The atmosphere in the safehouse was heavy with anticipation.
It wasn't the kind of tension that came before a fight. It was the kind that came before an execution. The kind where you already knew the trap was set, and the only question was whether you walked into it with your head up or on your knees.
The steel table was cold under my palms. The monitors were still showing the satellite feed of the Imperial Mountain. Red walls. Red banners. Red guards.
"She's going to try and separate you," Ethan said, pacing the length of the command center. His boots echoed on the concrete. He had his rifle slung but he wasn't touching it. Like he didn't trust himself not to grab it. "She knows she can't break the Golden Koi as long as you're standing behind Li. She's going to use the banquet to isolate the Matriarch and force her into a corner."
He stopped pacing and looked at Li.
