“Yes,” he replies, his green eyes fixed on mine. “You were at Club Riot last night, weren’t you? With Verity and the others?”
I nod, because that was true. “I was. I hadn’t seen the girls in a while, and we wanted a catch-up.” And I needed an alibi, but I wasn’t telling my father that.
“Aww, did the princess need a playdate?” Cillian says drolly.
“No, I was just sick of seeing your ugly mugs,” I reply sarcastically.
That comment makes Conor look at me. He’s always been proud of how good-looking he and his twin are, as if it’s a purposeful mask he takes joy in. A tool to get what he wants, whether it’s sex, information or something darker. I also know that the pair of them have hidden a lot from our father, including how deep their psychopathy really goes. Their pretty faces hide a lot of inner ugliness.
It’s a low blow, but I do like hitting him where it hurts.
“You take that back,” Conor seethes as he points his finger at me.
Veon steps closer, and the twins flick their gaze upwards in unison. You’d think that after growing up with them, I’d be used to it, but nope. When they do something at the same time, it’s still creepy as fuck.
“You should be grateful your little bodyguard is there to protect you,” Cillian says with a smirk.
“As if that’s going to stop me from kicking your ass,” I say with a cocky grin. “We all know I fight better than both of you.”
There are sniggers from a few of the men around the room, and it pisses Cillian off. He lunges from his chair, and I half expect him to fly across the table at me, but Conor holds him back.
“Now, now, brother. She’s only winding you up.” Conor drags his twin back into his seat and whispers something in his ear. It’s too low for me to hear, but it makes him rein in his temper. It doesn’t stop Cillian from watching me, his eyes sharp and focused like he’s watching his prey.
I smirk back at him. Cillian can try and bring it, but we both know I’ll beat his ass. I might not be in the running to take over from my father, but I sure as shit know how to handle my brothers.
“Echo. That’s enough,” Dad shouts. He never shouts. Barks and snaps and uses a clipped tone, but he never shouts. I’m a little shocked. He’s always in control of his temper, but he looks like he’s on the cusp of losing it. I’m starting to think there’s something that Bennie knew that Dad doesn’t want anyone else to know. It starts my brain whirring and thinking about my dad and the possible secrets he might be keeping.
“They started it,” I pout. I catch Kai’s eye, and he’s grinning at me. He also likes to piss the twins off, but I think that’s down to some unreleased sexual tension more than anything else. Not that I’d ever tell him that. I think he’d run a fucking mile, but I also think that he’d be good for the twins. He’s measured and has a quiet calmness that soothed my fraught edges when I needed him the most.
“Whatever. I need to know who you saw Bennie with,” Dad asks as he leans across the table towards me, his mouth pinched. “Was it anyone you recognised?
I recall the characters from the table who sat either side of Bennie. “Nope. Never seen them before. They were slimy-looking, ill-fitting suits, slicked-back hair and thick moustaches. They reminded me of stereotypical Mafioso goons from an old movie.”
Dad frowns, the lines around his eyes pulling deep. It reminds me that he is starting to look old. There are a few white hairssprouting around his temple, and his eyes look tired. Like there is a dullness about the edges of those green irises that look so much like my own.
“That doesn’t sound like any of the big players,” Jace comments, his lips pursed in thought. He’s right. We tend to keep tabs on all the main players in the city and beyond, so seeing Bennie talk to someone new is a little unnerving.
“I’ll get Lance onto the CCTV for anyone that fits the description,” Dad says. “He’ll send you the images, and you can tell me who you saw.”
“Of course,” I reply, knowing that I don’t really have a choice. “Is there anything else?”
“No. You can leave. The rest of us will talk business.”
I hold back the distaste at my father’s words. There would be no point to argue, and definitely not in front of the men. Wouldn’t want to make him look weak or that there was a woman trying to make him do something to break tradition. Heaven forbid.
I take a deep breath before standing and smiling sweetly at the rest of the table. “Of course. Enjoy your meeting, gentlemen.”
Veon pulls my chair out for me, and I walk out of the room with my head held high. I am not going to let any of them see how angry I am at the dismissal or the way it stings. I ignore the smug grins the twins throw my way as I leave, and I don’t even look at Kai. I don’t want to see the pity in those whisky eyes. It’ll make me say something I’ll probably regret.
The moment Veon closes the door to the meeting room, I let out the breath I was holding. It’s a harsh exhale, and I have to take another calming breath just to stop me from running back in there to give my dad a piece of my mind.
I can’t decide if he’s just misogynistic or if he thinks keeping me out of the family business will protect me.
“It’s not right,” Veon grumbles behind me.
I look up at the tall tower of muscle at my back, and a little flutter of something swoops in my stomach. The guy is pissed on my behalf, and I like it. Until Veon, I never really had anyone in my corner other than Kai. He might do things begrudgingly, but sometimes, justsometimes, I think he does actually like me.
Like this moment where he looks like he’s one step away from marching back into the room and giving Dad a stern talking to. I’m almost tempted to let him, just to see what he’s capable of.
