Page 119 of Consume Me

My phone vibrates, and I pluck out mine and see him do the same. There’s a message from Cassandra in our group chat.

I expect you at six p.m. at the estate.

“What if she doesn’t accept our plan?”

“She has to. It’s the only way, and Kaden will back us up.”

When we reach our house, we rush to the living room, where the group has gathered.

“It’s our way or no way,” Kaden says.

We all nod,and the sense of unity infuses me with strength. This is all I have ever wanted—a place to belong, a family of my own. And my friends are that family.

“This is our legacy. We won’t hide behind our names and the influence of the Family,” he adds, and then we head outside to the cars.

Blake’s grip on me tightens as I move to go with the girls.

“See you there,” I say and kiss him.

“I don’t like being separated from you.”

I sigh dreamingly and lift onto my toes to kiss him again. But, being him, he deepens the kiss, making me dizzy on my feet. With a slap on my ass, he lets me go, and I can’t stop giggling.

When I hop into the backseat of Abi’s car, she grins at me from the rearview mirror.

“So are you happy?” Celine asks.

“He’s everything I have ever dreamed of and more.”

“We know,” Bailey says, going back to her phone. “But I am happy he finally allowed himself to be happy.”

“You really think so?” I ask, chewing my lip.

“Come on, the way he looks at you says everything,” Celine says.

“Yes, he can’t keep his eyes and lips off of you.” Abi winks at me.

“I just want this over with,” I sigh.

“We all do,” Celine says, and the car falls silent until we reach the compound.

Samuel lets us in at the estate, and we walk down the long hallway until we reach the matriarch’s office. Cassandra is at her desk with her poker face on.

Kaden steps in front of the group and says, “Did you make the calls, Ma’am?”

“I did, but that doesn’t mean I like your plan.” She stands up. “If we do this, we open ourselves to alliances that our founding fathers never wanted. The Family’s credo has been to live in the shadows.”

“Felix and Caleb changed that. We have to adapt,” I say, and Cassandra looks at me and nods.

“Who’s going to represent the Family in the underground?” she urges.

“I will,” Blake says without even thinking about it.

“Anyone have a problem with that?”

“No, Blake can and will do it,” Kaden says.

We all nod while I swallow the lump of worry. We’re inviting danger, but Blake needs that as well. There’s a dark side of him, and while I hope I can light it up, letting it out whenever he needs to protect the Family will help him more. I don’t care as long as he stays here, and we can build our legacy.

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