Chapter 16
“They say one event can change your life forever.
And they are right.
But also…
One even might connect you to someone forever.
And no matter what you do, you’ll never be able to break that bond.
Unfortunately or fortunately for everyone involved.”
Florian
Florian, eighteen years old
The sun beams brightly as I park the car in front of the Cortez mansion and get out, welcoming the breeze touching my skin. Wearing a three-piece suit in this weather is a fucking hazard, but I had no time to change into different clothes after my grandfather forced me to attend the company’s meeting. We’re working on new designs, and this time around, he wants me on the team to watch the process.
I walk to the house when I see a black car parked several feet away with a running engine. I instantly sweep my gaze over the property, spotting Santiago arguing with Remi in the distance.
“Seriously? You are ready to go this low in order to push me away? It won’t work.”
Santiago smiles at him, although his eyes stay dead. “Careful, Remi. Your clingy ex-girlfriend act is starting to get on my nerves!” He shouts the last part, and our friend grins right back at him.
“Good. And let’s keep the verbiage accurate. My clingy friend act.” Remi bumps into his shoulder, his rage instantly gone, but that’s him.
Remi lights up in a second and just as swiftly tones down.
Although ever since Santiago finally returned to us, three years ago, he’s been testing everyone’s temper and patience over and over again because our friend came back broken and bruised, hating everything and everyone.
While being treated in the hospital, he refused to see us. Once out, he avoided our company and flat-out asked his parents to keep us all away. It sucked, but Octavius and I went along with the request because deep down, I understood.
I understood more than he thought, but I couldn’t tell him that, so I had to stay away, hoping he’d find his way to us while I did my best to hold the group together.
Remi took it the hardest and pushed him and pushed, which resulted in Santiago being so fucking mean it surprised even me.
“Ah, the lovebirds are fighting again.”
Santiago looks at me, so I wink at them, which earns me a pissed-off reaction that, oddly, I welcome.
It’s better than his indifference and the whole act of not giving a fuck about us.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Hello to you too, Cortez.” I glance briefly at Remi. “Hey, man.” He doesnt bother to reply, and I roll my eyes because he still seems to be salty about me sleeping with his so-called girlfriend.
First of all, they weren’t even fucking, and he had zero feelings for her. He just wanted to date someone to build a good reputation for all his college applications, and let’s face it…dating someone from our private school would have helped him.
And second of all, the girl was a social climber who called him a charity case to get to the real heirs, so I had to end it before she did some damage. However, Remi’s background already caused so many problems for him at school that rather than explaining all this to him and show him how some of the kids see him, I just fucked her at the party, and everyone heard it.
Did anyone appreciate my sacrifice? No, and instead, Remi’s been a pain in my ass ever since, holding a grudge because he assumed I’d never do something like this to Santiago or Octavius.
The insecure asshole wouldn’t listen to reason, and I’m starting to think I should have let that girl use him.
“I’m here to finish the assignment so I can proceed with my plans and have a threesome tonight.” They huff in disgust, and internally, I do too, although anger joins in as well at their holier-than-thou attitude.
Aside from Octavius, who’s still a virgin, we all get around, and none of us is a saint. Sex means nothing to me. It’s just a temporary reprieve from the voices in my head, and why would I push away all these girls who want to be with me?
I have rules, though. I never go after anyone who’s younger than eighteen, always use a condom, and never kiss anyone because I’m not seeking intimacy. In fact, my mouth doesnt touch them at all.
And I sure as fuck never date anyone or call girls my girlfriend. I respect women but don’t want anyone as my own.
Ever.
Just relief, and somehow my friends find that offensive.
“What assignment?” Santiago asks, and Remi explains.
“That’s what I mentioned earlier. Principal Margaret ordered us to make a presentation on the four riders of the apocalypse as punishment for our nickname.”
I elaborate on this idiotic idea because it’s obvious he doesn’t understand what’s going on. “She didnt like us destroying the cafeteria.” I chuckle. “Raged and screamed more like, but your father took care of it. We do the assignment, listen to her crap in front of the whole school, and she won’t put it in our files, screwing our records.”
Santiago blinks. “What happened in the cafeteria?”
Since he’s been gone for eight years, he missed a lot of school, and while my godparents hired all the tutors to help him catch up, he still ended up one grade below us, so he will finish school next year. We still follow his ass during lunch breaks, and he makes a whole show of avoiding us there as well, but everyone knows we are still a unit.
“David made a comment to Remi that he shouldnt be in our school since we don’t accept charity cases, and of course our friend here punched him in the nose.” I wink at Remi, fully approving of his actions. No one gets away with disrespecting my friends. “He’s good with his right hook.”
“Shut up, Florian,” Remi interrupts and continues the story. “His friends joined the fight, and Octavius rushed to my defense to help me out. It got messy.”
I put my hand on my chest. “I couldnt stand not helping Octavius, so I rolled up my sleeves and beat some asses. Before security showed up, we destroyed a few tables, cracked a window, and some other shit that required repairs. Your dad will pay for that as well.”
A beat passes, and Santiago asks, “What does it have to do with me?”
Remi rubs his chin. “The school kept on saying the dark four did it, started by the dark four, and shit, since you know they called us this back in the day. Anyway, the principal just assumed you were there, so you’re guilty by association.”
He barks out a laugh. “Fuck that. I’m not doing this assignment. Buena suerte.”
Strolling to his car in long strides, he’s about to hop inside when my words halt his movements as I follow him. “She will kick Remi out of the school. You know David’s dad and his power. It will affect his scholarship if it goes on his record.” He looks at me over his shoulder while Remi stands in the grass, locking his arms behind his head and musing on something, but not even making a move to change Santiagos mind.
No, Remi wouldnt do that, would he?
Too proud to ever beg because he gets everything in life through hard work. Compared to the rest of us who were born with a silver spoon in our mouths.
Resting his elbow on the car door, Santiago asks me, “Did you care about Remi this much when you fucked his girlfriend?”
I smirk because with this question alone, he shows me that he still cares about us all and keeps tabs on the rumors. He might act like he hates us and wants nothing to do with us, but deep down, he misses us, and we ground him.
God knows I wouldn’t have survived my nightmares without them. “I’m surprised myself.” We have a long stare-off, and he sighs, earning a chuckle from me, but his warning glance shuts me up.
He would never jeopardize Remi’s future.
“Remi!” His head snaps in our direction, shock evident on his face, and Santiago motions for him to come to us.
He jogs toward us, and as he reaches, Santiago announces, “Let’s finish it quickly, and hopefully, I won’t have to see any of your faces for a long time.” He zeros his focus in on me. “Where is Octavius?”
“He should have been here.” I frown, snatching my phone and dialing him. A beat passes before I say, “He’s not picking up.”
Remi speaks up. “He went home after school.”
I dial again but get the same result. The tension between us rises as similar thoughts are most likely settling in our minds.
His stepfather has returned home after a long absence, and if he knows about what happened in school…the repercussions might be severe.
With Octavius not picking up, we might need to act fast. Rage and fear overpower me, and my insides scream at me to find him before the fucker causes damage. I only hate one other person than my mother, and that’s Octavius’s stepfather. Santiago beats me to it, though. “We need to go to his house. Florian, ride with us.” His stepfather cares about his image so much he won’t dare hurt him in front of us.
George, Santiago’s driver, pulls the car up by Octavius’s mansion, and I fly outside, a phone still pressed to my ear. I’ve been calling him relentlessly the whole twenty-minute drive here. My mind spirals, imagining the hideous things his stepfather might have done to him, and this time around, I’m going to kill the fucker.
I’ve done everything I could these past few years to protect Octavius from providing moral support, safe places, clothes, food, and everything else he might need. I even nearly killed the monster when he almost killed Octavius.
I thought after that incident, he stopped, but the psychological abuse continued. If he has touched him…all bets are off, and I know more than I did at the age of twelve.
After all, I’d spent my days training in Uncle Lucian’s dungeon to turn the rage constantly living inside me into knowledge. I learned how to properly torture a person to the point they wished they’d never been born.
Knives, poisons, guns, drills, electric chairs.
It’s an art form, and only a true artist knows how to use it. That’s what Uncle Lucian taught me while forcing me to undergo hard and fierce physical training that built my stamina and muscles.
Stamina that I hid well from my friends because I could never confess my secret to them.
Remi and Santiago follow suit. “Fucking pick up!” I exclaim, and we race toward the main door that’s slightly ajar. Surprisingly, Antonio, the butler, is not rushing outside to greet us.
My protective instincts are on high alert as fear penetrates my every bone because this signifies something is indeed wrong. I hate his butler because he witnessed the abuse all these years and did nothing to help. However, no one enters the house without the old man waiting for them there.
When we start going up the stairs, we hear rock music blasting from the speakers, rattling the walls. Exchanging looks of concern, we speed up our pace, and I barge in with them, bumping into his back.
Darkness welcomes us, along with the smell of alcohol saturating the air. I flick on the light, and the usual squeaky-clean house comes into view while nothing seems out of the ordinary.
Well, besides the rock music that becomes louder the farther we get inside; music that’s forbidden in this household because Octavius’s stepfather orders everyone to listen to only classical music.
“Maybe we overreacted. Maybe he’s not home yet.” Remi breaks the silence, although he doesnt sound convinced, glancing inside the living room. “Is anybody here?” No one answers, which wouldn’t have been so surprising under normal circumstances since this household has only Antonio, a driver, and two maids. His parents believe in a minimalistic approach to life.
His stepfather even refuses to have security watching his property, and the iron gates guarding it have a special code that allows you to get inside.
I’m one of the few who knows it, and it’s saved Octavius’s and Estella’s lives in the past.
However, right now, when the music is blasting so loud my eardrums start to hurt, their silence is strange and alarming.
I push Santiago to the side and dart to the second floor, my boots thumping loudly on the marble, and the guys trail me as the noise becomes louder and louder, coming from the direction of the primary bedroom.
This time, though, another sound joins it, a loud whimper followed by a cry of pain overshadowing the music.
Fuck no!
Stepfather dearest clearly started his punishment, and that’s why the staff is absent. He probably sent everyone home so he can properly torture Octavius.
As if the scar on his cheek hasnt been enough to serve as a permanent reminder of his hate toward Octavius.
Cowards. My family taught me to respect those who work for us, but I have zero respect when it comes to the Reeds’ household as they all stay deaf to the pain that shakes my friend every single day.
So fuck them all.
“That fucking asshole,” I mutter, kicking the door open. We run inside, only to stop dead in our tracks when we see what’s really going on.
Mr. Reed is on the bed, thrashing while whimpering something incoherently. Or tries to, at least. Octavius clamps his mouth with his hand while the other holds a knife as he stabs him over and over again, his clothes soaking in blood while the white bedsheets turn scarlet.
“Shut up, shut up, shut up!” Octavius screams, raising his hand and stabbing him hard again, probably finding an artery as the blood splashes on him, and the sight of it finally snaps us from our shock.
“Octavius, no. Stop!” I lunge for him, yelling, “Stop!” I try to catch his elbow, but Octavius pushes me to the side, and I lose my balance, dropping on my ass by the bed and groaning. He’s never used his strength in anything but defense. However, he clearly works out hard in the gym. I didn’t even think about using my strength on him.
Remi rushes him next. He wraps his arms around Octavius’s shoulders and pulls him back, trying to separate the bloody bodies, which only results in Octavius spinning around while still kneeling above his stepfather. He swings the knife at Remi, nicking him deep in his arm by the looks of it. Remi hisses, jumping to the side and joining me on the floor.
Fucking hell.
Octavius goes back to stabbing his stepfather over and over again, continuing to chant, “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!”
“You’re killing him! Fucking stop, Octavius!” I get up swiftly and trap Octavius’s arm between my palms, trying to drag him to the side, but it has zero effect on my friend, who’s already in the zone.
A zone I understand but never allowed myself to indulge in, for it would have meant losing my sanity—and my sanity is the one thing that fuels my revenge and protects those I love.
I land on my ass once again, and I’m about fucking done pretending to be weak. I love Octavius. However, he deserves a punch now to snap him out of his shock.
That’s when Santiago comes from a different angle and catches Octavius’s wrist as he raises it, his knife dripping blood between them. His gaze is glassy with fury. This empty expression will scare everyone encountering it as it shows that rational thinking no longer exists in his head.
He jerks in Santiago’s hold, ready to deliver another hit, when Santiago pulls his arm back and punches him hard in the face.
When a person is in the zone under the effect of this rage, talking to them is of no use, because they dont hear you.
They only hear the voice of their abuser whispering in their ear about how worthless and weak they are, wiping away any self-control or dignity they have.
And the need to kill becomes so unbearable they do it without realizing what’s going on or who stands in front of them.
At least that’s what Uncle Lucian preached to me as we studied various cases and psychological aspects to better understand my purpose.
Octavius stumbles back, dropping to the floor on his knees while the knife slips from his fingers, landing with a loud clatter.
I slide toward him and place my hand on his shoulder, squeezing it roughly, but it brings no reaction from him.
Octavius just stares into space, his chest rising and falling with each breath that’s heavier and heavier, his palms splayed on the marble, leaving bloody prints.
Remi hisses again as he presses his hand on his wound, so Santiago goes to him.
Crouching, he pushes his hand away to examine the wound. Although the tip struck deep and might leave a scar on his shoulder, no major arteries were touched. He should be fine as long as we put stitches in it soon so it doesnt get infected. Considering the knife was in a now dead body just seconds ago, who knows what Remi might catch from that fucker. “You okay?” He nods, glancing over Santiago’s shoulder at us before shifting his focus to the body. “He’s dead,” Santiago tells him, probably hoping he won’t erupt into hysterics since that’s his first time encountering a dead body.
Remi smirks, a cold look settling in his gaze, then he spits to the side. “Good fucking riddance.” He winces again as he studies his wound before he tears off a piece of his shirt and presses it to his shoulder.
Santiago’s brow lifts in surprise, and noticing it, Remi whispers, “You’re not the only one with secrets, amigo.”
If the situation were any different, I’d have laughed at the shocked and slightly scandalized expression on Santiago’s face because he probably thinks we’re still the same seven-year-olds that lived in a bubble all this time while he suffered.
Well, surprise, surprise, we are fucking not and actually encountered way more hideous things than he might think.
Not to mention, I feel remorse for only one thing in this moment. That it wasn’t me who ended the fucker.
“What are we gonna do now?” I ask calmly, patting Octavius’s back, who now sits on the floor and hugs his knees to his chest, rocking back and forth, still in a trance. He probably doesnt even comprehend what he’s done.
Santiago gets up, rolling his shoulders back while focusing his attention on me, clearly gouging my reaction, but getting nothing besides boredom. My main concern is Octavius, so the body on the bed earns only a snarl and a muttered, “Rot in hell, fucker.”
Santiago just stares at us all, and I wonder if he regrets pushing us away now. Did he expect us to burst into hysterics? As someone who soaked in darkness a long time ago, I recognize my kind, and we are all dirty in some way.
In his quest to save us all from his demons, he failed to see that we’d acquired some of our own.
“He turned eighteen last month. If we call the cops, they’ll put him behind bars,” he finally says.
“He can plead self-defense.” Remi gets up, hissing a little when he moves his arm. “We can serve as witnesses.”
I shake my head. “This won’t count as self-defense. He was holding a fucking knife and stabbed him many times. He doesnt have any injuries.” I lift Octavius’s shirt, and while his back can rival Santiago’s in the scars department, there are no fresh wounds on his skin. At least the fucker was scared enough by my father to stop hurting him physically. “Proving self-defense will be almost impossible.”
“He will still get years behind bars. So either way, he’s gonna end up in prison.” Santiago supports my point. “Even years of abuse and a psychiatrist claiming he wasnt in his right mind won’t save him.”
“Fuck!” Remi exclaims, stepping closer to Octavius.
He still rocks on the spot, chanting, “Shut up, shut up, shut up,” over and over again, his bare feet tapping the floor and only smearing more blood on his skin.
My heart breaks because my best friend never deserved the shitty hand fate has dealt him. “If we dont call the cops right away, our asses will be on the line too,” Santiago addresses the elephant in the room. “The longer we stall, the guiltier we become.”
I hate his detached tone as if we’re discussing the weather and not Octavius’s freedom, but there is truth to his words. My father finished law school, so he drilled into me from an early age to study all the laws of the country and know how to protect myself if the need arises.
I pull at my hair, standing up too and pacing back and forth. “They have security cameras. That might be good evidence.” Although we need to question Octavius first to make sure what’s on there actually helps him and doesn’t get us all in more trouble.
“And how do you plan to get them? Doesn’t Antonio oversee this shit? I hardly doubt—”
A harsh clattering sound echoes in the space, interrupting Remi as glass shatters into tiny little pieces around us, and all our heads swing to the doorway where the man in question stands with a tray lying by his feet.
Ah, the old fucker who changes his loyalties on a whim. Still can’t understand why Octavius keeps him around and doesn’t just kick him out.
We stare at one another for several moments, Antonio’s gaze darting between us all until finally settling on Octavius and then traveling up to focus on the dead body.
He gasps, covering his mouth, and trembles slightly.
I roll my eyes, and several emotions flash, wave after wave, before he finally straightens up, adjusts his butler’s jacket, and addresses Remi. He knows better than to speak to me since I ignore him all the time. “Estella went to visit her friend with the driver, and the maids have the day off today.” His quiet voice is barely audible. “The camera footage is downstairs in the basement.” He looks among us. “What should I do?”
My brow rises at this. He clearly chose Octavius this time around and intends to help us. Not that it changes anything or my feelings about him.
If you fuck with my family, you deserve hell, and that’s final.
A chuckle slips past Santiago’s lips, grating on my nerves and fueling my fury and fear. I push him in the shoulder, and all amusement disappears. “What’s so funny, Santiago? Octavius might end up in jail!” I shout the last part, raising my arm, but he blocks it and punches me in the gut instead, and I stumble back.
Or rather, pretend to do so. If I retaliate, he will recognize the move, and he can’t know that we share the same teacher.
His relationship with his father…is complicated, and I’m not going to damage it any further or interfere.
I only watch over Jimena and make sure he doesn’t upset her during his raging episodes when the smallest of details can set him off.
“Then he shouldn’t have killed his stepfather for everyone to see,” Santiago replies, indifference lacing his tone, and for a second, regret flashes in his gaze.
Probably for the boy he once was who’d never react so fucking calmly to this all.
“Fuck you!” I spit, lunging for him again.
Remi stands between us, shouting, “Shut up, both of you! Shut up! Fighting right now won’t help! We need to think!”
Octavius whimpers, palming his head, and his rocking becomes more violent, snapping our attention to him.
Yes, he’s our priority now, and silence hangs heavily between us all as our next actions will decide our future.
Either we act in unity and fix everything, or prove once and for all that our friendship wasn’t strong enough to withstand our individual demons.
Clearing his throat, Santiago orders Antonio, “Delete all the footage from the camera right now.” The butler nods, ready to bolt, but his next words stop him. “If you ever speak to anyone about what happened tonight, you will be guilty too. Keep that in mind.”
Antonio nods again and darts away while Santiago turns to us. “Any ideas on how to handle this? Think fast. At this point, we will all be guilty of the crime. Our lawyers won’t be able to help us.”
“We need to hide the body,” I say, rubbing my face and unbuttoning my suit jacket. I should have changed, after all, not that I imaged having to get rid of the body in a suit.
Remi fists his hands by his sides. “There is blood everywhere, his DNA and fingerprints. We can’t just hide it. They will search for it; he’s one of the richest guys in the country. Besides, how do you plan to get rid of it?”
“I don’t know, Remi. What am I? A serial killer on the fucking hunt?” I spit so he won’t suspect anything. The last thing I want is for them to figure out I’ve killed people in the past and know how to dispose of bodies in many ways.
Santiago snaps his fingers. “Serial killer. We have one in the country right now, right?”
“Right. They mentioned it on the news. What does he—” Remi’s eyes widen. “He might be the cover we need.”
He opens his mouth to comment when Octavius whispers, “Florian.” I rush to him and land on my knees, mindful of not stepping in the blood, and place my hands on his shoulders. “What have I done, Florian?” His voice finally rings with awareness, and he looks over my shoulder at the guys. “What have I done?” A horrified expression crosses his face, and he shakes his head. “I killed him. Fuck, I killed him.” Tears form in his eyes. “Estella. She will be all alone.” He whispers the last part.
“No, we have a plan,” I reassure him, hoping he believes me and gives up that sense of honor he loves to display to everyone but himself.
“No!” he shouts, slamming his fist into his chest. “My fault. I did the crime. Get out. Get out, all of you, and I’ll call the cops. Turn myself in. Just promise to take care of Estella,” he tells me and adds, “please.”
I squeeze him harder, my voice turning deadly. “I’ll do anything for you, man, but not this. We will find a way.”
“There is no fucking way! I’m a murderer! Get out!”
Santiago comes to us and slaps Octavius hard across his face.
“The fuck, Santiago!” I roar, but he pushes me back too, holding Octavius’s gaze that’s finally cleared, and his brown pools finally comprehend the extent of the situation we’re in.
Maybe our friend needs tough love, after all. “No one is going to prison because of your irresponsible ass. Our future is on the line. Now snap out of your fucking shock. We need to take care of your mess, and we have no time to console you.” He blinks, and Santiago takes a deep breath, and whatever he’s thinking…must match our thoughts as well.
In order to survive right now, we have to stick together.
So that’s what we do.
On that day, we had to become friends again, as we were connected by a secret, and everyone watched our moves for a long time.
We repaired our bonds, learned together new ways to torture monsters, and built our own dungeons, causing mayhem wherever we went.
Slowly, but not instantly, we became an unbreakable unit, destroying anything standing in our way.
Except…
Our unity couldn’t withstand one thing.
My forbidden love.
Florian
“I hope you have a plan because I’m tired.” Remi seethes as he walks into my house, and Octavius salutes him with a whiskey bottle. He pours the alcohol into the two glasses as he stands near the bar. “This is getting ridiculous. Fix the damage, Florian, before we all lose our empires.”
Dropping on the couch and kicking my feet up on the table, I rest my head against the cushions while he frowns at me. “I agree. Have you tried talking to your best friend about it? He’s the one who declared war on us all.” I accept the glass from Octavius, who sits on the chair beside me. “It’s not like I’m having the best time of my life either.”
Uncle Lucian and Santiago unleashed their true natures on us and cut all ties from our businesses, selling the shares in our company and doing other bullshit that cost us several billions of dollars, but apparently, as long as we suffer, they don’t give two shits.
Also, the rumors about our fallout grew among the wealthy, and everyone started picking sides, promising their loyalties if shit hits the fan, while the media speculated why the two dynasties that stayed thicker than thieves suddenly became enemies.
Although once Maxwell and Jimena announced their engagement two months ago, everyone assumed we couldn’t forgive them for the betrayal, and our business world divided into even more sides.
Factor in Remi and Octavius, who couldn’t stay neutral, and we had one of the biggest corporate wars of the century. Indeed, there is no greater enemy than your ex-best friend.
The only person who stayed neutral in all this is Grandpa Atlas.
“This entire conflict is stupid, and I can’t believe both of you act so immature. You’re over sixty, for fuck’s sake!” He frowns at Dad, who pays him zero attention. He flips his newspaper while Mom sends Grandpa a warning glance, which he ignores. I expected the mothers to stay out of the conflict as they usually do, but surprisingly, they supported their husbands this time around. Plus, Mom is still mad at Uncle Lucian for daring to raise a hand on me, and I find it so funny and adorable even though the situation is fucked up. They act like I’m a child or something. “In a few months, my great-grandbaby will be here. Jimena better have the surname Price by then, or I’m going to whoop everyone’s asses, Lucian’s included.”
Kian grabs his toast, spreading a generous amount of jam on it, and grins at Grandpa. “If she marries Maxwell as she plans, she’ll be a Price. So it seems the ass whooping is off the table.” I throw an orange at him, and he discreetly flips me off so Mom won’t see. “Besides, Nonno called. He said that if you need him to take care of our cousin, he’ll do it.” He does a cutting-throat motion sign and winks at me. “Shut him up for good, so to speak. He thinks that’s the easiest way to remove the obstacle.” He munches on his toast. “I agree. Sometimes, the best solution is the most bloody one.”
“Oh God,” Mom mutters under her breath while Kian and I share a grin. She might have escaped the life, but she can never run away from her family’s true nature, and while Nonno doesn’t kill anyone innocent…Maxwell, in his book, is a piece of shit who stole my bride.
This is how my adoptive grandfather shows me his love, although the last thing I need is to involve the mafia in this conflict. We’d start another war since Uncle Lucian is friends with the New York don.
“Tell your grandfather to stay away from my family’s business.” We all roll our eyes at Grandpa Atlas because he’s still salty that Nonno gained an extra grandchild in this marriage while all he got was a headache and a mafia princess in disguise as his daughter-in-law. “Fix this!”
Five minutes later, he leaves to go to the Cortez house and give a similar speech there that of course falls on deaf ears.
“Oh, is that so?” Remi’s voice pulls me back to the present, and my brow furrows as I try to remember the conversation we are having. He sits to my side, occupying the chair opposite Octavius. “You think we don’t know about your secret meetings with Jimena? I bet you have fun there while we”—he motions between himself and Octavius—“have to deal with all the mess.”
A smile curves my mouth, thinking about my woman doing her best to avoid me these past two months, but I made it my life’s mission to insert myself in her entire existence.
Now that our families know I give zero fucks to stay discreet, I have come closer than ever in catching the fucker hunting us so all the variables working against me vanish.
I stalked her every move, followed her to doctor’s appointments despite her loud protests, and paid generous amounts of money for people to keep their mouths shut so it wouldn’t get to the press.
My throat still tightens, thinking about listening to my baby’s heartbeat for the first time and how the baby hid from view, not allowing the doctor to see the sex. We all knew it was a boy, though, but for whatever reason, Jimena needed confirmation.
And of course I always found a chance to lock her up somewhere and enjoy her sensual body all over again. She complained and tried to state otherwise but still went up in flames in my arms.
All the while throwing away her engagement ring to a point she stopped wearing it altogether, and that was my goal all along. I also marred her skin with endless hickeys in all the visible places so Maxwell knew one simple truth that no public engagement could change.
My woman is mine and whoever thinks otherwise is a delusional idiot.
“They take after her namesake,” Octavius speaks up, chuckling. “Cheating on Maxwell and living their forbidden romance while causing war in the process.”
“Cheating would require Jimena to be his, and she’s not.” My possessive reply is met with their harsh stares. “Their engagement is a farce.”
“It’s public, though, and the wedding is in three days. So please tell me you have some kind of plan to stop it beforehand? I’m drawing the line once they get married, Florian.” Remi scowls as our eyes meet. “Once she’s his wife, don’t expect my support.”
“Mine as well. You allow her to get married to him, this is over,” Octavius adds, not that I’m surprised.
If we all agree on one thing, it is respecting marriage vows, and none of us ever went after anyone’s wife.
However, in this case, though, I know they mean something else.
If I let her go through with the wedding, then I don’t deserve her in the first place.
“You shouldn’t worry. Did you really think I’d ever allow it?” Their silence is louder than any insult could be. “Wow. Thanks.” I frown at Octavius. “I expected better from you.”
He shrugs, finishing his drink and placing the glass on the table with a loud rattling sound. “I expected better from you too. Two months, Florian. What the hell are you waiting for, exactly? Uncle Lucian’s and Santiago’s forgiveness? You won’t have it anytime soon. Your behavior so far didn’t warrant their approval either.”
“Yeah. They aren’t stupid, so they know you’re the one whos leaving all those hickeys.” Remi points a finger at me. “For your information, I don’t approve. I prefer to think little Jimena is not having sex, so keep it that way.”
“Don’t tell me how to act when it comes to my woman.” My voice leaves no room for argument, and I take a greedy gulp from my drink, welcoming the burning sensation spreading through me. “Maxwell is blackmailing her.” They both tense and lean forward, resting their elbows on their knees. “Somehow he got footage of us from our dungeons and threatened to expose us unless she goes through with the marriage.”
Remi asks, “How do you know that?”
“Arson called me. Since she couldn’t go to us with this…she asked our New York friends for help.” They both curse, and I share their sentiment on the matter. We all respect each other, but having one of our women go to other men for help is unacceptable and awakens the obsessive beast inside me. No one can protect her better than me, and I should be the first one she comes to with all her trouble. “They dug deep into his life but found nothing that would explain his desire for this marriage.” Maxwell never presented much interest to me besides being a pestering annoyance who desperately wanted to connect with my family. However, he became an enemy number two once he decided to use my woman as a weapon.
“So if we stop the wedding, he’ll expose us?” Octavius rubs his chin, pondering my words. “There is an easy solution for that.”
It’s hilarious, really, how everyone’s solution when it comes to Maxwell is the same.
Killing him so he won’t create more problems for us.
Too bad we have a code and nothing suggests that Maxwell deserves death.
Sadly, being an asshole doesn’t get you on our list.
“Maxwell is smart. We just need to figure out his end goal.” Just as I say these words, my phone vibrates next to me, and I grab it. “Speaking of the devil.” Accepting the call, I put it on speakerphone so the guys can hear him as well. “Maxwell.”
“Florian.”
“What do you want?”
We haven’t spoken since I punched him during the dinner two months ago, and my father called him to inform him that he can forget about any reconciliation for good because he proved he’s Bellamy’s son by stabbing me in the back. Never knew my old man could hold so many grudges, but alas. “That’s what I like about you, Florian. You don’t waste anyone’s time.”
“Yet you waste mine with this phone call.”
I hear him lighting up a cigarette. “I have a proposition for you.” Since I stay silent, he elaborates, “I’ll call off the wedding and free Jimena from her obligations if you give me what I want.” Octavius gets up and walks straight to the bar, snatching the whiskey bottle and another glass for Remi. “She didn’t have to summon all her serial killer connections to figure out my agenda.”
I flex my hand around the glass and chuckle. “For a man who knows what I’m capable of, you seem to be awfully sure of yourself.”
“Call it a family trait.”
“I’d be careful. Your father’s confidence brought him nothing but shame.”
“No need to make this personal, Florian.”
“You made it personal the minute you went after my woman.” My voice drops a few octaves as the guys exchange glances. “You’ll still have to pay for that.” The only reason I allowed this stupid engagement charade was due to Death still hunting us and diverting his attention elsewhere. In a way, it gave Jimena protection from the madman and hid her pregnancy from public knowledge. “You dared to threaten her, Maxwell. I don’t forgive such things.”
“Let’s not overdramatize the situation, shall we? I made a proposition that she accepted. Besides, I never touched her, so there was no need to act like a caveman and leave all those hickeys on her skin.” A beat passes. “I’ll destroy all the evidence I have on you. As long as you give me back my rightful shares in the family empire and our family house.”
“Bellamy sold his shares to the highest bidder thirty years ago, and my father bought them out from that man to secure the family legacy. You have no rightful shares. And I have no idea about your family home.”
“It’s in the roses town.” My brow furrows, and Remi takes out his phone, searching the place probably, and brings it to me. It’s a small town located in the middle of nowhere with a population of less than thirty thousand. “It belonged to my mom.” For the first time, I hear an emotion ring in his tone, and I sigh because his background is shitty. His mother lit their house on fire right before committing suicide with Maxwell in it. He was old enough to remember the madness and had several burn scars. It was the only time Bellamy actually manned up and spent quality time with his son. In true Price fashion, he is not a super shitty father. “Dad sold it to Atlas a long time ago.”
That’s odd. Now that I think about it…wasn’t there also a little girl with him? She was their maid’s daughter who saved him from the fire, and Grandpa even donated some money to her because despite hating Bellamy’s guts, he still cared about Maxwell.
They would have totally brought him to live with us if Bellamy didn’t step up.
“If you want the house, ask Grandpa. He might sell it to you.”
“It’s impossible to talk to any of you. I’ve tried for years, so you left me no choice but to blackmail you into giving me what I want. You have three days, Florian. Either sign off the shares and give me the house back or watch your woman marry me, unless you want the entire world to know what you and your friends do in the dark,” he throws the ultimatum, and my eyes narrow. “The choice is yours.”
“I don’t make deals with cowards, Maxwell.”
“You fucking—”
“I’m giving you my own warning. Threaten my woman or me again, and you’ll learn why they call us the Four Dark Horsemen. Don’t ever think that the information you have gives you immunity.” I hang up on him and finish my drink. I look at Octavius. “I need you to do a little research on someone.”
Remi lifts his brow. “On the girl who saved him from the fire?”
“Yeah. I think this is about her. If he really wanted to expose us, he’d do it already. He doesn’t care about us. He wants her, and for whatever reason, he needs our shares and the house for that.”
I recognize an obsessed man when I see one. One question is…why is he obsessed with her? He’s been fucking around a lot, so he can’t be in love with the woman.
So what does he want from her?
“We find his weakness, and we will use it against him.”
“You want us to kidnap a woman?” Octavius asks, and Remi groans. “The purpose of this meeting was to minimize the damage, not increase it.”
“Considering he’s in a hunting mood, I think the woman will be grateful we’re trying to save her from him.” I put my glass away and get up, cracking my neck from side to side. “Either way, this wedding is not happening.”
Over my dead body.
“The news about our conflict spread through various brotherhoods and reached our enemies. We survive in unity, so they might come after us, expecting an easy prey.” I glance at Remi, who’s twisting his wedding band on his finger. “Right now, those are just speculations, but once they have confirmation? They will attack. We’re on borrowed time, Florian. My woman is the most important thing in my life, and I can’t have her safety jeopardized in any way. You know how these fuckers operate, they will go after our wives.”
“You have to accept that we might never have a brotherhood again.” They both freeze as I voice the truth none of us wants to hear. Ever since the blowup at my godparents’ house, we’ve all avoided the topic and barely talk about Santiago unless it concerns the conflict. Remi was adamant about it, saying he wasn’t playing sides or going behind his friend’s back in anything. They both assume he’ll accept it all, but I know Cortez men.
They rarely deal with things they despise, and right now, I’m enemy number one to them all.
“There is the possibility that Santiago will never be able to look past this betrayal. He took off his ring and ignores even Octavius.” They both drink their whiskey, and I can almost feel the tension polluting the air. “So I suggest we create our own plans in case shit like this happens.”
The Dark Protégés and several crime syndicates, all our acquaintances from over the years…once all the underground brotherhoods heard about the divide, they called us individually and voiced their loyalties.
The only one who stayed neutral among them was Lachlan, and that’s because he found the entire situation absurd.
“He’s lashing out. You know that, right?” Remi asks, and I nod, although the knowledge does little to soothe the sting. I’ve been here for him every step of the way, and he couldn’t look past my love for his sister to salvage our friendship? Somehow as the time passed, I became angrier with Santiago, and my own resentment grew. “He’s hurting, and he hates this as much as anyone else. There is hope.” A beat passes. “Maybe he will soften up once his nephew or niece is here.”
I smile at the thought of my baby, who’s been kicking like crazy and greeting me every single time I interact with his mama, but it quickly turns into a scowl. “Nephew. We’re incapable of producing girls.”
“There is always a possibility.” He leans back on the chair and sips his whiskey. “A small chance, but it’s there.”
His words send an odd sense of panic through me, imagining a little angel that looks exactly like her mama and attracting the attention of men?
Men who will have only one thing in mind?
No fucking way.
At the same time, though…having a little Jimena mini-me makes my heart ache, and I almost wish for it to come true, but my protectiveness overpowers anything else.
“I’m not having a girl.”
“You look tense. Do you think he’s tense?” Remi asks Octavius, who just laughs. “What is it, Florian? An ex-manwhore doesn’t like to think he might have a girl?” He gasps dramatically while my frown only grows, and my fist clenches as I talk myself out of snapping his neck. “That would be poetic justice to the entire dynasty, actually.”
“What poetic justice, asshole? I’ve never given anyone any hope or picked women who wanted commitment. And can you not talk about other women, please?” I don’t want to think about my life before Jimena because no one but her exists for me. There is a place only for her.
“Now you made it interesting.” He gets up and walks around the chair, nudging Octavius with his elbow. “How about a little bet?”
“What kind of bet?”
“I’m saying Florian will have a girl, and you’re betting on the son.”
“What if I want to bet on the girl as well?”
“Come on, Octavius. You have a ninety percent chance of victory in this.” A beat passes. “Plus, this subject makes Florian break out in a sweat. He deserves it for putting us through hell lately.”
“Would you both stop?” Why the fuck do they think they can bet on my child?
The baby is mine!
They ignore me, of course, and Octavius crosses his arms. “What are the terms?
“Whoever loses sets up a billion-dollar trust fund for the kid that he or she can access at the age of eighteen.”
My blood boils. “My kid doesn’t need your money.” I can provide for my baby, and my entire fortune will be his someday. In this moment, I discover my possessiveness extends to my baby as well because I don’t even want the Cortez family to set up anything for him.
Mine—and that’s final.
“What if she falls in love with someone and you don’t approve, will you threaten to cut her off? I can’t have my future niece go through that.” Remi shakes his head. “It’ll break my heart.”
“Or what if he wants to do something else besides designing, and you might disapprove? It’s good to have a billion dollars to fall back on,” Octavius adds, and they high-five each other. “I’m in.”
“Sweet. Let’s get that in writing.” He sighs dreamily. “Now this makes me feel better.”
“Yeah, it’s fun. Good thinking, Remi.”
“Fuck both of you. I’m not going to cut off my kid for anything.” I already love the child so much it’s sometimes hard to breathe, and it’s mine.
They don’t get to step in and be the heroes.
Jimena and her baby are mine, and the world needs to finally know this.
“I have a plan,” I tell them both, and they turn serious again.
Because this plan?
It’ll fuel an already burning fire.
But then again…my woman is worth everything.
I’d burn alive for her.