Which means I’m going to do everything I can to make it up to her, even if it means destroying all ties I once had with these men I considered brothers.
It was all lies anyway. The only reason any of them joined Kappa Alpha is because of the benefits: the secret network that would ensure their success in the future and give them everything they could ever dream of, including willing—or unwilling—women.
“The thing about leadership, Blaze,” Ezio says as he approaches, “Is that it only works if there are people willing to follow you.” He motions toward the rest of the frat brothers. “Who of you still wants Blaze in charge of Kappa Alpha?”
I’m not surprised when not a single one of them is willing to raise their hand.
Ezio’s smile widens. “But maybe you should be grateful about that, Blaze. After all, we all know what happened to Zayden.”
The image of Zayden’s decapitated head rises in my mind.
“Do we know?” I ask, but even the question is a mistake.
“You killed him!” Keegan shouts. “You keep brushing us off when we ask about him! We’ve all seen how you get when Pandora is involved!”
Wait.
They thinkIkilled him? I look at Ezio, who shrugs, but he doesn’t say anything to contradict them.
It’s helpful for him if they all think I was the one to do it.
I fold my arms over myself. “Why the fuck would I do that? How? I was with Asch and River the entire time after… After. And we still don’t know where Zayden actually is.” I shake my head and smile at Keegan condescendingly. “You really shouldn’t strain your brain too hard, Keegan. It’s not your strong suit.”
Holden steps in front of Keegan, almost shielding him. “You’re such a dick, Blaze. I used to look up to you. I don’t know if you killed Zayden or what, but you don’t evencarethat he’s missing. Shows how much you value us.”
I clench my fists. “You’re right, I don’t give a shit where he went because he’s the reason we’re in this mess in the first place. If he’d done even half his job properly…”
There’s more discontented murmuring.
I want to beat them up. I want to destroy all of them. They don’t get to betray me.
But no matter how strong I am, I know I can’t take all of them at once. If Asch and River were here, we’d have a chance.
If Pandora was here, the room would already be a bloody mess.
“You warned us to leave? Well, you’re the one who needs to get out,” Brock says. “You’re the one who got us involved with Pandora and all this bullshit and, and?—”
I burst out laughing. “You want me out of Kappa Alpha? Sure. But don’t forget that I know every single one of your secrets. Not just Tate’s piss fetish or how Brock jerked off into his sister’s underwear.”
Brock turns bright red, and I don’t miss the side eyes he gets from some of the brothers who weren’t there during his hazing.
“I know what your parents’ secrets are too. I have a whole fuckingcache of them.” I turn to Ezio. “You can lead these losers. I don’t need them. But you’d better watch yourself. I’m happy to finish wiping out the Romano family.”
Ezio’s sneer is a thing of beauty, equal parts anger and terror and anguish.
Yeah. He’s not over that whole family genocide thing.
“And don’t get ideas about killing me,” I add. “Because there are backups, and if anything happens to me, or anyone I care about, those backups are being sent out to people who would be very, very interested to learn about all the crimes you and your families have committed.”
I grab my laptop and bag, then head toward the stairs.
Keegan tries to block my path, but after a staredown, he makes a disgusted noise and steps aside.
That’s what I thought.
For all my bravado, my heart is pounding hard in my chest.
Ezio didn’t orchestrate this for shits and giggles.
