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“I don’t understand all of this stuff,” I told Pops. “Why can’t the Knights have a king without a queen?”
“To maintain the balance of power,” Pops said. “The choices you make at Legare will determine the futures of the men in this room.”
“What choices do I have to make?”
“Who stays and who goes.” Pops rose from his chair, his stare aimed at Arlo. “One more thing. Whoever Alex chooses will become the new Grand Master of The Devil’s Knights.”
“This is fucking bullshit,” Luca growled. “I’m the oldest. The Knights are mine.”
“That’s your problem,” I said to Luca. “You think you own everyone and everything.”
“Keep running your mouth, baby girl.” He flung out his hand, an insane look on his face. “I’m two seconds from choking you just to shut you up.”
“Luca, calm the fuck down,” Marcello shouted from across the room. “You’re disrespecting all of us by speaking to our queen this way.”
“Fuck off, brother! This is your fault.” He tugged at the ends of his short black hair, his eyes turning a shade so dark they looked like blue steel. “You did this… How long have you been conspiring against me?”
I burst into a fit of laughter. “Do you hear yourself? Seriously, you need professional help. No one is plotting against you. You are your own worst enemy, Luca.”
His maniacal laughter filled the tension in the air. “Says the crazy bitch who can’t even remember what she did last year. Have you ever considered the answer to Aiden’s disappearance lies somewhere in that fucked up brain of yours? Hmm…” He pressed his lips together. “Look inward before you accuse me of shit.”
“That’s enough,” Arlo growled.
“Both of you need to settle down and sort out your differences,” Pops commanded.
“Maybe you should bring her doctors to Devil’s Creek,” Luca said with a mocking attitude. “She’s losing it again.”
“Good idea,” I shot back. “Because you could use some therapy.”
“How about you both see a doctor?” Pops suggested. “I think that’s a good idea. Couples counseling.”
“I’ll do it,” I said as I wiggled my eyebrows at Luca. “But only if Luca spills his secrets.”
He sneered at me. “I have nothing to hide.”
“Me neither.”
I clung to Marcello’s side, squeezing his big bicep. He slid his arm behind my back and pulled me closer. With Marcello, I always felt safe, and with Luca, I felt like every nerve ending in my body was on fire. It was an out-of-body experience I’d never had with anyone else. He made me feel alive, but maybe it was just the adrenaline rushing through my veins. The fear and desire laced together.
“Are we done here?” Luca said with his eyes on Pops. “I have another meeting in twenty minutes.”
Pops nodded. “For now.”
Alex
After the meeting ended, I sat on the veranda with the Knights surrounding me. Marcello was on my right, complaining about how I wouldn’t let him leave the wheelchair. He hated feeling helpless, but it was time he let someone take care of him. Sonny was on my left, flirting and trying to steal my attention from Marcello.
We ate family-style, everything from gourmet Kobe beef sliders to skewered steak and lobster rolls. Marcello couldn’t reach the plate at the center of the table without straining. So I leaned forward and grabbed the plate.
When I looked up, the Knights on the other side of the table stared at me. Drake licked his lips, his eyes traveling between my mouth and my cleavage. He shoved his hand through his dark hair, sweeping it off his forehead. The tech billionaire always dressed in expensive suits that clung to his body like armor.
Though, I had to laugh when I noticed a blue T-shirt beneath his unbuttoned oxford. It had the Superman logo on it. His eyes followed mine, and then he rolled his shoulders like he knew I thought he was a hot nerd.
Cole sat beside Drake, holding my gaze with a look that made my skin sizzle. You could tell Cole had spent his entire life in military school. Arms corded with muscle, he had bands of dark tattoos wrapped around his biceps. He never wore suits, not unless required. Dressed in black cargo pants and a tight T-shirt, he looked drool-worthy.
“What are you two staring at?” I asked them with a taunting smirk.
Drake returned my expression, while Cole just stared at me with fascination. I clutched the plate of burgers and pulled it toward me. I had the attention of every man at the table, which made my skin tingle. The Knights were good-looking, blue-blooded men. It was like their parents had filled out a form and checked off all the right boxes, maybe even offered sacrifices to their gilded gods.
“Why are you all staring at me like I’m your lunch?”
“Might want to fix your shirt, queenie,” Finn Cormac said with a wink.
