TWENTY-FIVE
CASH
We all pileddown into the bowels of the basement hidden far beneath Kane’s office. The bass reverberated as the packed club danced the night away.
My nerves rattled as I followed my crew down the narrow staircase.
Feeling their curiosity pinging off them each time they glanced my way. I gave it two-point-three seconds before they pounced on me.
Stomach in knots, I took my seat at the round table. Both fear and loyalty rising to the surface. In a way that I’d never felt before. Something more powerful than I’d experienced in all my life.
Everyone sat, their chair legs screeching on the concrete floor before River put his fist out into the middle of the table for us to meet it. “I call to order this meeting of Sovereign Sanctum.”
And that was all it took. All other business forgotten as every eye whipped my way.
“You care to tell us what the fuck is going on with you?” Otto asked where he sat to my left.
“Yeah. We’re going to need to know who you are bringing to my house tomorrow, which just to be clear, Emery is freakingthe fuck out with excitement over because for one…” Kane lifted a single finger. “You’re coming at all, and for two…” He lifted a second digit. “You plan to have four guests with you.”
His tone was riddled with questions.
Otto’s blue eyes gleamed as he added, “Prepare yourself, brother. Girls have been texting since Emery let everyone know you had RSVP’d and have a plus-four. They’re making plans and shit, and Raven is spearheading it.”
Blowing out a sigh, I shifted uncomfortably on my chair.
Fuck.
Of course, they were.
Did I expect anything less?
Knew once their women caught wind of it, things were going to spiral out of hand. They’d be imagining things that just weren’t there.
“But you said it isa Sanctum issue?” River pressed, giving a glare to the rest to keep their damned cool and focus on what was important.
Not the gossip and speculation that had undoubtedly cut a fiery path through the family tonight.
I inhaled a harsh breath, preparing myself to dish when only Theo knew anything about my history with Daisy.
My throat grew thick. “This woman who I knew back home. Before I came to LA. Her name is Daisy. She has three children. She found me, and she’s in trouble.”
The easy laughs Otto and Kane wore drained from their faces.
Kane sat forward. “What kind of trouble?”
My mouth suddenly felt like the Sahara. “She discovered some nefarious activities on her husband. A bunch of money they shouldn’t have. She confronted him on it. Demanded to know what was going on. He tried to gaslight her. Tell her she was imagining things. Only when one of his business associateswent missing under questionable circumstances, she knew he was into something deep. She went to the authorities…”
“Shit,” River rumbled, quick to catch up.
I scrubbed a palm over my face. “Fucker was arrested, and she filed for divorce. It was already finalized when he got released. Judge threw the case out. I learned through my digging she believed there wasn’t enough evidence for the case to stand. Only the moment he got out, someone tried to run Daisy off the road. She knew he was after her.”
“So he’s out for retaliation?” Theo surmised.
Agitation burned through my nerves. A fuse running out quickly. “Seems so.”
A stir of energy whipped around the room.
Every one of my brothers sat forward. Tattooed flesh crawled over their muscles that bunched and twisted.
