Redmond shrugs his shoulders. “Don’t know who that is.”
Of course, he wouldn’t remember Sam. My ex-best friend wasn’t popular or rich. “Homecoming night. My house burning down. Any of that ringing a bell for you?”
“Oh, that asshole,” he retorts. “What about him?”
I clear my throat. “Well, we’re together now.” I almost gag on the lie, but the less Redmond knows, the better. Telling him anything about the Gods could get him killed. I can’t have his death on my conscience.
He bursts out laughing. “You’re shitting me, right?”
“I’m completely serious.” I cross my arms. “We reconnected recently. He actually lives in Oregon too.”
Redmond closes the distance separating us in three long strides. “I don’t give a fuck. Your mother and I have an arrangement.”
“My mother’s arrangement with you has nothing to do with me.”
“Listen, you’re going to drop out of school and move into an apartment near my campus.” He grips me hard between the thighs. “I’m paying a high price for this and I plan to use it whenever I want.”
I push against his chest, but I might as well be trying to move a mountain. “You’re insane!”
“You’re going to be a good girl, Zilphia, or there will be consequences.”
Jesus Christ! How many psychos will I encounter in my lifetime?
“I’m trying to save your life, you fucking asshole!” I shout in exasperation.
“I’m not afraid of your little boyfriend,” he sneers and takes a step back. “I’ll be back at nine. Be ready.”
I look on as he gets in his luxury vehicle and zooms down the street.
What the hell am I going to do?
I glance around, a sudden uneasiness washing over me. Sandman told me he would always have someone watching. I don’t see anyone lurking about, but that doesn’t mean eyes aren’t on me. One thing is for certain—I can’t go with Redmond tonight.
Tension hangs heavy in the air. The Latin Maniacs occupy one side of the open field while the Gods stand strong on the other, several feet or so separating our groups. Zeus is front and center, staring down their new leader—Silas, Caesar’s younger brother. Jigsaw and Draco flank him.
I should be focused on the clear and present danger at hand, but my thoughts are seized on her. My cock twitches, last night’s farmhouse exploits filtering through my mind. I hurt her bad, and slept like a fucking baby afterward. And tonight, I’m going to hurt her again.
“Five hundred thousand,” Zeus barks, countering Silas’s two-million-dollar bid.
“That’s not enough.” His cold gaze lands on me. “Your son murdered my brother.” Silas takes a step forward at my smirk. I slip a hand under my cut and grip the handle of my Glock.Come on, you pudgy motherfucker, give me a reason to put a bullet in your dome.
Zeus looks at me and shakes his head. “Again, my deepest condolences for your loss, but the Disciples are at fault here. Spiderplayed us all for fools, but his time is coming. And need I remind you, Caesar tried to fucking kill me.”
“But the Gods drew first blood,” Lil’ Loco spits. “Word on the street is you’ve got rats in your ranks. None of this would’ve happened if your fucking house was in order.”
“The traitors were taken care of,” Zeus growls between clenched teeth. “Our ranks are clean.”
“So you say.” Lil’ Loco shrugs and spreads his arms wide. “There could be a whole lot more, an infestation. The Gods can’t be trusted.”
Zeus quickly closes the distance between them. “If you like your tongue where it is, don’t speak against the brotherhood again.”
The shit that went down with Brick and Buffalo put us all at risk—our business dealings too. Word travels quick in the criminal world. What a clusterfuck.
“I’ll accept your offer on one condition,” Silas states, a smug smile curving his lips. “I want Sandman’s head too.”
“No,” Zeus bites out angrily.
Silas looks at me, the same smirk on his face. “Then give me his bitch.”
