Page 80 of Beast: Part Two

“You need to make a choice, Nathaniel. A hard one.”His words swam in my head. He was right, I was going to have to make a choice. The first of many choices is the reason I called this meeting.

The children were outside with Ms. Reese, along with all five dogs. I look around my dining room, which we've turned into our very own headquarters. Twin and Malia are sitting at the head of the table. His two laptops are in front of him, but he’s focused on her. Ari and Many are standing against the wall. She’s whispering something in his ear that makes him laugh. Hawk and Brooklyn share a side of the rectangular table. His hand rests on her rounded belly.

In the chair beside Brooklyn is Summer. Her gaze keeps flicking to Beast who is standing beside Alicia at the other end of the table. She’s showing him something on her tablet. As if Alicia could sense my gaze, she looks up at me. Our eyes lock and I’m reminded of the conversation she and I had earlier this morning. She gives me a subtle reassuring smile before going back to her conversation with Beast.

Maksim is sitting in the chair in front of Summer. Zel is beside him and Fem is on the other side of Zel. The only other person in the room is Kyra, who is leaning against the back wall.

I clear my throat to get everyone’s attention. All eyes turn to me.

“I brought you all here because, going forward we will need everyone on the same accord. Until this moment, we’ve been trying to figure out the best approach to handle the excommunication order. It seems the only way to clear our name is to go after Corbyn.”

“Finally,” Lucien grumbles.

“It’s about time,” Hawk says, leaning forward on the table.

Part of me feels guilty about their stance on this. I’ve made my boys believe they are invincible. I’ve taught them to fear no one, but they haven’t fully grasped what we are up against.

“You may want to save your excitement,” Maksim says. “This won’t be easy.”

“There you go again,” Beast states glaring at his brother. “Every time we mention Corbyn, you try to steer us in another direction. Are you sure you’re clear on where your loyalties lie?”

I can feel this going left, I quickly interfere. “Maksim is right. Everything I’ve learned about Corbyn tells me we are up against a monolith. One that has the time, means, and resources to fight back.”

The next part of this conversation is not going to go over well, but they need to hear it.

“Because of that,” I continue. “We’re going to need all our focus on Corbyn. No distractions. I’ve been talking to Kyra and D.O.E has agreed to hide the women and children for as long as it takes. There is a home out in Georgia that is as safe as this one.”

“Absolutely not,” Hawk says.

Shaking my head, I try to get him to see reason. “The moment we make our first strike against Corbyn, he will counter. It’s exactly what happened to Beast and Summer. Corbyn will notplay fair, and he will try to hit us where it hurts the most. That puts the girls at risk.”

“Which is why we need them close to us,” Lucien argues. “I’m not being that far away from Malia and Emory.”

“He’s right,” Hawk states. “Brook is nearly seven months pregnant, I’m not leaving her alone.”

“She won’t be alone,” Kyra chimes in. “The D.O.E will have them highly protected. They will be more guarded than the president. I promise.”

Hawk is already shaking his head.

“I don’t understand the problem,” Zel says. “We’re finally going after Corbyn and finishing this. What’s a few days or weeks without your wife?”

“Easy for you to say, you don’t have one.” Lucien scoffs.

“I’m glad,” Zel counters. “Maybe if you weren’t so busy up Malia’s ass 24/7 we could’ve found Corbyn already.”

“What the fuck did you just say to me?” Lucien stands, pushing his chair back.

“Babe, calm down,” Malia grabs his arm and tugs him back in his seat. “If it means keeping you guys safe, I don’t mind leaving.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” he says as if it’s final.

This is getting out of hand. “Everyone is sacrificing something for this,” I say.

“Except for you,” Ari says. “Is Aurora being sent away?”

“They will need my help here. But Ms. Reese is taking Charlie, which means Nathaniel and I are sacrificing.”

Many scoffs pushing away from the wall. “So, you would have us send our women away, but you would keep yours here.”

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