Maxen's hair was a mess, and he had still not recovered from the hangover as he climbed into a taxi and headed back to Velvet Cage.
He ran into Mathias outside, where the man smoking near the back entrance was used only by staff. The moment Maxen stepped out of the taxi, one of Severin's men who stood guard bowed respectfully as Maxen approached the door, but Maxen stopped in his tracks.
Three black cars he knew too well appeared. Mathias stubbed out his cigarette almost immediately, going still.
The doors of the first and last cars opened, revealing several of Severin's men. Three of them were the ones who'd gone with Isolde on the Amsterdam mission.
Then Dax opened the door of the middle car. Severin stepped out, but he wasn't alone. Isolde followed him out, and Maxen felt something stab deep into his chest. She was wearing only an oversized black shirt—one Maxen instantly recognized as Severin's.
A flood of questions hit him, but he couldn't voice them.
