He’s loyal. Smart. Brutal.
He’s been the same way ever since we were kids.
“If you’ve all stopped gossiping like a bunch of teenage girls in a playground, we can begin,” I address the room, the stern tone of my voice zipping their lips.
“Someone a little eager to get back to that pretty wife?” My eyes fall to the man who spoke, the son of a now deceased council member and that’s the only reason he has a seat.Fucking traditions.
No one laughs.
“I can’t remember your name,” I say to him, “Remind me.”
The color drains from his face, “Samual.”
I click my fingers, “That’s right, Samual.”
His eyes dart around the room, waiting for someone to step in but they won’t.
“Do you know why you have that seat, Samual?”
“It is my birthright,” At this, he puffs out his chest.
I nod, contemplating, “You’re right, but let’s not pretend you deserve it.”
“I was trained for this!” He sputters.
I laugh, “You think your father was in any position to train you? The man was a drunk, it’s how he landed in an early grave. His poor liver.”
The end of his nose turns red, embarrassment flooding his cheeks, “You can’t talk to me like that!”
“But you can make comments about my wife?” I retort.
My grandfather, seated next to me to the right, clears his throat, “If that’ll be all. I’m not getting any younger here.”
“While we are on the topic of your wife, Malakai,” an older gentleman stands a few seats down from my grandfather. Iwan Mcdonal, a long-standing council member and giant pain in my ass.
“Yes, Iwan?” I glare at him, warning him on his next words. I don’t want Olivia to be a topic of discussion at this table. Ever.
“This organization has a long-standing history of arranged marriages happening within this circle,” he says.
“Okay.”
“While it is not part of the rules to marry within, it is preferred.” I glance at Hank who’s smirking like he just won something. Prick.
The wedding to Regina, while not arranged through Hank, but his brother, Kenneth, would have given him more power. Perhaps he was more pissed than I realized. I glance at Sebastian who leans forward, ready and waiting.
“What are you trying to say, Iwan?” I sigh impatiently.
“Olivia is a liability. She requires an initiation.”
I lean back in my chair, tracing my bottom lip with my finger, “Please do tell when this organization became a fraternity.”
“It is not a hazing, Malakai. It’s collateral. It’s for the best interest and protection of this fine establishment.”
“And what do you propose we do withmy wife,strip her naked and parade her through the streets?”
Someone clears their throat, mumbling something under their breath that I don’t catch.
Stefan sits at Hank’s side, the slimy bastard sporting a smirk like he knows something I don’t. Things needed to change around here. Fast.
