Page 120 of Snake

“I’m glad they made you proxy at the mine in the meantime though,” Ophelia goes on, as if she’s tried too many times to convince Jet of her side of things. “Now at least you can make sure that horrible piece of legislation will never see the light of day.”

It’s fucking surreal hearing the Harts discuss stuff the Serpents told me in secrecy. To have it laid out so plainly.

“Oh, that reminds me,” Vicky says, hastily taking a swallow of wine before twisting in her seat to look at Silas. “Will you please ask your mother to ring up the mine’s office on Monday? We’ve been trying to get hold of her for the settlement for days already.”

“Settlement?” Silas says in a thick voice. “You mean...the mine’s actually going to pay out?”

I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this shocked before. A patch of color pops up on his cheeks, his eyes suddenly bright.

“Oh of course, sweetie. I made sure of it.” Vicky nods a few times. “Littlerock Mining Company is done exploiting its workers. I don’t know how much I can do until I’m voted in as the majority shareholder, but I’m doing everything I can to fix things.”

“With all this talk about making things official...” Jet slowly gets to his feet, turning to me.

I almost choke on a pea when I realize he’s waiting for me to acknowledge him. For a terrible second, I wonder if he’s going to chastise me for using the wrong knife.

“Our lawyers tell us the final paperwork is being drafted.” Then he flaps his hand, urging me to stand.

I do so reluctantly, tugging on the hem of my cream-colored blouse. The Serpents—shit, I should probably stop calling them that—my men dressed me in a tan skirt and a cream-colored blouse with pretty, voluminous arms. I feel like a doll—but in a good way this time. And every time someone sees me for the first time, they give me this weird double take, and then smile.

At first, it creeped me out. But now I’m starting to like it. I’ve never in my life turned heads, but suddenly I’m the center of attention.

I glance at my men, and they each have a warm, encouraging smile on their face. Silas even goes so far as to wink at me.

Pushing back my shoulders, I turn and face Jet, my hands clasped nervously in front of me as I wait for whatever announcement he’s about to make.

“Come this time next week,” Jet says with a grin. “You’ll be a Hart.”

My stomach drops out, a flurry of pins and needles rushing through my fingertips. “A Hart?” I parrot, my tongue wooden in my mouth.

“Let’s all raise a glass to the newest addition to our family,” Ophelia says, standing beside Jet.

One by one, everyone at the table gets up and lifts their glasses. Even Gray, although he’s openly brooding about it.

“Here’s to Nim Hart! May your legacy light a fire that will burn bright for generations to come!”

Everyone sips from their glasses, but I down mine. It’s that or puke. I don’t know why I’m suddenly so nervous. Maybe it’s to do with the fact that I just realized that, around here, people have babies young.

I know for a fact everyone at this table has seen me being kissed by one of my men, if not more than one. I don’t know what they think about our relationship, but if I’m not mistaken, Jet was basically just telling me I had to start thinking about my legacy.

Kids.

With three men.

How in the hell do I manage that?

Or am I supposed to choose?

I snort-laugh into my empty glass as I hurriedly sit down, before my legs can give out and make me even more embarrassed.

Choose between Knox, Silas, and Mason?

Never in a million years. Even if I wanted to, I don’t think it’s possible.

I’ve never felt whole like this before...and I’m not talking about my last name changing to Hart, either.

The Serpents gave me purpose. It was a shitty, self-destructive purpose, but they brought back to life a part of me I thought long dead.

I know I’m still young, that they’re still young, but that doesn’t mean I’m not sure about this. My parents knew in high school that they were destined to be together forever.

I’m not going to get caught up in semantics. I love my men. They love me. It’s not up to me to decide if the origin of our love was pure or not.

It is now, and that’s all matters.

I belong with them, and that’s all that matters.

This Hart has finally found her way home. Now that I’m here, I’m here to stay.

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