Page 16 of Deadly Little Hearts

“Where the fuck have you been, and why do you look and smell like a garbage truck?”I say, gripping my glass tightly.

Lucas huffs.“I’m here, aren’t I?Isn’t that enough?”

I don’t bother replying, because he’s right, at least he’s here.That’s all that matters right now.Freya isn’t here yet, but I gave her a later starting time, so we could get settled in first.I gaze at the door, waiting for her to come in.Rules state that no one outside of The Brotherhood is allowed to attend our meetings, especially women, but Freya is more than that to me and my brothers.She’s one of us, whether she believes it or not, and family sticks together.This is her idea, and I want her to see it through.

We have to start, or we’ll be here all night.Eight of The Brotherhood’s most trusted men, our councilmen, fill the seats.As Zeke, Callan, and Brax talk among themselves, Brax catches my gaze.I nod, and he raises his glass my way.

“Have you heard from Dominic?”Brax asks, from a couple of seats down.

“Not yet, but we are keeping tabs on his movements.He’s been out for a couple of days.”

The charges against him for murdering Alec didn’t stick.As soon as the police let him go free, Dominic went underground.No one’s heard from him since.I’ve tried calling, but his phone is switched off—untraceable.There’s a rumor he’s been seen in town a few times, but nothing concrete.Maybe Dad has finally left us.

That shouldn’t make me feel a little funny—abandoned, even—but it does.

Zeke looks around the table before bringing his gaze back to me.“If you want more, I’d ask the dock workers.They always have the intel.”

Lucas scoffs but doesn’t otherwise comment.

He’s always been the one to do the wheeling and dealing down at the docks.Still, it’s not for him to question our councilmen when they’re trying to help, so I kick his ankle under the table.He shoots me a filthy look but doesn’t respond.

I grab my glass, turning back to the table.The deep honey and oak of the bourbon runs smoothly down my throat.

Bringing my fingers to my lips, I whistle, and all eyes cut to us three sitting at the head of the long table.

“You were called here to discuss some changes for Daringhood,” I say, and Ronald, one of my father’s closest friends, sneers.

“This’ll be good.’Bout time we did another rate rise.”

A few yeses fill the room, but I ignore them as the door to the restaurant opens and Freya walks in.My gaze moves up her shapely legs to her skintight leather skirt, up her turtleneck that fails to hide her curves, and then comes to rest on her bright-blue eyes.Fucking hell.All eyes are on her, but she doesn’t miss a step.No, she walks with confidence, heads straight to us, and sits down in a chair next to Lucas.He doesn’t even acknowledge her, tightening his grip on his glass and staring ahead.

“What the fuck is she doing here?”Ronald pipes up again, staring daggers at her.

“She’s one of us,” Gage says, and an uproar fills the table.

“No one outside of The Brotherhood is allowed in our meetings.That rule’s been around for centuries,” Samson says, pushing back a lock of black hair that’s fallen over his face, while watching Freya with interest and curiosity.

“This is her idea, and she’s here to see it through,” I say.

Ronald huffs and rolls up his shirtsleeves, exposing skin pocked with age but still toned with muscle.He mutters, loud enough for her to hear, “Gutter whore.”

Freya ignores him, twisting her fingers together on the table.

Lucas pushes his chair back with force, and it falls to the ground with a bang.He grabs a glass and throws it across the table, aiming straight for Ronald.Ronald ducks, and it hits the wall, shattering into many pieces.All eyes are on Lucas, and I don’t move.

“What the fuck?”Ronald roars, standing, and Lucas laughs.

“Learn your place, Ronald, or next time, it’ll be a bullet into your black heart.”Lucas stares down at Freya for a moment before storming off toward the bar.Fucking hell, he’s getting out of control.This needs to stop before he fucks everything up.

Ronald shakes his head.“You little—”

“Enough!”I yell, and Ronald falls back into his seat without another word.I’ve always hated him, especially the way he used to follow my father around, clinging to his every word.I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d been sucking his cock behind closed doors.

“As I was saying, we are going to propose some changes in Daringhood and invest in them from a housing and education perspective, so they realize we’re ready to form an alliance.”I lean forward, resting my elbows on the table.

“Why the fuck would we do that?”Ronald snaps.

I open my mouth, but Freya beats me to it.“To avoid the war that’s brewing.”

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