Page 105 of Filthy Few

“Oh, but I know he will come back because I made sure everyone knew I had an announcement they didn’t want to miss tonight. I also know those masked freaks have infiltrated my brotherhood and will show themselves tonight to save you.”

“Save me?” I repeat.

“Yes, there will be a wedding tonight and when my son doesn’t show, I will have your hand.” I gasp and step back.

“No!”

“Yes!” he snaps.

“You’re still married to my mom!”

“We were divorced three weeks ago. The joys of having lawyers in The Brotherhood and it's even greater when you have a judge in your pocket to fast track things. You will be the new Mrs. Valerian before the night is out.” Horror washes over me as people fill the room. I try to calm myself but it’s futile. My whole fucking world is turning on its axis, I can’t do this. If I am to marry this son of bitch, then he will have the power to lock me away like he did my mom or worse, he’ll be fucking me. I stumble forward and nearly lose my footing when someone knocks into me but an arm snakes out and grips my own, stopping me from falling face first into the carpeted floor.

I snap my head to the side and instantly the chatter around us becomes white noise as I drink in the sight of him wearing a tux. The tattoos on his neck peek out from the collar of his shirt enhancing the dark aura that naturally clings to him. His eyes are hard and his features are pinched but underneath the hard front he is putting on, I can see tension lining his eyes.

“Vox,” I breathe his name like my prayer has been answered and this evening's events suddenly feel bearable with him being here. The past two weeks of unanswered calls and messages seem to fade away as I breathe in his intoxicating scent.

“Be ready, witch,” he says low enough for only me to hear. He releases my arm and tries to step away but I grip the lapel of his jacket forcing him to stay where he is.

“He’s going to make me marry him, I can’t marry him, Vox.” I watch the mask he wears slip for a moment as he reaches out and cups my cheek. I nuzzle into his touch, pleading with my eyes for him to rescue me from this nightmare.

“I told you, witch, you’re mine and I’ll never let anyone take you from me no matter what it costs me.” The instant he pulls away from me I feel cold and terrified, but there is a slight bubble of hope inside me now that he is here. I look around and scan the growing crowd. I spot Hayze and Archer’s dads, each ofthem give me a slight nod. When Archer and Hayze themselves walk through the grand double doors, the noose I have felt around my neck for the past two weeks begins to loosen. If they are all here then that must mean they have a plan, or at least I hope they have one because I can’t go through with marrying that sleezy fuck.

“Brothers, claim a seat so we may begin.” I face the podium to see a red-haired man standing there, with two men carrying a throne-looking seat onto the dais and it comes as no surprise when Thomas parks his entitled ass on it. I look around for a spare seat but then Thomas calls my name and beckons me to join him. I can feel the numerous eyes of all the members on me as I make my way toward him, but there is one set of eyes I feel burning into the side of my head and I know without a doubt that it's Vox.

As I lift my leg to climb onto the stage a shadow falls over me. I look up to see it’s Hayze. He shoots me a wink and I thank him, his body shielded me from unintentionally flashing the men in the room. I don’t miss the way Thomas glares at my friend when I stand beside him.

“Welcome to the Night Of The Saints, my brothers.” The red-haired man calls out. I look out at the faces in the crowd and it shocks me to see how many of these faces I have seen in town but it’s not just that, it's the many faces of influential men I see that stumps me. “On this night we are here to celebrate the leadership of our lord Thomas Valerian.” Everyone begins clapping and it takes all my willpower not to roll my eyes. “As you are aware, this is just a formality before the party can begin, so let us put this old tradition to bed.” I frown, not following what is happening. “I doubt there will be any complaints but as the law states, I must ask as the keeper of the rules if there are any grievances against our lord?” I can tell from the tone ofhis voice that he suspects everyone will remain silent like they clearly have for years.

A smile so full of self-satisfaction stretches across Thomas’ face as he says. “I think we can move on, David.”

“Of course?—”

The man is cut off when Vox stands. All heads snap toward him and gape at him until Hayze, who is three rows behind Vox, follows his lead. Archer follows his friend's lead and stands but he is seated across the room. His and Hayze’s dads are the next to stand. Murmurs break out and begin to grow in volume as the red-haired guy looks at Thomas for guidance.

Thomas reaches out and grips my wrist. I wince in pain and bite down on my lip to keep from crying out when he yanks me down to hiss in my ear. “You better not have had anything to do with this, bitch.”

“I have no idea what’s going on, I swear,” I grit out through clenched teeth.

“Well… this is unexpected.” Red hair man sounds exasperated and at a loss for words, considering it's his job you would think he would be better equipped for something like this.

“As stated by the code of conduct by The Brotherhood of the Haven Saints, any member with a grievance is given a chance to speak freely and openly in front of The Brotherhood on this night.” Shane speaks clearly and firmly causing more murmurs to break out around the room. I scan some of the faces and see varying ranges of outrage, shock, awe and confusion on members' faces.

“Speak your terms,” Thomas snaps, his grip on my wrist doesn’t lessen and I know for sure that I will have bruises. Shane flicks his gaze to Vox and nods for him to take over. Thomas follows his line of sight and instantly turns rigid. I watch Vox in a sort of trance as he steps forward, without uttering a word or doing a single thing aside from taking a step he has garnered theattention of everyone in the room, his presence alone has a hush falling over the room. It’s almost like they can sense they are in the presence of royalty.

“I hereby vote against the accession of Thomas Valerian.” Shocked gasps and scoffs of outrage break out but Vox ignores them as he pushes on. “I hereby move to have the lord stripped of his title and exiled from The Brotherhood and Hollow Hills.”

Thomas opens his mouth but the keeper of rules beats him to it. “State your terms, brother Hatchett.”

“Thomas broke the code of The Brotherhood when he had Ezekiel Tempest’s father and my own murdered.” Men jump to their feet and begin shouting, while others remain seated with clear shock plastered on their faces. Thomas releases my wrists and pushes to his feet, then stalks toward the edge of the stage.

“You vile bastard?—”

Thomas is cut off again by the keeper of rules. “Lord, you know the rules!” he admonishes in a tone that brokers no wiggle room. Thomas’ face turns crimson as he tries to mask his disgruntlement but he is failing. I can see the hatred he feels toward Vox. “Everyone, quiet!” Surprise washes over me, I thought the keeper of rules was some soft pushover but clearly I was wrong, the guy takes his job seriously and is definitely a stickler for the rules. All the members slowly claim their seats except for Vox, Hayze, Archer, Shane and Henry, who remain standing but now all converge in the center of the room in front of the stage. Vox’s gaze cuts to mine and I see it, the past two weeks he hasn’t been around wasn’t because he wanted to leave me, he needed this time to gather the proof he needed to end this bullshit with Thomas and set me free.

“I will not stand here and be accused of murder without being able to defend myself, David,” Thomas shouts.

“Your title holds no power now that the court has been brought into session, in these matters I am the one deemed withthe highest ranking. Be seated now… please,” David the rule keeper snaps back. Thomas purses his lips and marches back to his chair but not before grabbing my arm and forcing me back with him. As if appearing out of nowhere, my guard materializes beside me and grabs my other arm just as Thomas let’s go. “State your proof,” David asks Vox.

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