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You can’t destroy someone who’s been broken over and over again.
Because now, I’m stronger than ever.
This new fucker will see.
Chapter fourteen
Sawyer
New World
“Don’tbeafraidtospeak up, Hayley. It’s important for you to speak freely and say what’s on your mind regarding what you want out of things in this meeting.” I peer into her eyes, wishing with everything in me that we were back at the Bella. But I get it. I understand what it’s like to do something out of desperation, but Hayley doesn’t take kindly to people threatening us just as much as I don’t. The only reason we’re here is because we’ve chosen to be here. It’s all a part of my plan. We can’t know our enemies unless we treat them as our allies first. It’s the best way to figure out exactly what we need to do next.
“Are you sure they’re not going to try to shut me down?” Hayley twines her fingers with mine. “If that happens, being here is pointless.”
She’s right. If these renegade vampires don’t treat her as an equal, then we can’t ever use them on our side.
“I won’t let them. Promise.” I pull her down the short hallway to where the others stand protectively, waiting for us to join them.
She gives me one last look and holds her other hand out, waiting for whoever gets to her first. Knox allows Monroe the pleasure, and Hayley stands between us as he leads the way and Cooper backs us up. There will never be a moment where we don’t surround her, making sure she is safe between our bodies even though she is the strongest, most resilient of us all. We don’t want to test her current abilities. I’ll take a thousand knives to the back before I even allow her to get a papercut on my behalf.
Whispers hum through the air as the renegade vampires take in the sight of us and Hayley. Some of them question whether or not she’s truly a dhampir, especially with the way her eyes flash silver. A part of me wants to flip them off and tell them that they’re idiots if they think she’s anything else. Another part of me prefers they didn’t know about her nature at all.
“Thank you for joining us, Misters Noble.” The vampire who brought us here offers his hand out to Knox first, his use of my last name for all of us as a sign of respect, showing that he recognizes us as a coven instead of a crew.
Knox shakes his hand and keeps his shoulders straight as he glances to the other three vampires that are probably a part of this man’s coven. “Before we get started, we want you guys aware of our expectation when it comes to our dhampir and this meeting. You will treat her like you would us. If you try to talk down to her, threaten her, manipulate her, or any other type of bullshit, whatever you expect to happen between us will not. Do you understand?” Knox fists his hands, his muscles rippling with his movements.
I stare at the side of Hayley’s face, watching her watch him. “If you can’t agree, then you will let us leave without trouble. We have our entire Bella Crew and our own rebel population ready to fight if necessary. We were hoping we could save our energy to put toward the leadership.”
Monroe and Cooper remain silent but ready for one of us to give them the word. They consider Knox and I their coven leaders, though it’s only because they know it is our strength. Cooper is a lot like Monroe. He’s resourceful and tough. He knows how to strategize. He might be young in comparison to any of us, but it doesn’t make him weak. It gives him an advantage. He’s still more involved in human thinking, and he can relate with Hayley on levels we can’t. He gives her everything that we have been lacking before he came into our lives.
“We absolutely agree. Hayley is not a donor, and even if she was, donors are not beneath us. We are equals. We protect them, and they help provide us with sustenance. It’s a fair trade. Very similar to what you have with your donor population.” The man motions toward the sitting area. “Now, why don’t you all join us and let us introduce ourselves. You may call me Cicero. These are my coven brothers, Calhoun, Raleigh, and Lincoln, and we are the Renegades.”
“I assume you already know our names,” Knox says, taking the closest chair to the coven and leaving the couch open for the rest of us.
The man returns to his seat. “Yes—”
“Before we even do anything, I want to know which one of you sent the donor renegades to our hotel to try to impregnate me.” Hayley squeezes my hand, her sudden question throwing the renegade vampires off. “If you don’t tell me or if you lie, I’ll kill you. You better fucking be truthful. Which one of you did it?”
The four vampires sit in silent shock, staring at Hayley as if they can’t believe that she spoke to them. And anger rushes through me at their lack of response. She asked them a question, and they better answer it within the next ten seconds. Knox already made himself clear. Not responding to Hayley, even if it was an unexpected question, would prove that they are either lying about treating her as an equal, or they really don’t or can’t see her as one.
“Ms. Noble. I already told you that we have no idea about any of that. We would never, and I mean never, put anyone through that sort of disgusting thing. Whoever it was wasn’t acting on behalf of the renegades.” Cicero remains expressionless, but he does look at the rest of his coven, trying to judge the reactions the same way I am.
“You’re lying!” Hayley heaves a breath, trying to take a step forward, but I don’t let her get within a foot of anyone.
Cicero folds his hands on his lap. “No, Ms. Noble. There must be some—”
Cooper flies at the vampire and shoves him back in his seat, grabbing the front of his shirt. Monroe materializes by his side, growling and flashing a weapon at the others before they even try to step up.
“There was no misunderstanding. They were with a vampire, and we have images. Show them, Monroe. Somebody among you came in and slit my throat before kidnapping Hayley and two of our female donors. They tried to violate her. So you need to find out who ordered such a disgusting thing or you will see my wrath.” Cooper shows his fangs, refusing to back down. Cicero predates the divisions and could overpower Cooper, but he isn’t a stupid man. He understands what’s at stake and what we are capable of, especially with Hayley by our sides.
Cicero flares his nostrils, turning to Monroe. “Fine. Show me the footage. I will let you know whether or not somebody was using our coven’s name as a scapegoat for their actions.”
Monroe pulls his com device out, but he doesn’t get a chance to hand it to Cicero. One of his coven brothers, the one I think who is named Calhoun, steals the device away.
“This is bullshit.” The second he says the words, I know immediately it was him. He’s trying to prevent his coven brother from seeing something.
I get to my feet with Hayley in my arms and materialized behind Calhoun. I grab him by the back of the neck and lift him off his feet, giving Monroe a chance to snatch his com device back. This guy was obviously involved and is trying to save face. He might not have been there, but he knows something. He wouldn’t have stood up otherwise.
