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I shake my head. “Well, I’m not giving them a choice. I know you think we need them and you’re worried about me and the baby, but I think they’ll see things how we do soon enough.”
I’m tired of hiding.
I’m done with just obeying.
The change starts now, and either the renegades agree or they’ll lose their chance at an alliance with me.
All this bullshit ends here.
“Look at how hot our girl is.” Monroe walks backward in front of me, watching me stride down the hallway and toward the main room of the abandoned warehouse. He and Cooper didn’t argue or try to dissuade me when they came to get us and Knox told them that I didn’t agree with their plan.
“A woman on a mission. I wish she was coming after me though. She looks ready to devour someone. I want it to be me over and over again. My marks are nearly gone.” Cooper smiles with his words, his energy matching Monroe’s.
Knox remains silent and stoic beside me, his back straight and his muscles tense. “If anyone’s going to be at her mercy right now, it’s going to be Sawyer.”
He’s not as easy-going as Monroe and Cooper, and I know it’s because he feels responsible for everything that happens, considering we’re here because of his initial decision. But it’s over now. I’m too close to having a baby to just sit back. I’m tired of waiting for the renegades and their negotiations. I’m tired of allowing Sawyer to just stand back and obey just to keep the peace. We had started a war with the leadership. The renegades will either follow behind us or lose their chance at La Vega altogether.
“I will do what I have to.” I thin my lips and turn the corner, following Monroe’s movements as he blindly leads me to where the renegades are supposedly meeting with Sawyer. I know that I could’ve waited the two hours that they asked for, but Cooper’s right. I’m on a mission. They need to truly see that I’m no longer the obedient little donor I was raised as. I’m also not just the mate of the Bella Crew. I’m not just a dhampir.
I’m here to push them in the direction we all need to get through this.
“Hell yeah, you will. I can see the blood hunger in your gaze, little bird. I’m ready for when it turns into lust.” Monroe finally turns around, slowing to create a wall between me and the small group I spot sitting together.
I spot Sawyer immediately, his tall frame towering over the rest of the vampires even as he remains sitting. His eyes narrow, and he scowls, but not at me. He looks at the others, his annoyance clear across his face.
He probably wasn’t expecting us to come to shake things up when they are so close to a final agreement.
Cicero materializes in front of Monroe, blocking our way and preventing us from getting to the group of vampires. He furrows his brows and looks over Monroe’s shoulder at me, disdain clear on his face. He obviously doesn’t want me here either.
There’s something satisfying about disobeying their stupid rules.
“Can we help you? You three were aware that we were in the middle of our final negotiations. What is so important that you brought Hayley here, creating this unnecessary distraction for your coven leader? She needs rest. We know how close she is to going into labor and anything could induce it. We need a bit more time.” Cicero peers over his shoulder, giving the others a look that I can’t decipher.
Sawyer stands from his chair. “Hayley, I—”
I shove past Cicero and run toward Sawyer, not giving him a chance to finish his comment. It’s like I can’t control myself, seeing him looking so powerful and hot. Cicero rushes behind me and locks his fingers to my shoulder a second before I get to Sawyer. He spins me around to face him.
I swing my arm, smacking him hard across the face, the skin on my palm stinging is as satisfying as the look of shock sharpening his features.
“Don’t touch me. I know what you’re doing, trying to play this off as me needing to rest instead of being involved with these supposed negotiations.” I growl with my words and look at the group of vampires in the circle around me. “I don’t know what kind of bullshit you think you you’re doing, but I have waited long enough for you guys to come up with some sort of plan, so I took it upon myself to help.”
Cicero takes a step back, glowering at Knox. “What is she going on about? You said she would be agreeable.”
Anger pulses through me with his words. I grab the front of his shirt and pull him closer, getting into his face. “Don’t talk to him like that. I know you don’t think that I’m capable of being anything but a pretty face for your cause or whatever, but this has got to stop. It’s all of these fucking contracts and negotiations that are truly preventing La Vega from thriving. I’m not going to just let the Bella Crew make these decisions for me, despite what you think. I know you think of me as less than them. And I know that you don’t really truly want to give humanity their freedom back. I know fuckers like you. You are just like Alexander. Look at how you’ve tried to control us. The only reason why we are here and we’re bowing to your demands is because my guys just want a fucking life with me.”
“You’re carrying one of the most powerful beings the world will ever see. It is in all of your best interests to let us handle everything. You can live your lives however you please. I don’t understand what is so wrong with that and why you’re suddenly acting unreasonable. Have we not been kind to you? You are not prisoners here. The Bella Crew can come and go as they please. The only reason why you haven’t left is because they know that staying here keeps you hidden and safe. If you have such a problem, take it up with them. Not me.” Cicero raises his eyebrow, smirking with his words.
I can see what he’s doing. He’s trying to put a wedge between me and the Bella Crew, but I know that’s not the case. I know that my guys were doing what they thought was best, but it wasn’t with that reason. They were threatened into this position. And like Knox said, they have grown tired of the fight, and I can’t really blame them. But I’m not going to stand here and have this asshole act as if he’s some innocent guy trying to help. I see right through him. I see through all of them. They sent fuckers into the Bella to hurt me. I don’t care if it was only one of the coven brothers and he has been taken care of. They are all capable of it. They can deny it all they want, but it’s the truth. If we stop complying and deny them, shit will change.
I jab my finger into his chest, the force of my strength breaking his skin and startling him. But I don’t pull away and apologize. I stand my ground. “Fuck you. Fuck all of you. You’re going to do as I say from this point forward. That will be the only proof that you are on humanity’s side and not just trying to take advantage of the situation. Because I know you think so little of me. You want what grows inside me, and you’re trying to get our guard down to take my baby. Don’t think I’m stupid.”
My words hang heavy in the air, and the vampires glance back-and-forth at each other. It’s in this second that I know I’m right. These negotiations were intended to give the Bella Crew false hope of being able to just take me somewhere safe.
Fuck us.
“I don’t know where you got the idea but—” Cicero jerks out his hand, locking his fingers around my wrist while yanking my finger from his hard chest. The world spins as he grabs me off my feet.
Sawyer snarls, his anger whipping through the air. “Release her immediately!”
