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And guess who Lik’s boyfriend of many years is?
None other than Sam, aka, Nate’s right-hand man.
And that’s why the Kings were never at an advantage in this situation. Emma, in one way or another, has ties with Nate. Emma has family dinner with Sam every single week. She’s had something on me I managed to keep under control while Nate was in prison, but that power is all hers now. NSC is in with the biggest fucking threat there is. Nathan White.
And me? Well, I’m completely fucked, and I know this meeting is going to end up making my people suffer.
Unless I keep Nate under control. And for that, I have to play nice. I have to be his very, very docile little wife. And maybe then I can protect the people I love.
“Wanna tell us why we’ve been waiting here for fucking hours while you and your girlfriend beat each other up?” Xi’s unimpressed tone is the same as I’ve always heard.
“Wife,” Nate corrects instead of answering.
My eyes dart to Elliot, his already on me. I need him to stay calm. He can be volatile when his patience wears thin. Lucky for me, Jade is already wrapping a hand around his tense biceps, keeping him collected.
“I don’t care,” Xi answers. “Some of us have other shit to do.”
“Pretty little Stoneview girls to see,” I taunt him.
He straightens up in a split second, pointing a threatening finger at me as his face shuts down completely. “Mention her one more time and see what happens.”
“Kayla,” Nate chuckles behind me. “Play nice.”
Releasing my hair, his hand caresses my back, and I understand he’s the one playing. Playing every single person in this room. Because while his voice defends Xi, his reassuring touch tells me he likes that I riled him up. A silent well done.
And because Nate thrives in the chaos he causes, he adds, “No need to mention Alexandra. We all know she’s his weakness.”
Xi’s jaw settles in a tight lock, and his gaze digs into Nate’s. They stay silent for a few seconds where everyone watches while at the same time probably wondering if Nate knows the weaknesses of every criminal around the table.
I would say the answer is yes.
“But anyway,” Nate continues casually. “We’re here to discuss the future of the North Shore because the most important topic is business. And I intend on keeping everyone employed.”
“What do you mean, keeping everyone employed?” Emma jumps in. “NSC won the North Shore, fair and square.”
My snort cuts her off. “Fair and square, my ass, you scheming little bitch.”
She narrows her eyes at me, but keeps going. “Point is, we split territories, we applied the rules we all set in our town. I’m not giving the Kings a fucking job. They can go find it themselves.”
“Well, here’s something interesting,” Nate chuckles. “You control the North Shore, and I control you. So, I think it’s safe to say if I decide something, we go with my plan. And my plan is to unite the North Shore.”
My mouth drops open, but I’m not the only one in shock. Every single person in this room has gone mute, jaws hanging, eyes wide.
In my twenty-five years of life, I have never heard of such a stupid proposal. Not only do we all hate each other, not only has it been like this for decades, but there isn’t enough work on the North Shore, criminal or not, to keep everyone busy, and certainly not to get them all paid. We struggle enough as it is.
Emma stares at me, her eyes round as saucers. “Did you know about this?” she hisses.
I wish I could control my reaction, and maybe hide what I do or don’t know from her, but my shock is too great. I’m shaking my head before I even realize.
“We’re not uniting the North Shore. I am not working with anyone from the Kings,” Emma says, in what I’m sure she attempts to be a steady voice. It’s not.
“Then you won’t be working at all. I’m your supplier, and you have no one else to provide for you.” He shrugs. “It’s no headache, really.”
Elliot’s voice rises from my side of the table. “You’re going to supply both crews.”
“Forget about your useless crews. If you all work for me, there’s no Kings or NSC, only my business. That’s all that matters. Currently, both sides have what I need. Drug dealers, collectors, enforcers.” His eyes go to Racer on Emma’s side, and Jade on mine. “Drivers who can move my money quickly and discreetly. You all have great assets that are perfect to extend a criminal organization in Silver Falls, Stoneview, and all the areas around. I have more supplies than one crew can handle and, lucky for me, I can have twice the people if I use both crews. This is a perfect business move. Not that any of you would understand that.”
His voice lowers, and I know he does it on purpose. He could keep this conversation going in the same bored tone forever. Emotionless is his reset setting. But he wants to threaten them tastefully.
