AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Zoe
Gray and I are the last to arrive at Dirty Diamonds, and the others have already pushed tables together. They’re so busy sliding bottles around the table and hitting the alcohol that they barely notice us.
On one side of the makeshift long table sits Slasher, Alana, and most of the Cruz Cunts—those who don’t fit sit on the other side along with Cain, Cara, Rocco, and Titch.
At first glance, they look fine, but it only takes a minute for me to notice the tension brewing between them. It’s almost as palpable as the cloud of smoke forming above their heads from the chain smoking.
Rose’s wearing a cap that hides her new hairdo, and both Rocco and Cara look shellshocked—a far cry from the hardened people I first met.
My eyes glance to Cain, and I’m oddly relieved he’s leaning his chair back against the wall so it only rests on two legs, while trying to stack potato chips on his nose. It makes some of my own tension bleed away, so I don’t look away until Alana makes them all look our way.
“There you are,” she says. Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes and her tone isn’t as upbeat as usual.
“What’s going on?” I ask, following Gray over to the two empty seats at the head of the table.
I don’t even hesitate before I sit down, even though I know it should be Slasher sitting on Gray’s right, and Alana should be at mine. Fucking traditions.
Too busy scowling at each other, no one speaks.
Cara fidgets in her seat, and for some reason, that makes me uneasy. There’s something about her hardness that’s become a constant, so seeing her this… nervous rubs off on me.
“Cara?” I ask when no one volunteers any information.
Gray squeezes my knee under the table. The small touch sends zings throughout my body, making me sit taller and roll my shoulders back.
“Fine,” Alana snaps, glaring at every single King at the table, including Slasher and Gray. The former is harder since she’s perched on his lap, but she still manages. “If no one will say what’s on their mind, I fucking will.”
Gray swirls his hand in the air, silently telling her to go on.
“The fuckers at this table—”
“Hey!” Cain interjects.
Alana pinches the bridge of her nose. “All the men except Cain,” she clarifies while penetrating him with her deadly glare. “Seem to think the Cunts can’t be trusted.”
“We never said that,” Titch says, throwing his arms up in the air.
“Really?” Rose seethes. “Then why the fuck did you ask for our phones?”
At the accusation, he shrinks in his chair, looking between Gray and Slasher. “It just seemed like a good idea,” he explains.
“A fair request given the circumstances,” Rocco says.
“Oh, really?” Beth volleys. “And why is that? Why are you all too scared to say what’s on your mind? Fucking pussies.”
“Beth!” Cara snaps. “Calm your fucking tits and show some respect.”
I’m surprised as fuck when Cilla lets out a humorless cackle. “Respect is earned, Cara. You can’t fucking demand it. And if I’m honest, you have no right asking that from us.”
The former Mama looks like she’s been slapped, which causes Rocco to hurl his glass toward Cilla, who easily moves out of the line of fire so the glass splinters against the wall behind her.
“Enough!” Gray bellows, making me jump in my seat. “What the fuck has gotten into all of you?”
His question is met with silence.
I can feel anger and sadness rolling off him in thick waves, matching my own feelings perfectly. Or maybe I’m just projecting. But seeing our family at each other’s throats like this is beyond fucked up. And the fact that Cain hasn’t made an inappropriate comment just seals the seriousness of the situation.
“Slasher,” Gray barks. “Tell me what happened.”
