s why you were chosen, wasn’t it, dear Falise? Because you’re Derek’s sister. The one who could always wheedle her way around her pouting and sullen big brother.” He raised a hand. “Don’t deny it. The posturing would be a demeaning farce. The other houses know why you were dispatched on this fool’s errand. Miko and your other cousins are as worried about what Derek’s doing on Donovan as the rest of us.”

“I’m not sure that worried is the right—”

“Of course it is.” Cinque reached up to run a finger along his smooth jaw as he stared out at the stars. “It’s common knowledge that surly and spoiled Derek ran off in a snit. A figurative ‘fuck you’ to his father and Uncle Miko. Everyone, including you, little sister, considered it good riddance. Even found no little relief when Turalon returned to Solar System to report that Ashanti was lost in space. I can hear it now, the voices whispering among the Taglionis, ‘Too bad, the little Cretan got what he deserved. Problem solved.’” Cinque paused, smile mocking. “Right up until Ashanti shows up, loaded past the hatches with enough wealth to buy half of Solar System. And worse, it arrives with news that Derek’s not only alive, he’s laying claim to vast amounts of Donovan’s riches.”