Page 68 of Speak No Claim

“Since when do you care who I sleep with?”

“Onyx…” he warned in a harsh tone. “You need to follow the rules.”

“And what if I don’t?”

In one stride, he was in my face. “Listen to me, you little shit. Don’t be stupid! Think with your head for once and not your dick.”

I adamantly shook my head. “You don’t even know her.”

“Onyx, I won’t tell you again!”

“Fuck you!”

Before the last word left my mouth, his fist was in the side of my face. I stumbled a bit, quickly catching my footing.

“Don’t you ever talk to me like that again!” He turned and left, leaving me standing there with my hand on my jaw, moving it all around.

I watched him leave, resisting the urge to hit him back. I could literally kill the man with my bare hands. Though the truth was, in the end, it wasn’t my dad who terrified me.

* * *

It was the feelings I was developing for her that kept me up at night.

Chapter

Twenty-One

Onyx: When you stop chasing the wrong things, you give the right things a chance to catch you.

From the moment I walked into the Legacy Council chamber, the same chamber that we were initiated in. This wasn’t going to be a conversation, that much I did know. I had a hell of a morning, beating the fuck out of the guys who were trying to fuck Hennessy. My knuckles were still raw and bloody.

The Legacy Council were all wearing their black cloaks, which concealed their entire bodies, along with their masks, which covered their faces. There was no indication of who was behind each one, which was the point of all this. They were supposed to be intimidating, but to me, they were just wasting my fucking time.

The faint glow of candlelight caught against each of the sacred crests behind us, representing each family legacy. The council was up in their chamber while I was on the floor below them, resembling a jury as I was on trial.

I stopped when I was in the center of the room for all to see, to investigate and pull apart.

“Onyx Devereaux,” one of the councilmen announced, echoing my name off the ceramic walls.

Keeping my face expressionless, I replied, “Council, to what do I owe the honor?”

“You have been called before the council, and this is how you decide to dress?” the same voice inquired.

I was wearing my usual attire, a black hoodie and jeans with my boots.

“I wasn’t aware of the dress code.”

“Your brazenness isn’t why you’ve been called before the council.” There was nothing but silence until the same voice informed, “You were warned by your father, were you not?”

“Mm-hmm…”

“Onyx Devereaux, use your words.”

I stayed quiet.

“This is the council. Let me remind you that you will answer when you are addressed and your answers will be clear. Do you understand?”

I nodded. “Yes, my father warned me.”