Pop was seated, always impeccably dressed, at the head of the long table. Nolan sat in the first chair to his left, all three of Braughton’s brothers next to him. Jonas, the second oldest, is tall and thin with a straight nose, blue eyes that drop knickers, and pale unblemished skin that has neither a tattoo nor a scar to be seen. All three of them are dark blonde and apparently have the same barber. Zane was next to him. A bit shorter, and broader in the shoulders. He looks like he works out. He’s the one with the shittiest attitude, and likely the one that I’ll end up killing first when things finally fire up between all of us. The last fucker is Kendall. Silent as the grave I’ll be putting him in, but that doesn’t make him the smart one. He’s a natural-born killer, like me. Where I love the edge of a blade, he practically blows a load at the sight of a gun. I hear he’s a collector.
How cute.
What wasn’t cute, and meant as an obvious warning, was who was inmychair at Pop’s right. Finn. The empty seat next tohim is for Bridget, and they all conveniently left no others open at the table that easily sits twenty.
Nice touch, old man.
Bridget’s manicured fingers tightened on my arm. She’s noticed it too. I patted her hand, putting on my best smile and walked her to her chair, pulling it for her without a word and holding my father’s unamused glare when I decided to stand like a soldier behind my sister. Let Finn keep his little throne. It just shows his lack of honor and proves every point of why Bridget will never waste her time on him. I care about Finn, and he’s book smart…but a complete fucking pushover. I’m not about to let anybody believe that about me.
“Better late than never, Malek. New jewelry?” Jonas rested a couple fingers over his mouth, staring at me like he’d love to hack me apart. I smiled broadly, turning my lip ring.
“Nah…same one. I just added a spike. Think it gives me a little more character, ya know?” He didn’t seem to like my assumption that he wasn’t talking about the obvious. “Sorry, mate. Youwouldn’tknow, would you. Apologies.”
“Don’t start, Malek,” Pop groaned, adjusting his seat. I kept my smile and focused on Jonas, wondering if he was the one Nolan was trying to set up. It definitely seems like it. I have a feeling this little dinner is gonna run short. Might not even get to the first course. “This table is meant ‘fer family. We’re all gathered around it to put the chaos behind and come together as a unit. We’re stronger together.” He was addressing the table, but I knew Bridget felt the same weight I did as I stood close behind her, focused intently on the three mutts that paid her absolutely no mind. Everything Braughton stuttered while I painstakingly gutted him started to make a bit more sense. Not a single one seems interested in her. We’re all being pushed. Doesn’t mean I’m letting them off for it.
Nolan cleared his throat. He looks more weathered than my father’s been starting to look here lately. “There’s already been enough blood, boys. Taxes have been paid on either side. It’s time to bury the hatchet.”
I’ll bury one. Right in his fucking skull.
They took turns making ridiculous speeches not a single one of us was interested in. I could feel Finn’s eyes on me, but I blatantly ignored him. Food was brought in, our finest whiskey, some champagne and other shit. Truth is, I wouldn’t have eaten even if I’dhada seat at the table tonight. I’ve got enough to focus on. I knew it was only a matter of time, though before one of them made it a point to call me out. Told you they weren’t smart.
Zane chewed with his mouth open, and I could almost hear the bile crawling up Bridget’s throat while she pretended not to notice it. He smiled at me. “Not hungry, mate?”
“Had a big lunch,” I smirked, crossing my arms. Big indeed. And I still haven’t replied to any of her messages. I wondered what my Little Viper was up to, and which one of the other toys she had to resort to using while the Girthmaster was upstairs in my room.
“We could put ‘yer plate on the floor. Aren’t ya used to that? Pappy didn’t lay the blanket out ‘fer ya?” How original.
“Sadly, no. I had to wrap your brother in it a few nights ago. Got a bit messy.”
Oh, that struck a nerve.
Forks clanged on plates, I heard a couple of chokes around the table, and Zane’s chair knocked back when he leapt out of his seat. I grinned.
“Sit down, Zane. We spill blood in this house, you damn us all,” Nolan crooned. “Callum, I’ll thank ‘ye to tighten the leash on ‘yer guard dog. It’s not doin’ anybody any favors.”
“No, it’s not. Malek…enough.”
“Would it be too cliche to say he started it?” I chuckled.
Jonas straightened his jacket and leaned forward. “Why don’t we just get to the real reason we’re all here, yeah?” For the first time all evening, his attention landed on Bridget, who stopped eating. “Family ties aren’t secure until you secure ‘em. The decision’s bein’ made tonight.”
“Which one?” I asked, cocking my head. “Where I’m buryin’ your tiny cocks if you don’t point them in another direction?”
“It’s not up to you, Malek. If you wanted anything different, you’d be more obliged to take that tattoo on your hand more seriously.” My father looked at me with utter disappointment. I felt my crazy starting to boil up.
“She’s not a piece offurniture,” I hissed through clenched teeth.
“No.” Kendall’s deep rasp of a voice was as good as a whisper next to Zane, who still hadn’t sat back down. Jonas smirked like he knew what was coming and I tried in all ways to keep my temper under control. Kendall leaned in closer to Bridget, placing a hand on the table to try and intimidate her. “She’s worse. Don’t bother choosin’ me, dearest. I don’t mingle with half-breedrubbish.”
My hand, hidden by the back of Bridget’s chair, shot straight to my pocket. “Say that shit again, Tiny Tim. I fuckin’dareyou.”
“Kendall. Not another word.” Nice of Nolan to try, but this might be the only one of Braughton’s brothers that’s predictable, even if he doesn’t realize it. He’s too much like me. The challenge is a high, and we feed off of it like a drug.
“You and your little bitch don’t deserve to head an Irish table, Malek. You should be rottin’ in a grave like your filthy American mother—” His screaming cut him off when I all but leapt over Bridget, stabbing through his trigger hand and nailing it to the table. Every person was out of their seats, chaos ensuing,and I grabbed Bridget by the arm,afterI spit in Kendall’s face. Pop called out for us several times as I rushed her out of the dining room and down the hall.
“What the hell did you justdo, Malek?!” she huffed, trying to keep up with my pace. “They can kill us for this!”
“No, they can’t. They can’t spill blood inourhouse. Nobody said anything about us.” We rounded the corner, heading down another hallway towards the foyer. “Where’s your bag?”
