Page 39 of Havoc

“What are her plans?” Hendrix asked me.

Hoping he could tell me something I didn’t know, our friendship was over, that much was for sure, I simply replied, “I don’t know, she hasn’t told me.”

“So why are you here?”

I then turned on him. Someone I once considered a friend and now saw the true reason he hid behind so many. He was a scared little boy. It had always been Presley who wore the pants out of the two of them.

“You know exactly why I’m here,” I replied. I could feel the bile rise in my throat, even talking to this coward was setting me off.

Hendrix looked at me, his dark eyes telling me he did because he’d had his spies down here reporting back to him.

“All right,” I heard someone call out, breaking eye contact with him. “If we can have some quiet. Can we have the kingpins sit down, and we’ll start.”

Where the fuck was Presley?

Everyone sat at the table, and those who weren’t important, stayed to the sides. Hendrix stayed by my side, even though I could feel the hatred seeping from him, and I watched on, waiting for Presley to turn up. She must have a play at hand.

Presley was going to make an entrance.

I hoped.

“Gideon was a great leader for Sydney, he was ruthless, and he was strong, but he has been in the ground long enough for us to announce a new kingpin. Sonora, please stand.”

Sonora took her spot, looking regal as fucking ever. I hated her. I hated what she was doing to Presley, but most of all, I hated that none of them could see what she had been doing until right now.

As much as I hated to admit it, Sonora knew how to play the game.

“As we all can respect, announcing another can take a lot of decision making. I am proud to say I think the next one will be great, mentored by Gideon himself all his life, and it stays in the family, which means little to no change of roles.”

Jett stood. “I think I know where this is going, Sonora. If it is indeed the case, I think you need to recuse yourself from proceedings.”

Sonora was annoyed, judging by her thin lips. I thought she’d respond but instead the man who had called us all to attention rose from his seat. “Thank you, Jett. I think we can forgo any formal traditions in the wake of things.”

Another man spoke up, this one was on the other side of Sonora. “Jett’s right. Tradition is tradition. Sonora, sit down and we’ll continue on your behalf.”

Jett sat down as Sonora did, keeping his eye on her. She didn’t take her eye off Jett, but Jett wasn’t intimidated. If anything, he was waiting for Sonora to make a move. Ebony would be on her like white on rice if she dared threaten her man. That’s why Jett and Ebony worked, they were made for each other and their passion was legendary.

The man who spoke first stood. “Before we get underway, let us all have our say. Any objections to contenders?”

The door swung open and bullets flew through the air. I turned, my hand on my own gun, to see Presley walking in, shooting at the table. It was only then that I saw she had taken out most of the heads sitting down except for Sonora and Jett.

“I do.”

Everyone was on the ground, looking up at her in shock. Hendrix was cowering behind me, as he normally did when shit got tough.

“Presley.”

“Sonora, what a surprise to see you here.”

“What the hell, Presley!” Deacon rushed at her, but she turned her gun on him. He backed up quickly. Sonora pulled a gun out herself and was about to train it on Presley when I shot at her hand. She dropped the gun quickly and clutched her hand to her chest.

“I read something interesting about you, Sonora.”

“You had the wise men killed and stole their files. I wondered who would have the guts.”

“I always did wonder why he kept you around. After all, you didn’t want this life and yet here you are, front and fucking centre.”

“I didn’t want this life? I was born into it, child. I’ve seen terrors you could only imagine. I am the syndicate, I am the ultimate kingpin but because I’m a woman and I have children, I am not considered.”

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