Page 25 of Deadly Little Hearts

My mind spins.Fucking hell.Leading is difficult.

There’s a knock on my door, and I open it.Amirah stands there in a miniskirt that is way too fucking short and a tight tank top.

“You need to change,” I snap, before brushing past her into the hallway.

“Piss off,” she huffs, walking in step with me.

“What do you want, Amirah?”

“Can you just stop for a second, please?”She grabs my hand, and I slow my steps before stopping.Pulling free of my grasp, she crosses her arms over her chest.“Now that you’ve taken over, I want something to do within The Brotherhood.Like a job.”

“No,” I reply.I shouldn’t need to remind her that women aren’t allowed any role within The Brotherhood.It’s just how it is, and I don’t want Amirah getting too close to the action.She’s better off hidden away in her room; at least she’s safe there.

“Gage, hear me out.I’m good at managing people.I can help if you just give me something to do,” Amirah protests.

I roll my eyes.“Go paint your nails.”She’s being a little brat.She has everything she could ever want.

“I’m capable of this—I’ve got something going on,” she says, and I shake my head.

What could she possibly have going on?A plan for a pyramid scheme with one of those makeup companies?“Yeah, whatever little fashion show you’ve planned, just do it away from me.”

She scoffs.“It’s more than that.I—”

I raise my hand to stop her.“Look, Amirah, can we discuss this later?There’s a heap of shit I’ve gotta deal with first.Okay?”

Her eyes fall to the ground before she lifts them again and nods.She stalks back toward her room and slams her door.The rattle echoes through me.I hope to fuck she drops this, because I can’t deal with her being bratty.Between loose-cannon Lucas, Dominic, and the changes to Daringhood, I’ve got too much shit to deal with.

Heading downstairs, I’m met with voices carrying through the hallway just outside my office.I open the door and Lucas is standing by my desk with a glass between his fingers, still in his gym shorts, sweat dripping down his bare chest.Fucking hell.Hazen is resting back in one of the chairs, staring daggers at Lucas.Samson and Zeke are sitting next to Hazen, Samson watching Hazen and Lucas closely.

“Clean yourself up,” Hazen snaps, and Lucas flips him off.

I shut the door behind me and Hazen looks over.

“Some hood rats broke into one of my car dealerships last night,” Samson says.

“What’d they take?”I grit my teeth.Fuckers.

“Nothing.My security chased them off, but it’s the principle of the matter.They’re getting more brazen every day.”Samson shakes his head.“And you want to give them a tax reduction?”

“Not just him.We.”Hazen emphasizes the word, gesturing to myself and Lucas.“We’re a team.”

“And though it’s frustrating as shit”—I fucking hate people trying to take what’s ours—“they didn’t know we were planning this reduction.Maybe this will result in less break-ins.”

It better.

“What’s the plan?”Samson asks, getting straight to it.

I move behind my desk and fall into the chair, and Zeke sits up straighter.

“We need to have a town meeting to announce the money we are going to put into Daringhood and what we expect from them moving forward,” I say, and Samson grunts.

“If you’re really going ahead with this, then just send out a mass message to everyone in the Hood.We don’t need a fucking meeting with the filth,” Samson says, and I shake my head.

“No.If we’re doing this, we want to make sure they see it’s a genuine offer coming from us.We want to open communication between us and the Hood—treat them with a bit of respect.Bring them together and give them a little rope,” Hazen says, before I even have the chance to open my mouth.

“He’s right.If we’re going to grant them this honor, it’s better to get the credit in person.Maybe some of their women will be feeling especially grateful,” Zeke agrees, running his fingers through his dirty-blond hair.

Samson pushes to his feet.“This is a bad idea.You give them a little, they will push for more.If Dominic was still in charge—”

---