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"Not at all. Nothing else has happened since the night I left, and Brandon is back to his normal self, so the boys are loosening security. I'm going to find my own place."
"Really?" Her face breaks into a massive smile, and I know I'm making the right choice.
"Yeah, I'm so excited. I haven't said it out loud yet to another person, so I wasn't sure if it was just all the craziness in my head after the last few weeks or if this is the best thing for me. But I know it's what I need. I'm enjoying spending time with Brandon, but I need to find myself before I'm thrown into a full-on living-with-someone type relationship. Plus, he lives with that group, and they’re a lot to deal with." I motion to the guys upstairs. They’re in deep discussion, looking very serious but like they all agree with each other, no tension in the air like I had thought there might be, or maybe those are just their poker faces? Really, who can tell.
"I bet. No, this is a good idea. I'm happy for you and can help you however you need."
"Thank you. Can you tell Brandon for me?" I ask, half joking, half serious. "Somehow I feel like it's going to be some massive deal for him, and I don't want to start another fight."
"No, that is all up to you. But I'm sure he’ll understand. You can't keep living with those guys forever."
"Right!" I agree, but somehow, I don't think that's how he's going to see it. I finish my drink, and she follows suit, and we both place our glasses on the bar. "Come on, I need to get my dance on."
BRANDON
THE STONE AND RIVERA brothers don’t mix well under normal circumstances but tonight we need to come together for a common cause. The mezzanine balcony at Kobe’s new club Queen of Hearts is the perfect location. From here we have a full view over the bar and dance floor and can watch the goings-on of the patrons below. This part of the club is reserved for the boys and their invited guests only. Kobe has big plans for the empty rooms up here, but that will all happen in time. Ace was still in the initial stages of setting this place up when he died. It’s kept Kobe busy trying to get it up to the standards he has.
A young brunette tops up our drinks as we make ourselves comfortable. Her lips turn up at the side as she reaches Kobe, yet another of his conquests I assume. Owning this club might just be the death of him if he mixes business with pleasure the way he has in the past.
Jett stands, arms crossed, his expression neutral, even though it's no secret he and Axel detest each other after the MMA fight they had a couple of months ago, where Jett came off second best and the fight ended up in one of the biggest riots this town has seen. All set in motion by Ace.
Leo lights up a smoke, taking a drag, assessing the lot of us with his steely gaze. This is his domain. "We asked you boys here today to have a little chat."
Axel considers him with just as much ice. He keeps his cards close to his chest, that much is obvious. He and his brother Hendrix have been messed up with the Acevedos for as long as Leo. They have lost just as much as we have, and in a lot of ways, their stories are similar to ours. Except where the Stone boys grew up with a silver spoon in their mouths, the Riveras were forced to fight for everything they ever had. And there is something satisfying about sitting here across from the two of them, knowing we have already achieved just as much. Leo feels it too. I see the pleasure he takes from even running a meeting like this.
"It's no secret Ace did a nasty job of fucking with this town. The entire Acevedo family has left a trail of destruction for the rest of us to clean up."
Hendrix leans in, taking a swig of his whiskey. "You didn't agree with what Ace was doing? I'm surprised to hear that since you were his right-hand man since his old man died."
Leo’s stare intensifies. He doesn’t like been associated with what Ace was doing, that was never his aim. He had a plan right from the start, we all did, and he made some pretty big sacrifices to make it happen. "I think we all know Ace did whatever the fuck he wanted, and I can assure you it would have been a shitload worse if I wasn't around."
"Go on,” demands Axel, like he has somewhere better to be and he wants this meeting over and done with as soon as possible. I don’t miss the way he is positioned so he can keep an eye on Jasmine. In fact, I’m surprised he brought her with him.
"We have taken ownership of his clubs and businesses. And from this week on, the Acevedo name will no longer exist in any capacity that matters." Leo smiles smugly, like all his Christmases have come at once, with Ace having done the dirty work for him.
"Good riddance. No one as fucked up as he was should ever have the power he did," agrees Hendrix.
Leo focuses in on Axel. We all know it's these two who need to sort this shit out so we can all get what we want here. "Now that we’re in charge, we intend to do things differently. There are a few things we might need to work together on."
Axel’s attention comes to me, and I drag my eyes away from Cassandra to focus. "What I want to know, is what's an ex-professional football player doing involving himself here. I see what you three stand to gain from this takeover. But not you."
I stare back at him with amusement. "Are you asking from a business perspective or as a potential brother-in-law?"
"Does it matter?"
"Not really. Either way, my answer is the same. I'm here because this town owes me just as much as it does these boys, and I intend to get the vengeance I deserve."
“Without Brandon, we wouldn’t be here,” Leo adds. And it’s the truth. He has the vision, but I have the means to bring it to life. That’s why we have been such a good team.
Cassie and Jasmine are on the move, and I follow them with my eyes, making sure they’re okay. This place might be great fun if you’re single, but I’ve been on edge from the moment we walked in. Cassie looks stunning tonight, and she will draw all sorts of unwanted attention. It's why her drinks will be virgins, and I will watch her like a hawk until we’re done. They arrive at the dance floor and move along together to the beat of the music. She looks relaxed and happy, chatting with her sister.
I spot some asshole watching her and focus in on him only to realize I know the fucker. "What the fuck is Jerry doing here?" I mutter louder than I intended.
Kobe looks over my shoulder. "Who's Jerry?"
I point out the slimy fucking weasel making his way through the club. He should be at home taking care of my ma, not at some club built for singles looking to hook up. "The principal at my school."
"Oh, the cunt who married your ma?"
