Page 84 of Moonlit Temptation

The Sons of Icarus were all about power. In business, in partnerships. Arrangements. They loved to make arrangements—of any kind.

Marriage arrangements weren’t just common in the society, but expected. The official reason was that it was the perfect way to make sure we stayed a secret.

The unofficial?

The Leader and the Ascended—the people of the highest level in the society—loved fucking with us. They gave us the power to rule through the backdoors of not just America, but all of Europe and parts of Asia, but they kept power over us.

When I was still living in Honeycutt, after my father was arrested and our assets were seized, I used to dream about the day I got out, made a name for myself, and had a family of my own.

Kids of my own.

I’d give them everything I never got. Safety, security, protection. Love.

But those dreams died when I joined Icarus. They might’ve had control over me, but I wasn’t letting them have control of anyone else I cared about.

It had been so long since I resolved myself to that kind of life I almost forgot about it until I found the Leader in my kitchen this morning, waiting for me with coffee in hand.

“Drop the girl,” he had ordered before even handing me the cup.

Good thing, too, or else I would’ve launched the steaming mug at his head.

“Why?”

His white brow had raised. I had never questioned him—at least, not out loud.

The Leader had waited for me to bow my head in submission.

I hadn’t, choosing to stare at him dead on. No matter the station, I didn’t lower myself to another man. Certainly not one as arrogant as the Leader. He might’ve thought he had me by the balls, but only I got to say how fucking hard.

“She’s not for you,” was all he had said. Which wasn’t good enough for me.

I had crossed my arms over my bare chest, waiting. He wanted me to end things with the sweetest little Georgia peach I ever had, he was going to give me a reason that had me scared.

And then he had.

Any fight in my body had fled at that moment.

“Okay, I’ll do it,” is what I had told him, while internally I made a promise to myself.

I had to keep Mady safe.

It didn’t matter how much she hated me. As long as she was alive.

“Tonight. At the party.”

“Tonight,” I had repeated back.

So I had told her not to come. Tried to delay the inevitable.

If she didn’t come, I could’ve tried to steal more time with her. One last time to taste her, to hold her.

The last thing I had wanted to do tonight, or any night, was have a party. All the ones I had ever hosted were because Icarus had told me to. Tonight’s had been no different.

Anything for Icarus. The pain in my ass Sons of Icarus.

And ever the dutiful servant, the task was done.

“Satisfied?” I struggled to unclench my teeth as I stared at him now, my hatred for him at war with the wreckage I caused myself.

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