45. Out With The Old, In With The Crooked
forty-five
Out With The Old, In With The Crooked
Vexen: 2024
I ’ve spent the last hour having doors slammed in my face, followed by the silent treatment from hell. Onyx has to be the angriest person I know.
Beside me.
I was sure we’d straightened out our shit last night. Everything was golden, I thought. Then I caught her texting that fucker this morning.
There’s something about Brickman I can’t put my finger on.
For a second, I assumed our meeting would be canceled today since Hendrix and Dad were out of town. But according to the text I got, they made it back.
I bypass the front of the bar, driving around back to park by the barn. After entering my code, I step inside, pausing to check the tracker app. Once I see she’s at the coffee shop, I tuck my phone away and head towards our meeting room in the back of the barn.
If I weren’t worried about getting rid of Carney’s crazy ass, I’d have skipped today and gone after Onyx. But, I figured once crazy’s out of the picture, shit will settle more for me and my little spade.
“How’d it go last night?” Zeke asks when he sees me.
Shrugging lazily. “She calmed down eventually,” I tell him distractedly, scanning the room. It appears everyone’s here except Gage.
Why can’t his ass ever be on time?
Zeke and I split. He makes his way to the end of the table while I take my seat across from Hendrix. Dad nods once I’m sitting, and an awkward silence settles over the room.
When Zeke opens his notebook, letting us know it’s time to begin, Hendrix clears his throat, drawing everyone’s attention.
“We’ll start with…” he pauses, glancing down the table at Owens. “Next month, the new generation of four will all be of age. Zeke, we need to schedule the turnover, after graduation,” Hendrix announces while Zeke takes notes.
“I’ll get everything planned, and notify you of the details,” Zeke answers once he’s finished writing.
Hendrix nods before turning his attention to me. “Our next item, Vexen, has requested to change his betrothed,” he announces, glancing down the table to his left at Lusk and Owens.
When the hell did we fall back into the 1800’s? Why does this shit have to be so formal?
“I want to marry Onyx Rose Sterling,” I tell the table.
Hendrix relaxes in his seat, studying my face. “Tell us why we should allow your request. She was declined by you once before you signed for Carney —”
“Incorrect,” I interject, cutting him off.
I refuse to sit here and listen to his bullshit. He knows better than anyone the shit Rowland worked up with Lusk and Owens. None of this was my actual doing.
He sits forward, lacing his hands on the table. “Enlighten us with the facts ,” he says, enunciating the last word.
I glance down the table at the other men and back at him. “Rowland Sterling forced my betrothed to be changed. His daughter ,” I grumble, grimacing at the thought of Opal. “Wanted Onyx removed. Which you and two others voted for. In return, I was paired with Carney Graves due to her position and worth. I never requested a change,” I finish calmly, swallowing my building anger from his accusation.
He steeples his fingers in front of his mouth and, from what it appears, starts to debate. “I —”
“I vote against the renewal of the contract,” Owens speaks up.
“I’ll second it,” Lusk adds hesitantly.
Hendrix and Dad sit calmly, completely unphased, which pisses me off. Obviously, they know something they’ve neglected to share. Zeke’s eyes widen, hearing his father’s challenge. Immediately telling me he’s been kept in the dark, too.
Hendrix sits back slowly and crosses his arms, allowing himself to get comfortable. His eyes meet mine, holding my glare. “Both of you, plead your case. Explain why you’re challenging Mr. Carver’s request,” he instructs void of emotion.
They nervously examine each other, arguing without words over which of them will be the spokesperson for the shenanigans they’re pulling.
The door swings open, and Gage rushes in breathlessly, letting the door slam behind him. “I’m here,” he huffs, trotting to the chair beside me.
“Just in time,” Hendrix says sarcastically. “Now that we’re all present , we’re listening.” Nodding at the two men to his left.
Lusk clears his throat, shocking the hell out of his wide-eyed son, who’s supposed to be taking notes. “Going back to Rowland’s prior argument. None of us have ever been given a choice. Except you, Carver. It was intended by our founders that we protect the wealthy bloodlines. To ensure River’s Edge always prospers.”
I watch across the table as Hendrix’s jaw muscles flex under his skin. “Since my father and Rowland are no longer with us. Which is how you found yourself in that seat, am I correct, Owens?” The older man nods quickly. “Right. Then we should probably give a history lesson since you two want to live in the past,” Hendrix rasps coldly.
“I’m not saying you need to disclose the past. I’m simply saying it should be considered —”
Hendrix holds up a hand to silence Owens. “I was never betrothed to Opal Sterling.”
“How is that possible?” the words fall from my mouth, eyeballing him and Dad, demanding answers.
“My betrothed was Hannah Owens —”
“I’m not going to sit here and list —”
“To the truth?” Hendrix growls angrily, shooting to his feet.
Albert Owens stands, and my neck swings to watch as he storms from the room, making sure to slam the door behind him.
“Hendrix, I swear I didn’t know,” Warren Lusk rushes. “I was told your father let you choose —”
“It’s fine. Rowland paid a lot of money to keep his secrets hidden and threatened many people,” Hendrix informs him.
Warren stands and offers Hendrix his hand. “I don’t need to dig up the past. I change my vote,” he tells him apologetically before leaving.
The five of us sit for a moment, ignoring the silent elephant in the room.
Finally, Zeke breaks the eerie silence, “Should I stay?”
Dad chuckles, “The secretary never leaves a meeting.”
“Gage, can we have a moment?” Hendrix asks politely, and from the look Gage gives him, he’s happy to be released. “Sure, I’ve got stuff to deal with anyway.”
Once the four of us are alone. “Is any of this on the official record?” Zeke asks cautiously.
Hendrix and Dad exchange a look. “Let’s keep history where it belongs… in the past,” Dad answers, and Hendrix nods, quickly agreeing.
“Well?” I urge, wanting to hear what happened. If it’s something that could come back to haunt Onyx, I need to know.
Hendrix ignores me, going to pour himself a drink. “Before our era, the four were my dad, your grandpa, Ronald Sterling, and Thomas Lusk. The defining rule has always been betrothed by worth.”
“Which meant, Hendrix would be paired with the wealthiest,” Dad clarifies when Hendrix pauses to take a drink.
Zeke slides into Gage’s vacated seat, ready to be my rock as usual.
“Sterling knew his time to gain his seat was running out, and his family name would be lost unless Opal married below their wealth. Causing the Sterling name to be taken.” I absorb what he’s said, and before I can ask my question, he continues sadly, “I was betrothed to one of Albert Owens’s twin daughters, Hannah.”
“Wait,” Zeke blurts without thought. “Owens has a son. That’s how he got his seat. Chase? Right, that’s his name?” he asks my dad, spilling knowledge I’d overlooked in the chaos of the moment.
Dad watches Hendrix take his seat, setting down the fresh drink he’s poured himself, refusing to meet our questioning stares. “Chase was a year younger,” Hendrix grits at the memory. “The bastard Owens was greedy, just like Rowland. Fucking cold-hearted prick,” he rants, shaking his head in disbelief.
Zeke side-eyes me, both of us struggling to keep up. How the hell did Owens get a seat if Zeke was denied? Anger percolates in my veins, pounding on my eardrums.
“Did you know Rowland owned the old asylum?” Hendrix evilly throws out the question sending us both ricocheting with confusion.
My brows dip, ignoring Zeke’s sigh. “Christ, can we stay on topic?” I growl, letting my anger get the better of me.
Dad’s hand lands on Hendrix’s shoulder, squeezing. “We’ve just recently uncovered new information,” he explains. “The Row was owned by Rowland. Not his brother Bolton Sterling. From what we could find, his brother ran the place.”
“Why does that matter? It doesn’t explain how Owens got his seat,” Zeke presses, annoyance rolling off him in waves.
“If you make your daughters disappear, that only leaves you with a son,” Hendrix growls, flying from his chair to pace.
Dad stares at us, hesitating before he speaks, “ Rowland knew Owens was a greedy piece of shit. So, he struck a deal. He had Hannah admitted to The Row. Once she was out of the way, he started blackmailing people until they left town, creating a gap in the town's wealthy families, making sure Owens gained his seat with his son Chase.”
Air whistles from my shocked lungs. “Your dad let him get away —”
“My dad was killed!” Hendrix shouts.
“I’m… I didn’t…” I rasp, watching Dad work to calm Hendrix down.
“All of us need to calm down. Wrap our heads around what we found out,” he says to Hendrix before turning to me. “We should talk somewhere else. Onyx should hear this too,” he tells me.
Rolling my eyes hard. “He should text her. She’s not talking to me right now.”
“What the fuck did you do now?” Hendrix growls at me wildly over Dad’s shoulder, pressing on his back.
“Calm the hell down! Let’s get out of here before someone hears,” Dad orders, pressing Hendrix back a couple of steps. “Meet us at his house,” he calls over his shoulder to me as he forces Hendrix from the room.