Page 109 of Redeemed

“Monthly meeting is coming up,” Colton says as we’re finishing our food.

“A meeting for what?” Haven asks.

We ignore her.

Standing, Xander grabs my plate and his. “How do you think it’ll go?”

“People have started respecting the things I have to say since…” Colton’s gaze slides to Haven for a split second before he focuses on me and Xander. “Since you-know-who has backed my opinions.”

Xander nods. “That means good things for us.”

“For everyone,” Colton clarifies.

It’s the on-brand thing for him to say. His main priority has always been taking care of everyone inside the organization.

The Glass Rooks have monthly meetings to determine that we’re making headway in achieving our goals—as a collective and as individuals. At least, that’s what they’resupposedto be for.

The higher-ups are always at the meetings—including Mark and my stepdad—and everyone else rotates through so their voices are heard. Since Mark has been grooming Colton to take over the Rooks since birth, he has to attend them all.

For years, the Glass Rooks has been straying further away from its founding values. He’s trying to stop it, but Mark has preyed on the greed of a significant amount of the men who hold power within the organization. Things are changing, and only the ones at the very top are benefiting.

I know Xander wants to ask more questions, but we can’t with Haven around, so I follow him into the kitchen. This area of the house is all open concept, so it doesn’t give us any privacy, and that only sours my mood further. If Haven wasn’t here, we wouldn’t have to worry about censoring ourselves.

“Do you want help cleaning up?” Haven asks. She’s sitting stiffly at the table, obviously unsure of what she’s expected to do.

“Don’t worry about it,” Xander says as he starts rinsing off dishes. “Just bring yours and Colt’s dishes over here when you’re done.”

Shoulders tense, Haven does what he says. She lingers near the counter and stares at Xander and me as we load up the dishwasher. I can only take it for a few minutes before I whip around and glare at her.

“Why are you hovering?” I demand sharply.

Wringing her hands, Haven steps back. “I’m used to this being my job.”

It takes me a second to realize what she means. She’s not talking about living with Athelia. She’s talking aboutbefore.

“I’ve never lived with a man without…” She gestures to the sink. “Without being the one who does all the housework.”

“We’re not gonna make you do that,” Xander says.

Colton looks up from scrolling on his phone. “That so?”

“I think everything else we have planned is enough,” Xander answers smoothly. “But I have no desire to force her into being some kind of mock trad wife. That shit is disgusting.”

Colton tips his head forward. “Fair enough.”

I slam the dishwasher shut and turn it on. “Now that that’s decided, are we watching this movie or not?”

“Sure.” Standing, Colton moves to the freezer. “Ice cream?”

“Sounds good to me,” Xander says, and I nod.

Colton grabs the ice cream and then pulls three bowls from the cabinet. I narrow my eyes. To those who know him well enough—mainly me and Xan—Colton is far too predictable. Normally I support his plans, but not this.

Neverthis.

“Can I have some?” Haven asks, staring longingly as Colton dishes out the ice cream.

I go still. I already know what Colton is going to say, and despite how much I despise Haven, it has my blood boiling.

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