Chapter 24
GARRET
“I HEARD you’ve been spending time with a Prey around town,” Draven’s father says, lighting a cigar.
The other members of the Order watch me, waiting for a reaction. The old man is bringing it up to make a point—Rose is off-limits. It’s been three weeks since I first tasted her, and I can’t get enough.
“I have,” I admit easily.
John shifts in his seat, his anger a live wire beneath his skin. He watches all fifty members in their respective chairs but says nothing. He knows better. Someone else needs to take his place—someone more deserving. Because John Strauss doesn’t deserve to sit here. He doesn’t even deserve to breathe for what he’s done to my girl.
I scan the room, noting the familiar faces. All members of the Order are present, but there’s one other person I’m interested in seeing. Leonidas, he looks away but he’s getting it now.
“Nice piece of ass,” Alaric’s grandfather comments, exhaling a slow puff of smoke.
I let it slide.
He must have helped Alaric uncover Rose’s past, so I’ll let him talk. He doesn’t mean anything by it, and I can’t blame him.
Rose does have a nice ass. And I’ve been fucking that ass all night, every night.
Still, baby steps.
She needs to trust me before I introduce her to my darker tastes.
John grunts. I turn to him, my glare cutting like a blade.
“Problem, Strauss?” I ask, my voice deceptively calm.
“She’s not yours,” he states triumphantly, his chin lifting.
I smile.
I can see the flicker of uncertainty in his gaze.
“Right now, my DNA dripping between her thighs says otherwise,” I shoot back smoothly.
Laughter erupts around the table. The twins, Reid, Valen, and Alaric throw their heads back, their amusement filling the boardroom. Even old man Bedford chuckles. They all know what I mean.
Touch her, and I’ll kill you.
Clearing my throat, I shift my focus. “I have a matter to discuss.” My eyes flick to Valen, then to his father. Old man Vikiar is going to be pissed. But I don’t give a fuck.
It’s time.
“What is it?” Alaric’s grandfather asks, the room quieting as all eyes turn to me.
“There’s one son missing from this table,” I state, my voice measured but firm. “He needs to be here. It’s his birthright.”
“How dare you?” Valen’s father spits, his face going red, like he’s seconds from a heart attack.
The other elders glance at him, some raising their brows at his outburst. He quickly composes himself, adjusting his tie with a forced calm. Then, begrudgingly, he concedes.
“Yes, but he’s right.” Alarics’s grandfather turns to me and Valen, reluctant but resigned. “Next meeting, Garret. Valen. Bring him. He needs to be here, as his birthright.”
A slow smile spreads across my face.
Finally.
But John isn’t done.
“And the issue with the girl?” he prods, his voice sharp. “The Prey.”
I flick my gaze to the piece of shit across the table. I wish I could end him now—but patience.
“What about her?” Bedford asks through a slow drag of his cigar, the smoke swirling like a raincloud above his head.
“He has to let her go if he can’t do what was asked,” John insists.
Reid’s gaze sharpens. I know exactly what he’s thinking. Kill him now and get it over with. His eyes dart to mine. I give a subtle shake of my head.
Not yet.
I have a plan.
I’ve had one since Rose first arrived. I hated that she lied, but I knew something wasn’t right. Valen knew too. But we didn’t have proof—until now.
John bought her. The Order doesn’t condone human trafficking. Children are off-limits. It’s messy. Disgusting. But we still need evidence. Not that it matters—John doesn’t get a free pass. He’s already dead.
I promised Rose. I promised myself when I first laid eyes on her, when I first heard her snarky mouth. Rose was mine before she even knew she was.
“She’s chosen to stay, John,” I remind him. “She’s a student on campus. You know the rules. Besides, why do you care?”
“I’m her guardian,” he sneers.
“She’s an adult.”
“Who’s going to provide for her?” he challenges.
I will.
I have.
“It’s no trouble for Garret,” Bedford cuts in. “He has more money than you.” He leans back, tapping ash from his cigar. “Find another woman to park your dick in, John. I’m sure Mary won’t mind. Buy her a Rolls and a trip to the Maldives. She’ll look the other way.”
I let the jab at my mother slide. Everyone knows how I feel about her.
I don’t give a fuck.
“Let it go, John,” Draven speaks up, scrolling through his phone. He’s bored, itching to get back to Gia and the kids.
John doesn’t take the hint.
“So, does anyone have anything to say about Luke?” he asks, bringing up the real reason we were called here. “The boy’s father is distraught.”
“He shouldn’t have stuck his nose where it didn’t belong,” I say flatly, my tone devoid of emotion. “He was warned, John. Drop it.”
John snaps. “You son of a bitch!” he roars, lunging out of his seat.
I grin. “You’re not wrong,” I reply lazily. “But then again, you married her.”
The chair behind him topples over, slamming against the floor-to-ceiling window.
Silence blankets the room.
Reid sighs, shaking his head. “Pay him,” he says simply. “If he starts any trouble, the Consortium will take care of it.”
We all know what that means. We’ll take care of it.
John’s face twists in rage, but he knows he’s lost. “You won’t get away with this,” he spits before storming out of the boardroom.
Coward.
“Handle it,” Old Man Caruthers orders. “The girl is your responsibility, Garret. Do what you want with her.”
His tone leaves no room for debate. “Alaric already briefed me.” Then, he lowers the gavel. The meeting is over.
We all rise.
Valen’s father turns to him, eyes filled with fire and hate. “He’s your responsibility now,” he seethes. “You got what you wanted.” Then, he storms off.
Valen meets my gaze. Azriel is officially a son of Kenyan. But people don’t know the truth. As nice as they think he is, there’s a part of him his father doesn’t want the world to see.
He’s a patient from the fourth floor.
And someone had to help me nail that fucker to the cross.