Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Hazen
C oming through the door from my father’s office, I immediately lock eyes with him, his stern expression giving away nothing. There are only a few people in this world who can scare me, and my father is one of them. He has that power to bring me to my knees, to make me feel like a little boy who can’t stand up for himself. I fucking hate it, and I hate that I let him do it. That I feel like I have no control.
He killed Alec. Part of me knew it but the other part didn’t want to believe it. Death isn’t something I’m shocked about; it happens every day for me. I’m surrounded by death. But he took away someone who means something to me because of her. Before her I didn’t believe in love—it didn’t exist for me. I had no idea what it even meant or how it felt. The only glimpses I’ve had are from my little brother and sister. They rely on me to protect them and care for them. Now she’s who I want to protect.
With lightning speed, Freya rushes past me, ready to confront my father with clenched fists. I position myself in front of her, preventing her from reaching him. With a strong shove, she tries to move me, but I stand my ground. From behind, Gage grabs hold of her, pulling her backward, but she fights back by clawing at his arms. There is a predatory look in her eyes, a longing to do him harm, and I can’t fault her for it. He murdered her brother, the only family she could rely on. I’d do anything to protect my little brother and sister—and I do. I keep them away from him.
Dominic’s laughter resonates from behind, his breath caressing the back of my neck, and my body tenses.
“Best get a leash for your girl, Hazen, before she causes a scene and ends up like her brother,” he says with a slight chuckle, but I know him well enough to know when he’s not joking.
“No, Dad, this time you’ve gone too far,” I say, folding my arms over my pounding heart.
“You will all pay for this, starting with you.” He points at Freya, and I step forward.
“It was my idea and I—” It all happens so fast that I don’t have a chance to react.
I am being forcefully dragged away by someone with their arm wrapped around my neck. Despite my fingers digging into the security guard’s hand, he maintains a firm grip on me. As he tightens his grip further, my lungs beg for air, and I gasp for breath. Everything becomes a hazy blur as my vision fades, but I can still hear the chilling scream that Freya lets out and our eyes lock in a moment of shared panic. She struggles against Gage’s tight embrace, but he refuses to release her. I did this, I broke into my father’s office, and I’ll take the blame for it—not my brothers, and defini tely not her.
Pain rips through my stomach, over and over again. My eyes blink open and he’s there, standing over me. The bright lights of the shed blind me, and I want to shut my eyes again and go anywhere else—but that’s weak.
My father spits, and it lands on my cheek, rolling down my face.
“How fucking dare you sneak into my office without my permission! I should kill you for this. All of you,” he growls, kicking his boot into my ribs.
My body jolts backward and I swallow down the pain. He never hits me in the face because he doesn’t want anyone else to see heirs of The Brotherhood looking weaker than them.
“I know you killed Alec,” I say, staring up at him and he laughs.
“Believe what you want, boy. It doesn’t mean shit to me. That boy got himself killed, doesn’t matter who did it.”
“It matters to me,” I say, and he laughs, moving back a step.
“Fucking hell, son. Have I taught you nothing about women?” He shakes his head. “Pussy makes men weak. The Brotherhood always comes first.”
“What about Mia?” I ask, biting back.
It’s no secret to my mother or me that he cheats. She’s caught him multiple times, and somehow, it’s always her fault. My mother just puts up with it. She’d rather be in The Brotherhood by my father’s side than outside and thrown to the other side of the tracks. She plays the perfect wife—just like he’s played the perfect murderer.
My father scoffs. “You wouldn’t understand. She’s nothing, just like Freya is and will be to you. You need to get rid of her before it’s too late. You are already looking weak, runnin g around town with her and playing the hero. Remember who you are and what’s at stake here.”
My breathing picks up and I manage to find my feet. I wobble from side to side, and my father’s smug face is all I can see. He opens his arms wide, teasing me to hit him because he knows I won’t. He knows I wouldn’t dare hit the last standing leader of The Brotherhood—and once he would have been right, but not anymore. He’s wrong. He’s dead to me now, and the sooner he’s gone, the sooner we can take our rightful place as leaders and run The Brotherhood how it should be run.
I take another step forward and my fist connects with his jaw with a satisfying crack. He stumbles back a step, then a cruel smile splits across his otherwise emotionless face. Blood stains his teeth, and he runs his thumb along the corner of his mouth, wiping off the damage.
I stand as tall as I can, my ribs burning with pain, and wait for the beating of my life. I welcome it, knowing he will eventually get what he deserves. My brothers—Lucas and Gage—won’t stand for this, just like I wouldn’t either. As soon as I get back, we will plan our revenge. We will come for him.
And it’s not going to be pretty.