“Maybe you should’ve kept your mouth shut,” Cosmo replied as Rick whined, but I caught Cosmo’s eyes in the rearview bouncing between Falcon and me. Did he see what happened? I don’t remember since I was a little preoccupied with drinking the sweetest pain medication I’d ever had.
I turned the conversation around to being productive. “So, when we get back, I want to make sure we are all on the same page.” They all perked up, listening as I flopped down and stared at the ceiling of the car with my arms folded across my chest. “The first thing is that I’ll be the one to give my dad a recap of what we learned and how it all went down. I’m sure he’s going to want to give his two cents about it all, but I’m not going to give him a chance to. I’m going to tell him that we need to focus on finding Lex and bringing him into the fold.” I nodded to myself, hell-bent on finding and bringing him home. Everyone in the car paused, and not the kind that felt like a group in agreement.
Cosmo was the first to speak up. “Don’t you think we have other priorities right now?”
I didn’t move, didn’t make a sound, but the pain from my nails digging into my biceps reminded me to focus, to take on the calm leader role. I was the one in charge here. This was my fucking city, and I determined what was priority. I kept my face blank as I shifted my eyes around the car, making sure those that could see me would understand how serious I was.
“You think that finding the missing piece of the Syndicate, the heir for the last of the five families, and bringing him into the fold is not a priority?” I was trying to keep myself in control, to not let my frustration bleed into my voice. When no one answered, I tried to convince them. “Bringing Lex in will only strengthen the Syndicate. Especially since we now have a faction out there that is actively working against us. We need to show strength and power now that we’re all together. What is more powerful than finding the heir that has been lost for the past twenty years?”
I snuck a few glances at the heirs as I watched their gears turning at my logic. “What could show more strength than finally being able to unite all the demons under the Devil name again? We have barely managed without the Devils. I’m sure you all have been working practically day and night, either cleaning up all the messes, handling your own assassinations, or making items that help in those endeavors, doing all of this to fill that gap they left when Lex and his uncle disappeared.” I nodded to myself. “We need to bring him back. It’s the only logical step and something I think is a priority for the future of the Syndicate. Our Syndicate.”
Falcon, Avery, and Ax made me want to squirm under their penetrating gazes, but I kept my cool and stared back, knowing I was right. I put the nail in the coffin as I softly said, “Wouldn’t you want me to find you if you were lost? If you were meant to be here with us?”
All of their eyes softened, something changing in the atmosphere, as they each settled something in their minds. Falcon went back to looking ahead, continuing to draw circles on my ankles, something I think he didn’t notice he was doing. Avery lifted my hand and kissed the back before smiling at me and leaning back against the seat. Ax was the only one who didn’t take his eyes off me, like he was asking something of me, but I couldn’t figure out what.
“Fine. I’ll help you search.” Ax rumbled out as his shoulders slumped like he would regret his decision.
I beamed up at them all. “It’s the right choice, and you all know it.” When I noticed they all didn’t seem happy about the situation, and yet, still agreed with me, I let my smile fall. Giving them a serious face, I whispered, “Thank you. This means a lot to me to have your support.”
I closed my eyes, not wanting to see their faces, as I only gave out a handful of thank-yous in my life that I actually meant. The heat of embarrassment rose up my neck, and I turned my face away from them. I stayed that way until the car jerked forward when we stopped, and then I launched myself up, scrambling out of the car as fast as I could.
One of the tweedle twins my dad liked to use for bodyguards came up to the car, and I pointed at the trunk, telling him where the money was for the night’s collections. He bowed his head and went right to work when Cosmo popped the trunk. I turned toward the guys. “Okay, so now that we are on the same page.” I dusted myself off as the guys all got out. I smiled, flashing fang. “Let’s go see the group of gossiping ninnies.”
Ax and Avery snickered at me calling their dads ninnies as Cosmo and Rick came up to my right and left, and then we walked up the stone steps and into the large wooden front door as a unit.
As we stepped in, I felt the other heirs lagging behind as they gawked at the place. I couldn’t fault them. Vegas had a certain flair for gaudy luxury that most other places did not. While their villas were nice, they were like small townhomes compared to the main house. I pointed to the left. “Over there is the kitchen and dining room area. If you follow the hallway, you will hit the main bank of rooms for some of the higher-ups in the Desmond clan.” We kept going. “To the right, you can see the open-concept lounge. This is where most informal meetings and planning sessions are held.” We walked up the large center staircase that looked like it came straight out of theTitanicmovie.
“The west wing”—I pointed to my right—“is where mine and Cosmo’s bedrooms are, as well as the entertainment rooms. The east wing”—I pointed in the direction we were heading—“is where my dad’s room, study, and war room is.” I mean, there were more rooms in a lot of other places, but that was all they needed to know.
They were all taking it in, and I let a small smile grace my face. It was cute to see them all admiring the place. Well, really, Ax and Avery, Falcon was looking around like he was memorizing every little detail like it would be on a quiz later.
“We can take you on a tour later.” I turned to the left, going up to the east wing and making a beeline for my dad’s office.
Syris and my dad could be heard arguing down the hallway. “She did not say that, you scoundrel!”
“Oh, yes, she did! She said I have beautiful hair, which translated to better hair.” I rolled my eyes at my dad’s smug voice.
“Oh, good,” I called out before I pushed open the door. “Looks like we’re not interrupting anything.”
Easton and Manic were sitting at the small side table playing chess, while Syris leaned over my dad’s desk, trying to get into his face while my dad was sitting back, legs crossed with his feet on the desk and a smug grin on his face. My dad’s eyes flicked to me. “My sunshine!”
He jumped out of his seat, ready to barrel into me with a hug, like he normally did, when I put my hand up. “Nope. Still mad at you.”
His face fell, pouting like a little child as he slumped back into his seat, mumbling, “I didn’t think you would hold onto a grudge this long. I thought I taught you better than that.” We all walked up to his desk together, and, for a second, it felt like we were one unit, and it... it felt good. Right.
I nodded to the other bosses before turning my attention to my dad, crossed my arms, and tilted my head. “You also taught me that you don’t ever let anyone who wronged you off the hook.”
“But I’m your dad!” His eyes popped out, and he slapped his desk as if that meant the past thirty-two hours was no big deal.
“Anyway—”
“Boom! Burn!” Syris laughed as he pointed at my dad, mocking him, then ruined it by turning to Avery and whispering out the side of his mouth, “Did I use that right?”
Avery groaned as his hand ran over his face. “Not now, Father... but yes.” Syris smiled wide as he sipped the drink in his hand, content with himself.
“Anyway,” I cut in again, and my dad folded his arms, shushing all the other bosses, and Manic lifted his arms in a what gesture. My dad glared at him before nodding, giving me his undivided attention. “The bulk of the collections went fine, the guys being able to see how we operate.”
My dad leaned over, peering around me to the guys as he asked, “Thoughts, boys?”
