Page 7 of Deadly Little Hearts

Does he know I’m here?If he did, he’d be with me, not letting me out of sight.It’s been a week since they walked away from me, and there’s so much I want to say but can’t.Not yet.

I follow Amirah into the pantry.“Can I borrow one of your dresses?”

Amirah smirks.“What are you planning?”

“A business meeting.”

“With who and what about?”

“The guys and about the future.”

Amirah purses her lips, eyes widening.“Fuck, yeah!Give those men some of that woman power.You’re welcome to anything in my closet.”

I head out of the kitchen and up the stairs, taking them two at a time.The closer I get to Gage’s room, the faster my heart beats.I pause outside it, and the faint sound of music reaches my ears.Only the door stands between us.I want to push it open and see him, but I’ve got a plan.

After continuing down the hall and into Amirah’s room, I close the door behind me.Her king-size bed is neatly made with a white-and-pink comforter.Nothing is out of place.I open her closet and there are rows and rows of beautiful garments.It’s like walking into a clothing store.

I spend the next several minutes scanning over everything, trying to find something that will work.I want to look smart but sexy.A baby-blue suit jacket hangs neatly in front of me, and I pull it out.Bringing it closer to my body, I note that it sits mid-thigh.This will be perfect.I grab one of Amirah’s black lace bodices to go underneath and some knee-high black socks with heart-shaped suspenders.My black cotton thong doesn’t really go, but it’ll do.

After dropping my clothes to the floor, I get dressed before staring at my reflection in the mirror.I do up the buttons of the suit jacket, so I’m not completely naked from the waist down.I don’t want to distract the guystoomuch.Although this is bound to distract them just enough.

To finish off the look, I slide into a pair of Amirah’s black Prada heels.This outfit costs as much as I make in at least six months of working at the diner.The difference between me and my best friend is crazy, but I did live like this once.Well, we weren’t this well-off, but we were comfortable.We didn’t have to worry about money until we did—when my mother developed a habit and everything went to shit.

It’d be better if Mom had never developed her habit, but I’m glad I grew up over the train tracks.Even if we live poor, anything is better than being around Dominic, fearing what he’ll do next.I really do hate him.Thank God he’s MIA, and I hope he stays gone.But if I’ve learned anything from Dominic over the years, it’s that he won’t ever truly disappear.He’s been released from jail, and he’s out there somewhere.I won’t be able to relax until he’s dead.

I brush my fingers through my dark-brown hair, and it falls down my back in soft waves.After grabbing my phone from my discarded jeans on the ground, I pull up a group text with Gage, Hazen, and Lucas.My fingers pause over Lucas’s name and my chest squeezes.The last time I saw him, he couldn’t even look at me, and I don’t blame him.I killed his mother.Even if it was in self-defense, I took away someone who meant so much to him, and nothing can change that.

Still, we have business to discuss.And if I don’t put myself out there, nothing will change.

Meet me in the Ledger office in ten minutes.

Without waiting for a reply, I shove my phone into the suit jacket pocket, ready for a business meeting that will either unite us or create a divide we might never come back from.

Chapter 4

Gage

Myphonevibratesagainstmy chest and my shoulders tense.I sit up, leaning back against my pillows, and open the text in our group chat.

Meet me in the Ledger office in ten minutes.

She’s here?I throw my legs over the edge of the bed and head straight for the bathroom, shooting off a one-word text back, agreeing.What’s she doing here, and why does she want to meet in my office?I haven’t seen her for a week, and it’s been hell.

Freya not being around makes me feel like there’s a missing piece in the puzzle of The Brotherhood, and no matter how much I throw myself into work, nothing will distract me enough.I want her back here with us.I have no idea when the lines were blurred to the point that she became all I could think about and want.

Fuck, I hate to admit it—my stubborn ass won’t believe it—but she’s had this hold over me since she came back into our lives.Every time she walks into a room, I can feel her.It’s like our souls are connected, long-lost lovers from centuries ago.I’m drawn to her like a fly to a spider web.

I want to be around her every second of every day, and fuck, thatkillsme.I never wanted a distraction.The Brotherhood is my whole life.I’m devoted, and I can’t choose between her and it.No matter how much my black heart wants her, my priority will always be my brothers.It’s just the way it is and always has been, ever since I was born.Part of me hates that I don’t have a choice in the life that I live, but the other part knows my role.To lead The Brotherhood.

We’re going to fucking change things around here, and I’m here for it.It’s about time.We need to tighten things up at the docks—with as much work as we’re giving those shipping magnates, they could afford to charge us less.And then there’s the Hood situation.

Dominic didn’t give two shits about the others over the train tracks; he only cared about the power we held over them.Making sure that they obeyed every rule we set and paid their dues.We need to rule with force, but not to the point where they have nothing and we have everything.

Everyone has always played by the rules, but over the past couple of months, things have shifted and there’s an uprising.They are getting bolder, crossing the tracks more frequently without permission—and I don’t just mean Freya.Some houses in the Ville have gone up in flames, and people suspect the Hood.

They don’t want to be ruled anymore; they want freedom, and if we don’t do anything about it, then there’s going to be an all-out war.It’s a sign Dominic would have ignored, believing they wouldn’t dare, but only fools think that.

I shower in record time and throw on a pair of black jeans and a dark-gray shirt.Moving through my walk-in closet back into my bedroom, I run my fingers through my wet hair, my curls bouncing back.I can’t wait to see her.

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