Falcon was the first to speak. “It seemed to be a well-oiled machine as far as collections go. People get a fair enough warning and can deliver in a timely manner.” Dad smiled at him before looking at the others.
I didn’t turn around, but I heard Avery’s smile in his tone and felt his gaze on the back of my head as he said, “It was a very fun night. We also got to learn a lot about how Rayla, Rick, and Cosmo work together. They seem like a very effective team.” I didn’t know if he was trying to butter me up or if that was a subtle dig, so I left it alone since my dad beamed at being told his children worked well together.
My dad then directed his attention to Ax next to me, and in my periphery, I saw him rub the back of his neck as he whispered, “Not fair. They took all the good ones.” We all waited patiently... well, most of us. Manic tapped the table in front of him as he frowned.
“Rayla is a really good fighter.” His voice was hesitant, and I almost closed my eyes and sighed before he said more confidently, “She also showed us how dedicated to the Syndicate and all of our families she is, which was eye-opening.”
I couldn’t help but turn my head toward him, my eyes wide as I searched to see if that was all bullshit or the truth. When he met my gaze, a slow, appreciative smile lined his mouth, and I looked away. My heart beating harder at the unexpected compliment.
I have dedicated my life to the Syndicate, made sure I not only represented us well but also deserved the title of heir. I worked in and out of this organization. I trained myself harder, worked myself to the bone, and, some nights, didn’t sleep until a job was completed. I wanted to prove, not only to the people in this room but the whole world, that just because I didn’t have a dick between my legs, didn’t mean I was any less. It meant I was more.
My dad’s eyes twinkled with pride as he looked at me and smiled like he did when I first punched one of his men in the balls for calling me “Little Lady.” He clapped, and his gaze danced around the room as his joy was almost infectious. “I think we should celebrate! Finally, the old guard and the new guard are all getting along and under one roof.”
He went to stand, I’m sure to offer the guys drinks, but I also had to be the bearer of bad news. “Before you break open the liquor cabinet, we have some business to discuss with you. Something that we found out tonight.” My tone must’ve seemed grim because all the bosses stood, sidling up next to my dad like they were one unit.
When my dad’s smile fell, he motioned for me to continue, taking me seriously. I stepped forward and spit it out. “I got wind of some possible drugs being made behind our back.” All the bosses’ faces fell, getting more upset by the second. My dad opened his mouth, but I beat him to it. “Hailey told me about a situation with her uncle, Breken, a few days ago, and since he was on the list for collections, we decided to pay him a visit that was more on the investigative side.”
My dad looked over my shoulder. “Cosmo, translate for your sister.”
His smooth, silky voice floated past my ears, and I suppressed a shudder. “We got to the pawn shop, and when Breken wasn’t there, we interrogated the guy they used as the punching bag for not having the cash.”
“As I said...” I glared at my dad, who glanced at the other bosses for a second but nodded for me to continue. “We got information on a warehouse where Breken was located, and I decided we needed to look into it further.” I purposely said I in that sentence because I had a feeling my dad was about to get pissed off.
My dad gradually sat down, folded his fingers together on the desk before closing his eyes as he breathed through his nose. “Rayla. Tell me that you didn’t enter the warehouse without any backup?”
I threw my thumb behind me. “They were my backup. Right, boys?”
Before any of them got to say a word, Manic’s gruff voice said, “So, you went by yourself into an unknown location, knowing nothing about what was going on inside or what they were doing?” He sounded angry, and when I slid my eyes toward Ax, who was standing straight, facing forward, and not making eye contact, I knew this was angry Manic.
“It was my decision.” My dad’s nostrils flared, as if he was ready to explode, when I pushed through like their reactions didn’t faze me. “Plus, we took precautions. Falcon had a few tools to use before we entered the building. We knew that it was going to be a distribution point or a lab, maybe both, and we needed to know that information. I don’t need to remind you all that drugs in the paranormal community are our responsibility, and it needs to be taken care of immediately.”
Syris’ mouth dropped open as he huffed out a small laugh. “I bet dealing with her in her teen years was rough.” My dad glared at me, ticked I did this under his nose and put our guests in danger, but it couldn’t have been helped since I was right.
Cosmo stepped up to my side. “Sirs, we might’ve not done it in the safest manner, but when a war broke out, everyone here showed how fierce and determined the Syndicate was. Even when Breken threatened them, disparaged the Syndicate’s name, and laughed in their faces, thinking of us as only children. Not a single one of us got hurt.” Well, we all knew that was a lie, but I knew they wouldn’t snitch. I would castrate them if they did. Plus, what the bosses didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. “Everyone of them did each of your family names proud and took on many more than should’ve been possible. Their strength only speaks to how diligent and cunning all of you are to have raised such prestigious children.”
All the bosses looked at Cosmo as he stared straight with his hands behind his back, the picture-perfect soldier.
Manic huffed, shaking his head at all of us. “Now, this is why I didn’t have two kids. With my luck, I would be like you and would have a smart one and a wild one, backing each other up so you can’t tell heads from tails.”
“He sure does know how to make that honey drip,” Syris said as he swirled his drink before taking a sip, eyeing Cosmo like he was a snack.
“Have they always been this way?” Easton asked my dad, who nodded as he glared at Cosmo and me. “That’s both fascinating and infuriating.” Easton now studied us both like we were the science project.
My dad let out another angry exhale through his nose. “Yes. Very.” His eyes bounced from my stubborn-filled, defiant stance to Cosmo’s waiting-for-a-command stance, and he threw up his hands. “Fuck. I guess since you’re all fine, I can’t be that mad.” He reluctantly breathed out. “So, what did you find out?”
I smiled before I told him all about the warehouse and what they were transporting. Falcon was a sneaky little devil and pulled out a single vial he must have found among the shipment that they ruined by chucking it into the truck. Easton grabbed it, telling everyone he would examine the compounds.
I told them about me following Breken, but not that I was ensnared by his magic. I said I saw him drink a vial of dark-blue stuff, which Falcon and Avery confirmed was Gathein, which made all the bosses go almost feral. I clarified the lie by saying before he got to use his powers, he was thrown into the wall and died on impact.
“How did he die on impact?” My dad asked with a brow raised, since that normally wouldn’t kill a supe, then my heart beat faster in excitement.
“Because ofhim, Dad.” When he cocked his head and furrowed his brows, I let out a laugh like I was a crazy person. “Lex. Lex fucking broke his neck and threw him into the wall. We found Lex, Dad!”
At that moment, the bosses looked at me like I belonged in a mental house.
1.Whippin by Kiiara
Chapter 3
