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“All those promises,” Arsenio said. “Movie theaters, clubs, restaurants, boulevards, and affordable housing. Did you get any of that shit in writing? Once they’ve got the vote freeing them from town hall’s construction restrictions, they can do whatever the hell they want. And whatever that is, I’m not betting on it bettering the town. You tell me when a random, faceless HC company ever shed a tear for the lives of us Bedlamites.”
Uncomfortable looks and whispers passed through the crowd.
“What do we do?” I recognized Nelson as the owner of the voice. “My parents are talking about selling to Foundry. They’re giving them enough to retire.”
“How generous,” Legend said sarcastically. “Big business is known for that, right? Their generosity.”
“St. James Whiskey isn’t.”
Six figures emerged from the shadows. Jeremy and that one-sided grin led the pack.
“But the rest of us aren’t as shady as you and Daddy,” he finished.
“What’s this?” Micah called. “You having a party? Why didn’t anyone invite us?”
Cairo’s hand stole down my back, landing on my ass. “Excellent job getting them here, Rain,” he said under his breath. “Tomorrow we’ll come back here for a hunt. Just you and me.” He nipped my ear. “I’ll bring the crossbow.”
I flushed hot in the firelight. What did it say about me that Cairo believed giving me a treat was chasing me through the woods, pouncing, and fucking me where we dropped? What else did it say about me that my panties were damp?
The crowd parted for the Crows.
More like, they pushed and shoved till two sides stood opposite each other. If this was a sign of something to come, I wasn’t sure. All I knew was I didn’t like the expressions on anyone’s face as Jeremy and his guys passed through them.
“I caught part of your speech,” Jeremy said. “Hope you don’t mind if I make some corrections. Tell them the truth you don’t want them to hear.”
“Save it.” Cairo rushed him.
Jeremy got his knife up quickly. Cairo snatched his arm mid-jab and wrenched it behind his back.
Micah, Gael, Asher, Bentley, and Zeke lurched into action, and found themselves thrown back as the crowd surged, grabbing their arms, shoulders, hair, and legs. The Crows thrashed and shouted in the ten-on-one hold.
“Hey! Get off! Get off me!”
Cairo hauled Jeremy to the firepit. He swept his feet, pitching him forward into the flames.
“Ahh!”
My beast, my god, my love snatched his collar, grabbing him just out of the fire’s reach.
“Let me up,” Jeremy bellowed. “Pull me back.”
Roan and Legend were on him. It wasn’t to pull him back.
They picked up both legs, pointing him like an arrow directly above its hungry maw. All they had to do was let go.
I stood transfixed—unable to help him. Unable to look away.
“Ready to tell the truth, Ellis?” Cairo shook him, ratcheting his shouts higher. “Admit what you did to my sister. Admit it!”
“Put me down!”
“Guys,” Cairo barked. “I don’t think he’s warm enough.”
They held him closer. On the other side of the pit, Paris stepped out among the audience.
“No, stop! It wasn’t me,” Jeremy cried. “We didn’t touch her. I bet you did it!”
He swiped wildly at Cairo’s legs. Not the smartest move since those were two of the legs keeping him out of the fire.
“You won’t force me to confess to your shit.”
“It was him,” Paris said, steady and clear. “All of them. They attacked us.”
“It’s a lie! Can’t you see what they’re doing?” Jeremy addressed the crowd. “They’re turning you against us so they don’t lose their walking, talking bank accounts. We’re not the ones cheating you, they—”
Cairo let go and caught him just as fast. Jeremy’s bellow bounced up the trees.
“Oops,” Cairo sang. “My hand slipped. I have a feeling it’s going to do that every time a lie comes out of that brother-cock-sucking mouth.”
“I didn’t do it!”
The other Crows yelled and pleaded for their leader, swearing up and down they weren’t responsible. My stomach churned in disgust.
Got to give it to them. Their acting holds up under pressure.
Jacques crossed in front of me. Inexplicably, he drew me to his side—his hand warm on my hip.
“How do we settle this?” Jacques was smooth and calm, speaking over the Crows as his thumb stroked me.
I was neither of those things. My skin prickled as though I was the one held to the fire. I couldn’t understand this feeling. I was helpless to save Paris. I couldn’t even save myself. Another bully blew into my life and hurt the people I love, and for all that I was named after a force of nature, I wasn’t strong enough to stop it.
That fury burned on a slow heat beneath my skin... waiting for this moment.
I wanted something to happen. Someone to pay.
Someone to scream.
The Crows within my reach and their payback on the slip of a grip.
