14. A Reaper Is Born #2
But The Society was a whole other beast. A complex organization fortified over multiple generations and weaponized against an unsuspecting world.
Deja viewed The Society as she viewed most religions: taking advantage of the vulnerability in a relationship between humans and the gods they worship to indoctrinate them with their own beliefs and establish their own laws.
She noticed a difference… In the freeing and reverent way her men spoke about Roselyn. Compared to the apprehensive and meek way they explained The Society. She wondered how much of that had to do with their father…
“They’ll probably be most intrigued by you,” Ian said, interrupting her thoughts. “You’ve become a rather… hot topic among The Society. But ignore them. We’ll handle negotiations.” Deja exhaled as she nodded.
She wasn’t sure what she was expecting when she stepped into the building boldly brandished with The Society emblem. Certainly something less lively for an organization that worshiped death. But Deja felt like she had entered a crowded mall.
“This way,” Ian beckoned, leading them to an elevator.
Despite the diverse, noisy crowd, Deja couldn’t help but feel as if everyone was looking at her.
As they walked across the marble floor, swarms of people parted like the Red Sea, to move out of their way.
The men seemed unmoved to be the focus of attention.
The Donovan family had always been a conversation starter, especially for those who had only ever heard of them.
They approached the elevator at the same time as another group of people who took one look at the Donovans before walking in the other direction. The elevator doors opened, and the people inside panicked as they rushed out. “Jeez… Is everyone afraid of you guys?” Deja asked, following them inside.
“Perhaps seeing Jax is like seeing a ghost,” Ian said, pushing the button. “He is supposed to be dead after all.” Jax remained silent as he grabbed Deja’s hand, pulling her towards him to fix her clothes.
“Is that the kind of reputation you wanted?” Deja asked, staring up at him as he fixed her blouse. “For people to fear you?”
Jax looked into her eyes. “...to fear me… is self-preservation…” His haunting words both terrified and aroused her.
The elevator doors opened, and Ian led them towards the suite. “Remember why we’re here, and try not to pick a fight,” Ian said, looking at Keith and Caleb.
Keith raised a brow. “Why the fuck are you looking at us?”
“Because you start trouble for no reason,” Ian said. “Misbehave, and I will stab you.”
Keith snorted. “Motherfucker, you can try.”
“I don’t know why I’m being looped in,” Caleb said.
“You hate The Society and have the temper of a toddler. Say nothing and let us do the talking,” Ian quipped as he rapped on the door.
Caleb rolled his eyes. “I forgot how fucking pretentious this asshole is.”
“Really? How did you miss the huge stick up his ass?” Keith snorted.
Deja tried not to laugh as the door finally opened. A beautiful raven-haired woman with olive skin and green eyes greeted them. “Moladh Roselyn, Vamika,” Ian started.
Vamika smiled. “Moladh Roselyn, Ian! What brings you here?” she asked in a thick Indian accent.
“Reaper business. Is the Envoy here?” Ian asked.
Vamika widened the door. “I’ll let him know you’re here. You can wait in our corner office.” Nodding with a smile, Ian walked inside. Vamika bit her lip as she watched Keith and Caleb enter. Her eyes widened when she saw Jax before they fell on Deja. Her face tightened before cutting her eyes away.
Deja furrowed her brows when Ian grabbed her hand. “Come sit, love,” Ian instructed. Sitting between Jax and Ian, Deja heard that same annoying podcaster playing from the ceiling speaker.
“Without men, women would not reap the benefits of safety and protection. They are born with a debt to be paid to the ones who give them life.”
“Do we really have to listen to this…?” she muttered.
“Seriously, I’m tempted to cut my own eardrums out,” Caleb sighed, scrolling through his phone.
“I’d like to cut his tongue out,” Keith added. “That’d be fun. Baby girl, you wanna watch?”
“Oh, Daddy, can I?” Deja teased.
“Quiet, both of you,” Ian snapped as Keith and Deja snickered. “Children...”
Jax grinned when he caught Caleb frowning at his phone. “Did he answer?” Jax asked.
Caleb smiled sadly. “No… I mean, it was a long shot. I didn’t expect him to. It’s been years. I doubt he would have the same number…”
Deja frowned, watching Caleb stare at his phone.
Ever since he learned his brother was still alive, Caleb had been making every effort to try to find him despite having no trace.
Jamie seemed like the kind of person who would only be found if he wanted to be.
Despite this seemingly hopeless manhunt, she loved that it had brought Caleb closer to his cousins.
“You can sign up for my new Modern Woman starter pack, How to Be the Perfect Wife in 30 Days. Make a follow-up appointment back here after the last session, and you’re on your way to being part of the greatest organization in this country.
” Deja watched as 3 women were escorted to the door by a tall, bald man in an expensive business suit.
“Thank you so much, Tucker!”
“Thank you, ladies. I promise you’ll have a husband in no time,” Tucker smiled. Deja shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
“Do you think I can still salvage my relationship with my husband?” a woman asked.
“As long as you promise to meet his needs,” Tucker said. “Sometimes you have to put your discomfort aside to make him happy.”
“Good gawd,” Deja groaned.
“Sweetheart…” Ian hummed, gently squeezing her thigh.
Tucker closed the door behind the women when he finally spotted them. “Holy crap! The Donovans?!”
“Motherfucker is acting like we’re The Beatles or some shit…” Keith muttered as Caleb tried to hold back his snicker.
Tucker blinked in disbelief. “Jax! You’re- You’re alive? I mean, I’d heard the rumors, but people talked about you like you were the Boogeyman, and- Holy shit! Back from the dead!”
Jax merely lifted the corner of his lip in a half grimace-half smile. “Sorry, I don’t mean to fanboy! You’re a fucking legend. Praise be to Roselyn, you’re alive! Did you kill the bitch who murked you?” Tucker asked. Ian sighed as Jax’s jaw clenched.
“That Bitch is right here,” Deja smiled as she waved her hand.
Tucker’s face froze. “I’m confused.”
“There’s been a misunderstanding,” Ian said. “Just some family altercations, but you know how rumors distort the truth. No need to dwell.”
Tucker frowned. “Yeah, okay… I mean, it’s none of my business anyway- Shit, Caleb Byrnes?! The whole family is here!”
Caleb curled his lip, annoyed. “Why the fuck does this guy recognize me…?” he muttered.
“Shit, if I know. Weren’t you backwoods farming for like 10 years? Probably wants you to plow his cheeks, Farmer boy,” Keith teased.
“Shut the fuck up before I stab you,” Caleb threatened.
“It’s honestly an honor to meet you all in person,” Tucker smiled. “I did a podcast series on the Donovan family, which exploded when you, well… died…” Tucker looked at Deja. “It’d be badass if you were a guest.”
Deja scoffed. “I don’t think I can listen to you talk anymore about the ‘Modern Woman.’”
Tucker looked at her, surprised. “You listened to my podcast.”
“Unwillingly,” Deja smiled.
Tucker chuckled. “Look, I get it. My takes can be a bit controversial.”
“You call women whores,” Deja said.
“Am I wrong?” Tucker shrugged. “You women get men to do your bidding just by giving up pussy.”
“I think that’s enough,” Ian said.
“And you sound like a man who can only get pussy by paying for it,” Deja smiled sarcastically.
“Damn!” Keith snickered as Caleb struggled to hold back his laugh.
Ian glanced at Jax, who looked highly amused. Grabbing Deja’s hand, Ian lifted it to his lips and kissed her fingers. “Sweetheart, please.”
“I’m sorry, but what is she even doing here?” Tucker asked, annoyed.
“It’s really none of your goddamn business,” Caleb snapped, fed up. “You haven’t shut the fuck up since you’ve walked into this room. It’s like you're begging to be ripped to pieces.”
“No, let him talk. It’s easier to rip out the tongue mid-speech,” Keith smiled, playfully flipping his blade between his fingers.
Tucker raised his hands in defense. “Hey, I’m a Reaper just like you.”
“Debatable,” Deja said before she could stop herself.
Tucker cocked his head in offense at her audacity. “Newsflash, princess! Fucking a Reaper… doesn’t make you one.”
“And having a mic to broadcast your misogyny doesn’t make you an expert in anything except being a piece of shit,” Deja said.
Tucker laughed. “Oh, I get it. You’re just bitter because the media broadcast your dirty laundry as the slut who fucked a mogul she tried to kill when things didn’t go your way.”
Deja tightened her grip on Jax and Ian’s hands to calm them as she glared at Tucker.
“I’m bitter because everything you preach goes against the very teachings your supposed faith is based on.
It is in man’s nature to oppress those who are different from them in an attempt to provide significance to their own pathetic existence.
Passage 13.2. Man has deluded themselves into thinking they are so self-important that they’ll feed their lies to the masses as if it is truth.
Passage 10.7. Your delusions are feeding your insecurities, you sad little man. ”
Deja snorted. “No good can come from the tongue of man. So I cut out his tongue. I get it now… why you like cutting out tongues, Keith,” she smiled. “A silent man is a good man. A dead man… is even better. Roselyn would be disgusted with you,” she sneered at Tucker condescendingly.
Keith’s lips parted in awe. “I am… so fucking hard right now. I’m gonna-”
“Stop,” Caleb muttered, readjusting his own tightened pants.
Tucker’s jaw clenched as he balled his fist. “You dirty little whor-”