“She was never yours,” Trent claps back.
“Enough,” Monte snaps. “Let us get on with this. I’m a busy man, Victor, and I have no time for these childish games. Speak your terms.”
“My terms are simple. My stepdaughter remains here with me and will forget all about that night. No one needs to go to war over something she never saw.”
“No. She’s to return with us,” Hunter interjects as he glares down at me, thinking he is somehow superior. It’s clear to me that he is the black sheep of the family. His brothers remain silent and calm while he shows all his cards.
“She is right here and says fuck you,” Taylor bites out.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
TAYLOR
Before Hunter and I can go at it, Victor speaks, silencing us both. “She remains here.”
“She saw something she shouldn’t have,” the man sitting next to Hunter’s dad says.
“I didn’t see shit. I won’t say a word about the books and how you funnel money?—”
“Shut the fuck up!” Hunter snaps, cutting me off. All six of them are staring at me like I’m a fucking shooting star and it’s unnerving as hell.
“What money?” one of the guys who looks like Hunter says. I never met his brothers but I bet this guy is one of them.
“She doesn’t know shit?—”
“Silence!” The man beside his father hisses. When he turns those brown eyes to me I gulp, he’s fucking terrifying. “Continue.”
“Ah, I cooked the books like Hunter told me to?” I don’t know why I ask it as a question.
All of them look at Hunter who is standing there vibrating with anger. I guess his family had no idea he was getting me to do his dirty work.
“That girl knows about the companies?” the other brother asks.
“No.”
“Yes,” Hunter and I both answer in unison.
“You fucking fool,” his father scolds, then looks back at Victor. “You are in the same line of business as my family, which is why you understand that I cannot allow her to remain here.” My breath hitches. Trent places a hand on top of my thigh in silent comfort.
“I’ll say it once more. Try to hear me this time, Monte, because my fucking patience only lasts for so long.” All of the men growl but say nothing. “Taylor Heorte is staying here with me and my sons. If you choose to try and come after her, the entire brotherhood will go to war over her.”
“You’ll lose,” the guy beside Monte says.
“I know the rumors about you, Vegah,” Victor says in an oddly respectful tone. “But, have you heard the rumors about my sons and what they are capable of?” Pride shines in his eyes as speaks about his sons.
“I have heard that they are… crafty with a blade. They may be a match for my talents but our reach is still wider than yours. The girl knows about our operations and we cannot allow that,” he answers.
“I have a solution, a third party who is familiar with our line of work and asks no questions,” Vic offers. When they begin speaking numbers and working on the details, I slouch back into the couch and rest my head on Zav’s shoulder. After an hour or so they finally wrap it up and the two men stand, followed by Victor. Trent squeezes my leg, telling me to stand with him and Zav so I do.
“I will contact Nick Snow and commence the deal. He, his brother and their friend Saint better be as good as you say or we will be back,” Monte warns Vic as he shakes his hand.
“You come back here and you won’t be met with the welcoming you just received, I promise you that.” Victor’s underlying threat sends a shiver down my spine. All of them begin to file out of the room but Hunter stops in the doorway and turns back to look at me with a disgusted look on his face.
“Heorte is your mother’s maiden name.” My brows bunch in confusion. “Trancewas her married name.”
“Get the fuck out!” Victor roars and I jerk in fright. Zav and Trent both step in front of me to block me from Hunter’s view. I see one of his brothers enter the room again and drag him out. I stand there reeling and trying to process what the fuck Hunter meant, Mom never took Victor’s name when they got married. I have no idea who my father is. He was never around and means nothing to me, but this niggling feeling in my gut is telling me Hunter knows something.
“Tiny, take Tank and make sure they leave without a fuss.” Both guys nod and follow their president's orders and close the door behind themselves, leaving the four of us alone. I’m pulled out of my thoughts when Trent wraps his arms around me and holds me against his chest. I melt into him without a fuss, loving being in his arms again. I feel Zav against my back and tilt back to look up at him and smile. The hungry look in his eyes wipes the smile from my face.
