AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A muscle in Jace’s jaw flexed, and I could see it in his eyes. He was going to lie for me. To protect me from Chris’s wrath if he found out I was the reason he’d lost so much money and so many business connections. But it was all coming out now, and it would only be worse for Jace if he lied to Chris’s face. Jace opened his mouth, but I ripped away from Kian, stepping forward, causing everyone to focus on me.
“I fucked over both your gangs that summer. And then I threatened Jace and Kian to keep quiet. And you know what else I did? I’m the reason the Phantoms took Jace and Kian. Why the Jackals turned against the Disciples. I planned it all by myself. So just fucking imagine what I’m capable of when my organization has my back. You can’t use me.” I raised my arm, showing my forearm. “This tattoo? A fucking bullshit marriage? Who my father might be? It changes nothing. All of this is a waste of time. I made my choice years ago when you both played a part in my brother’s death.”
Hayes laughed, catching me off guard. Kian snatched my wrist, tugging me back before putting himself between me and Chris.
“See?” Hayes waved his hand toward me. “Having you with us is a good thing. You’re strong. Powerful. The Underground will make a good ally.”
“The Underground?” Chris breathed out. “Shit.”
Hayes nodded. “I think everything she just said is true. And I’d be a bit worried if I wasn’t under the impression that she’s lying about one thing.”
“Lying about what?” Chris ground out.
“She cares. For Kian. And I’m guessing Jace too.”
“I don’t,” I hissed.
Hayes tilted his head. “Then why have they stayed on campus, unharmed? With the Underground and Riot Crew and whoever else behind you, why haven’t you made a move against Jace and Kian?”
“How do you know I’m not just waiting for the right time?” I snapped, my pulse going haywire. I needed to get the fuck out of here.
“I believe that you like them enough to not want them dead,” Hayes countered. “When the Underground finds out about your nuptials with Kian, they’ll want to kill him, won’t they? But they won’t. Because you care for him, and you wouldn’t want to hurt him. So you’re going to lie and tell them that the marriage was something you wanted.”
I swallowed around the lump in my throat as he finally laid out his plan. He was putting it all on his belief that I felt something for Kian. Disgust churned my gut with the realization that he was hiding behind his son to do all this. That Kian’s life was nothing more than a chess piece for his plan.
But he was fucking right, and now I was stuck.
When Ellie found out about all of this, the first thing she’d do would be to go after Grimrose. After Kian. She wouldn’t hesitate because it wasn’t just a threat on me, it was an attack on her. It would question the reputation of the Underground, and she would have to retaliate. She wouldn’t be noisy about it, but she’d make sure Grimrose paid for trying to force a partnership with the Underground through me.
The only way she wouldn’t was if I told her that it had been my choice to marry Kian. She’d be pissed. There was no doubt about that. But if it was for my happiness, she’d leave Kian alone. And to save face, that would mean making peace with Grimrose. I needed to get to Ellie first, before she had a chance to find out about the marriage. To spare Kian. Guilt had my stomach sinking. I’d have to lie to her. Which felt so wrong after everything she’d done for me. But these boys had a hold on my heart that I couldn’t shake. No matter how hard I fucking tried.
I couldn’t care less what happened to anyone else in Grimrose. Let her go after Hayes and Nick. I’d be right at her side to help her take them down. My gut twisted. But what would Kian do with that? This was his father. His gang. Tripp was his best friend. I wanted to destroy his livelihood. Would he hate me if I protected him while letting his gang fall?
Hayes continued speaking, making me look back at him. “And since we have a truce, then they won’t touch the Disciples either. I don’t think Rynn would want to see Jace hurt.”
“Is that true?” Chris asked me, curiosity ringing in his voice.
“No,” I snapped. “Neither of them mean anything to me. And if you go through with this, you’ll regret it.”
If I could convince them that it wouldn’t work, then I might be able to walk away from this without involving Ellie. But the determination in Hayes’s gaze was quickly making me realize he wasn’t backing down.
“Think about it, Chris,” Hayes murmured. “The way we could expand if we worked with the Underground. I know you don’t like playing with others, but this would be worth it.”
“No, it wouldn’t,” I interrupted sharply. “Not only would we take Little Haven, but Pacific Point would be next.”
“Let them play it out,” Gage added, his voice nearly shaking with fury. “They don’t want to listen, then I’ll be the first in line to fucking bury them.”
“Shut up,” Chris snapped, raising his gun again. “I want to test this.”
My heart leapt in my throat when he pointed his weapon at Jace. Shock crossed Gage’s face as his eyes cut to me. He subtly shook his head, not wanting me to intervene. Kian stayed half in front of me, moving with me when I tried going around him.
“You’re not going to hurt him,” I said, keeping my voice steady as I called Chris’s bluff.
Jace was staring at his stepfather in disbelief as Chris aimed the gun at his heart. Hayes didn’t say a word, watching it all unfold with interest.
“I killed Shawn for betraying me,” Chris said in a low voice. “My own blood. What makes you think I wouldn’t do the same with my stepson?”
“You’ve been training him his entire life to take over the Disciples,” I answered, keeping my gaze on Jace.
