57. Bay
FIFTY-SEVEN
bay
“I’m extremely pleased all of you are here to show support as I step down from The Landings and hand it off to my daughter,” Emilio announces at the head of the table for Friday night dinner and sipping on his drink, acting as though all of this is normal as hell.
I highly expect Torin or Reeve to voice their dismay, but the table remains silent. Not even Ramsey utters a single word, and I can’t be the only one who feels the thick tension hovering over the table.
I mean there are knives placed on this thing, and I’m waiting for one to fly at me at any given moment.
“Cairo, I appreciate you being on board with assisting Haven through her trials and tribulations during this time and remaining an ally. It’s time this new generation puts the past behind us and moves forward.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Cairo replies placidly at my right, wedged between Emilio and me, and I couldn’t be happier for the buffer.
However, I still feel like a sitting duck, even with Ozzy on my other side. I can feel Torin and Reeve’s dismay and irritation from the other side of the wide furniture.
“I’m glad to hear it.” Emilio puts down his glass and studies the table of cheerless faces and deep thoughts. “Torin, I’m hoping you’re able to contribute your knowledge and help make this successful. You’ve been a pillar here, in The Landings, and a key to making this effective and flourishing.”
“I think she’s taken enough things away from me, don’t you think?”
Honestly, Emilio doesn’t know how to read a room properly. The sheer audacity that we’d all be sitting at this table, laughing and enjoying each other’s company, makes me believe he’s doing this to torture everyone.
Including me.
“We need to move past certain things,” Emilio emits. “It’s all part of?—”
“I’m here for the shitshow,” Torin cuts in, sending his unamused expression to his father. “Not to show support.”
“Good,” replies a familiar and new voice inside the room. “I’d rather you step back and go pout in the corner somewhere, Wildes. You’re always in the fuckin’ way.”
Levi.
My eyes connect with his striding form, tattoos galore clashing against the expensive decor Emilio picked out for this space.
Each step is confident, owning the room, in a white tee that outlines every single one of his muscles that grow a bit more rigid the closer he gets. Our eyes connect, always vibing, and I’m a mixture of sheer relief and confusion.
He knew I was going to be here, but he didn’t say anything about coming and sitting down at this table.
“Mr. Wallace,” Emilio greets with faux enthusiasm. “Happy you agreed to come.”
“Well, she is very important to me.” He pulls out the chair on the other side of the table, across from Emilio, like he’s the other head of this conversation. Allowing it to drag loudly against the polished hardwood floors just to tell everyone in the room he’s unbothered by proper conversation and decorum. He just wants to get this shit over with. “But you knew that already, didn’t you, Wildes?”
“Of course, I did,” Emilio emits. “She grew up in South Shore. It would only make sense?—”
“Let’s cut the shit and get to business.” He plops down and leans back, bulgy bicep draped over the edge of it. He screams king in this moment. A strong presence at this table among men who have either loved or forced me in their life. “What the hell do you want? And, full disclosure, I didn’t check my shit at the door. I have a bullet for each one of you sitting at the table.”
“You need to work on your people skills, son,” Emilio divulges, his tone flicking to annoyed but not yet fully surprised. “You were invited to talk about the next steps. I know you’re going to support Haven.”
“Who the fuck is that?”
Yep, it’s confirmed.
Emilio Wildes really doesn’t know how to read the room or who to invite to it.
“Do you need to re-enter and leave your smartass mouth at the door?” Emilio grinds out through a glower. “Because I can assure you, I don’t have time for this.”
“I’m good where I am, thanks.” Levi rubs his thumb and index finger together, staring straight down the table at the other king who’s about to allegedly step down. “However, I’m confused.”
“With?”
“How you thought we were going to believe you about all this.”
Emilio remains quiet for a moment before saying, “Roger stepped down for you.”
“Roger had other plans.”
“And so do I. I’m happy to retire.”
“And leave the psycho son to watch over her?” Levi slowly rocks his head back and forth, referring to Ramsey. I think. “I don’t like that idea.”
“Things will only get violent if they need to be,” Ramsey vouches, breaking through his silence and not seeming a bit bothered by Levi’s presence. A slightly older version of Torin, yet he’s missing that boy-next-door charm across his expression. “I mean, you don’t plan on assassinating all of us again, do you? I’d highly suggest against it.”
Levi doesn’t pry his heavy focus from Emilio. “It’s crossed my mind a few times.”
Reeve sighs heavily across the table, expressing how he’s feeling about this whole charade, and I can concur that I feel the same.
This is going nowhere fast.
Levi is never going to agree to anything. Why he’s here… we’ll obviously get to that after, but this is starting out to be one of the longest dinners of my life.
If we even get that far without metal flying in the air.
“There’s no need for additional bloodshed,” Emilio states calmly, running his index finger down his glass. “Haven is the peace we’ve all been looking for.”
“What does that retirement look like, Wildes?” Levi presses. “It doesn’t include that fifth seat, does it?”
“I have no interest in holding anything.”
“Except me,” Levi emits. “With her, you’ll know I’ll blindly follow. And I’m guessing you’re gonna use me against her.”
Emilio narrows his gaze down the table. “You don’t know anything of what I’m planning to do. I’m handing down my seat and kingdom to my daughter. The same thing Roger did for you. Why would I destroy what I’ve been waiting decades to find?”
Levi opens his mouth, but Torin beats him to it.
“And what of the risks and buy-in that my brothers and I are supposed to put in?” he solicits, his tone a level away from breaking through his stone-cold exterior and flipping this damn table over while his tawny eyes pin me to my seat. “I could’ve killed Wallace before, but decided against it. I’m almost wishing I had.”
And how would I feel about that?
Probably the same as Torin.
More than likely, with the same level of animosity and murder running through my veins as he has for me with Judah.
I would want him dead.
“What do you want to know?” I ask, folding my hands into my lap. “Not that it’s going to matter. Not that it’s not going to change anything.”
“I want you to tell them everything,” Torin replies. “Everything that’s happened between you and me.”
He’s testing me.
Or he’s being too cocky in this moment.
I spill his dirty laundry and the ocean drop-off, and he’s dead.
He’s so fucking dead with Levi at the table.
“That’s hardly dinner conversation, Pretty Boy.” His brows pinch at his nickname, and yes, I needed to be petty for a moment. “Drink your drink and shut up.”
Torin’s face slowly rises, catching onto the fact I’m not going to do it. I will not be participating in his kamikaze mission. “Is that your first order for me? You think I’m going to blindly follow you after I?—”
“Shut up, Torin,” Cairo clips out at my side, and I’m happy he knows what’s at stake here. “The more you speak, the longer we’re all sitting here.”
Pretty Boy doesn’t remove his heavy gaze from me, and between Cairo and Ozzy, I feel safe.
Tack on that Levi would jump this whole table to protect me, and Torin doesn’t have a leg to stand on.
Leaning a bit closer, Pretty Boy’s golden eyes fall to my lips, and I hope he reads them loud and clear. “I won’t tell him if you won’t.”
His lips slowly coil into an arrogant smirk. “Imma get you killed one day, baby.”
Not that he’s going to kill me.
But that his being around is going to do it.
He shoves his chair back and plucks his glass from the table, ready to take off from this so-called get-together when his father shuts that shit down.
“Sit down,” Emilio orders gruffly, sounding as though he’s never been able to deal with anyone’s emotions or antics. “This is a family dinner.”
“Funny,” Levi replies. “Because I just saw Elaine Stanton roll up on our property not only two fucking minutes ago.”
Reeve immediately comes to attention. His hazel eyes search the table for something until he leans over, snatches the bottle of red wine, and fully tips it to his lips.
Meanwhile, Torin looks heavenward, expecting the worst or the best, but I’m not betting on the latter. And Cairo straightens his damn spine like he’s ready to throw the fuck down any second now.
“She wasn’t invited,” Emilio states, seemingly unmoved by the news. “So, I’m assuming that was you.”
“I don’t talk to the bitch who pimps out little girls,” my best friend conveys. “So, no.”
“I’d be more than happy to kick said bitch out,” Reeve commits, as he begins to stand and everyone might as well forget this stupid dinner because no one wants to stay. “It’ll better than this fuckin?—”
“Sit,” Torin mutters before doing the same, then begins to move his hands around a bit, looking as though he’s rearranging his napkin, but he’s signing.
I’ve seen him do it once or twice before.
I’ve also seen the boys do it, too.
Shit. How many times did I miss it?
Reeve gives up on his escape plan and goes right back to drinking straight from the bottle.
I instantly remember what he told me about her.
Everything.
His sister and his sexuality. What he said she made him do.
Out of my peripheral, Emilio tosses his napkin and stands. “I’ll handle it.”
“Let’s see what she has to say,” Levi interjects. “It might be something fun, and I might get a kick out of it.”
“Nothing out of that woman is entertaining,” Emilio leers, flicking a glower to my best friend. “Unless you like child abuse and self-centered—” Heels pound the hardwood floors outside the dining room, and all eyes turn toward the door, expecting Cruella de Vil to stride in.
Ramsey clears his throat at Reeve’s side and waits patiently for anyone to make a move or sound.
Meanwhile, I wait with bated breath because Levi has a plan. There’s always something he’s trying to do when it comes to these men.
And I’m blindly going to follow.
“Emilio,” a female voice greets with a tone so fake, I bet she doesn’t know how to sound sincere anymore. “You don’t know how hurt I was to hear you were meeting with the King of South Shore tonight and didn’t invite me. How could you?”
She doesn’t sound the least upset about it. Just simply annoyed as she strides up to Daddy Wildes and places a kiss on his cheek.
She does look like Cruella de Vil.
All skinny and lean. Her fake blonde hair has been dyed too many times, and it’s short, hitting right underneath her chin. The massive amount of makeup tries its best to hide the wrinkles along her face, but the stress lines are clearly visible.
I hope most of them are from Reeve.
“It’s just something casual, Elaine,” Emilio replies. “Levi is Haven’s best friend. I thought it would be appropriate?—”
“My, my,” she coos sweetly, the sound of her heels again ticking at my nerves as she approaches the table. “What kind of scandalous happenings are taking place out here? Even the new King of Wharf Bay is here.” Her hazel eyes pilot over to me, but she already knew I was here because she knew exactly where to look. And she’s not smart. “You must be the famous Bay Astor I’ve heard so much about.”
I stare at her, allowing my silence to speak for me. To allude to the fact I don’t want her here, and I know she wasn’t invited.
“I’m Elaine Stanton, Reeve’s mother. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to finally meet you.” She reaches out a manicured hand across the table. “And not only that, but you and my son have been dating.”
Dating.
She must not have heard everything. However, I use the back of my knees to push back my chair to stand so I can shake her hand.
And then I give her a firm shake.
“You head Newport,” I state matter-of-factly. “I’ve heard of you.”
“Ah, well, don’t believe everything you hear,” she retorts lightly, immediately telling me I should. “Especially when there’s a woman in power. Men don’t like that.”
“Well, Reeve is open-minded.”
She lifts her eyebrows and gives an exasperated expression, as if she doesn’t want to bother with anything he is. “That is putting it lightly, my dear.” She glimpses over her shoulder to Ramsey and snaps her fingers. “Does your father not teach you any manners, boy? Or are you just his killer who’s allowed to sit at the table?”
Ramsey doesn’t fight it, removing himself from his seat and giving it up to the newcomer. I wish I could say it’s nice to have another female, but this is one I feel as though I need to look out for.
“We were just talking about alliances,” Cairo introduces as the new subject matter of the room. “You’re not missing much.”
“I’d love to hear how both towns decide to settle their disputes,” Elaine says, looking seemingly interested in how that’s going to go down. “It’s been so long that it’ll have its challenges.”
“Are you here to referee?”
Elaine’s gaze shoots over to me, obviously not expecting I’d not be so open to talking with someone I’ve never met. “My dear, I’ve been around for a long time.”
“Too long,” Levi says under his breath, but it’s loud enough for the room. You could hear a pin drop in here.
“Everyone has to make money, Wallace,” Elaine tries to justify. “You decided to go a ghetto route where you have to run through territory like a rat trying not to get snapped in half. I wouldn’t knock my business when it’s more successful?—”
“Newport doesn’t hold a Titan seat anymore,” Levi inserts, inclining over the table to make sure his next words are crystal clear. “And we don’t talk to outsiders.”
“Unless I have the fifth seat.”
Levi smiles wickedly. “You don’t. Because trust me, if you did, you’d already be dead.” He finger-guns his index finger toward Emilio, who's still standing on the other side of the table. “By that guy over there.”
Elaine gives him a cool grin but doesn’t falter in fear.
No, she’s right.
She has been in the game for a long time. She’s used to men underestimating her, which means she should be watched more.
“You talk an awful lot for a man who doesn’t have much,” she finally states. “I’d watch it if I were you.”
“What are you going to do?” Levi retorts. “Send a ten-year-old girl to jump my dick?—”
“ Enough ,” Reeve clips out, squeezing the neck of the wine bottle in his hand. “You two bitches shut the hell up, and Mom, get out.”
“And take Reeve with you,” Levi tacks on immediately, really going into asshole mode tonight. “He’s worthless here.”
“He’s with me,” Cairo points out flatly. “He stays.”
“You might want to rethink that. He’s too coked out to be useful for much.”
Reeve scoffs. “I could still fuck you, Wallace.” He slices his hazels to him. “Bend over.”
“Alright,” Emilio chimes in, irritation laced in his tone. “Elaine, this is a private affair. I’ll need to ask you to leave.”
Her red-painted lips spread into a vicious smile, but she stands from her seat anyway. “I would love to discuss some possible business dealings with you. I know now isn’t the time or place, but I’d love to introduce to you what I’ve built. Reeve hasn’t shown any interest in?—”
“I’m not going to be a pimp to young girls—” Reeve starts, but Elaine quickly cuts in.
“Have you drank too much?” she inquires, her palm falling to his forehead, but he’s quick to jerk it away. “Reeve, go grab some water.”
“I’m fine,” he grits out, and Elaine goes right back to speaking like he didn’t say anything.
“Bay should have every opportunity to decide if she’d like to expand her kingdom. It’s a lot of responsibility, dear, but the rewards are astounding.”
“When?”
God, anything to get her the hell out of here.
“Next Friday night, I’m having a party.” She glimpses over at Emilio, waiting for his word or opinion, but he gives her none. “Can you spare her?”
“I’ll be there, so whatever she wants to do,” he emits flatly as I steal a glance at Levi who’s already looking at me.
He bows his head in silent acknowledgment to go ahead and give the bitch what she wants.
“I’ll see you then,” I answer, earning Elaine’s immediate attention and a shitty, red-painted smile.
“Wonderful,” she beams. “Are you bringin’ the boys?”
“No—”
“Yes,” all three of them chime in—Torin, Reeve, and Cairo—and I notice Elaine’s eyes glimmer with something I really don’t like.
It’s somewhere between a plan and a fucking setup.
“Wonderful.” Elaine strolls around her chair and begins to make her way out of the room. “Seven o’clock, darling. Bring your game face. There will be many men there trying to sweep you off your feet and gravitating toward all that power.”
I’m not sure why, but I look to Emilio, who does the same to me.
It’s the first thing we share in common. Neither of us wants that to happen. He might be a class-A douchebag, and I’m obviously not his biggest fan, but any more men in this circle and the testosterone is going to choke me out.
“On that note,” Levi hits the edge of the table and rises, gaining the attention of the whole room, “I’m gettin’ the fuck out of here. C’mon, Astor.”
I don’t even get to move yet before Emilio throws in his two cents. “We’re not done here.”
“We are. I’ll follow her, and if she wants an alliance with Black, I can’t stop that. I obviously couldn’t stop you either from planning whatever it is you’re doing.”
“If you think I’m so stupid as to think you’re not going to try to team up against me, Wallace, you have me mistaken.”
“Oh, you’d be a complete fucking moron if you didn’t. However, that’s what The Void is for, right? In case she turns on you, you’re protected.”
“Amongst other things.”
“Wonderful.” Levi’s green eyes land on me, and he patiently waits.
I rise without a word and remain standing for Ozzy to follow me.
He does, God bless him.
“I’ll see you next week, Haven,” Emilio deadpans, and I quickly make my way out of the dining room with both Ozzy and Levi flanking each of my sides.
When we’re safely outside, I round on Levi, hella confused about what the fuck just happened. “What was that?”
He innocently glances down at me. “Hello to you too, Astor.”
“You just told him we were planning against him.”
“He already knew that.” My eyebrows pinch together because what the hell have we been playing him for then? “Reverse psychology. To him, I obviously don’t have as much of a handle on you as I’d like.”
“Excuse me?”
“Relax, Astor.” His index finger and thumb lightly pinch my chin. “I was summoned, I came, and now we’re leaving.”
I steal a look at Ozzy, but I’m met with the same amount of nothing that’s always in his blue eyes.
However, he’s completely at ease with the whole thing. But I’m starting to think he’s calm through everything.
Except Travis.
And I’m exhausted from all the peopling.
This would’ve been a perfect night to hang out with Nessa. But, alas, we’re still fighting.
Or not friends.
I’m not sure.
All I know is that it sucks donkey balls.