Page 52 of Believe In Us

I can see the veins on Kane’s neck twitching in anger, but before he can respond to my insult, Zeke comes forward. “I want no more business with you and your father Silver. Wesley’s death was the best damn thing that happened for me and my boys.”

“Wesley’s death is as insignificant as he was,” I scoff, scowling deeply at him. “You know Zeke, Wes was never really the one in charge, especially not of the KISS. You’re in trouble, the gun violence staining these pretty little streets of yours is getting out of control. I’m here to help you out. I mean the last thing you want is the Feds showing up around here asking questions about these infamous, ghost gun suppliers. You need out of the gun trade, but you also need more money than what you're making dealing for my father.”

“I already told your old man before, I don’t want in on his fucking poison. I let my men deal for him because I’m no one to stop them from making a living for themselves, but my club wants no part of it.” Zeke takes a step forward meeting me head on. He smells of sweat, tobacco, and cheap bourbon, a nauseating scent. “He’s offered before and I kindly declined. Don’t make me say it again.”

I can’t help the smirk that appears on my face at his show of power. I may be more than half this man’s age, but in our trade, wealth, and status reign supreme. He knows well enough I sit at the top of the food chain while he kisses the bottom of my feet. The only downside to that, Kane sit’s right beside me on the devil’s gilded throne.

“The difference is now, you need it,” I respond, making a point to walk around him and directly speak to his men who watch us intently. “Your boys won’t be making shit without the guns andwithout the supply.” I turn back to Zeke, who’s scowl proves he knows I’m right. “You take this deal, you’ll be seeing a lot more than your feeble little minds can imagine.”

“So what do you say, St. Germain?” Beck asks, surprising me by coming forward to pat Zeke on the back looking all businesslike. Well what do you know, looks like someone’s willing to learn after all.

“Welcome to The Cobras Clubhouse boys.”

Chapter

Twenty-Six

JADE

Imet Liam down by the football field just like he said, choosing to wait by his convertible in the parking lot in case any of the cheerleaders or lacrosse guys felt the need to let Sebastian know they saw me walking off with him. The last thing I need is for Bass to head back from wherever it is he’s going to stop me. I lean back against the car watching as Liam appears out of the guys locker room, freshly showered and looking so damn good. His hair is wet and tousled in perfect golden blond waves, biceps nearly ripping through the dark blue T-shirt, and his dark jeans snugly fitted around his massive thighs. Is it just me or is it suddenly hot out here?

“Hey there gorgeous,” he says as he reaches me, throwing his bag into the trunk that suddenly pops open. I don’t answer him, my eyes slowly following his every movement.

After closing the trunk he moves to the driver side not bothering to open the door for me, which I kind of expected. “Are youready to go?” he asks, “Or are you just going to stand there and stare.”

A genuine, playful smile comes out of me at his refreshing attitude, “Well I mean look at you Walker, walking out of the locker room looking like that and smelling like a fucking rainy day, it’s hard not to become enamored.”

“Nah Wolfe, we both know you like them broody, moody, and smelling like death,” he jokes, taking a less than subtle dig at Bass.

The drive out to Roman’s apartment doesn’t take long though my anxiety is through the roof. To be honest I think at one point I might have dazed off, envisioning how the conversation with Roman would play out. Let’s just say it wasn’t pretty. I know my brother's been practically begging me to give him a chance to explain himself to me, but that’s not what I’m going to him for. I need answers, and if he’s willing to share those, then I’ve decided everything else is water under the bridge.

Liam pulls into an empty parking space right next to a car I recognize. Looks like Drake’s also here again. I overheard Stella saying the guys were looking for a place to move into once school was done and over with, so I’m imagining Drake mentioned his little bachelor pad.

Liam follows closely behind me as we walk up the stairs and head toward Roman’s door.

I lift my hand to knock but freeze before my knuckles touch the wood. Liam’s hand comes to rest above mine as he steps forward.

“I’m here Jade, we can turn away and leave if it’s what you want or we can do this together either way, I’m here for you.”

Just as I’m about to knock, the door is swung open and Roman appears on the other side. His eyes remain expressionless but his posture stiffens as he stares at me tentatively, blinking a few times to ensure it’s really me.

“Jade,” he mutters under his breath, the shock evident in the way his voice fades out. I don’t react, don’t say anything thatgives him any idea as to why I’m here or in what kind of mood I’m in.

Suddenly, his eyes leave mine and travel behind me to where Liam stands, his eyebrows creasing as a scowl forms across his lips. I swear I hear him growl, reminding me of the possessiveness I’m all too familiar with. That’s the last thing I need.

“Wow, my baby sister has admirers, glad to see you at least got rid of Silver,” That Son of a fucking bitch.

“Fuck you Roman,” I shout, slapping him as I turn and stalk away. My palm stings, pulsating from the force of the blow.

“Wait Jade,” Roman calls out, making me halt in my tracks and turn to face him. “I’m sorry okay, I don’t know how I’m supposed to go about all of this,” he adds, rubbing his cheek where my palm made his skin red. Liam watches between the two of us, but I can’t make out what he’s thinking. Probably just taking in our appearance and wondering how the hell we can be related.

Liam doesn’t know this side of me. He sees a pretty girl, who is parentless sure, but still looks as shiny and new as the chicks he’s used to. I can transform into that when it matters, but Roman looks like the hell he’s been through. Tattoos covering his body, scars on every inch of skin that’s left unmarked by ink. My brother still remains as beautiful as he’s always been, another family curse I’m afraid, but you can see the life he’s lived in the depths of his bottomless green eyes. That’s where we are the same, in the hurt that lies in the windows to our souls, that’s what Liam has yet to see in me, and I’m afraid he’s in for quite a surprise.

“You think I know Roman. You think after all these years, after everything you’ve done, I’m standing before you knowing what will come next. I have no fucking clue, but I’m also not the weak-willed little girl you left to fend for herself, I’m not a pushover who’s going to forgive everything because you all of a sudden want to be back in my life, and for all the wrong reasons I’m sure.”

“I told you I want to explain everything to you Jade, to come clean, I just need you to give me a chance.”

“Well I’m here Roman, but not without conditions. You want me to listen to your sob story about how you fell in with the two most dangerous of devils, well you have to answer my questions too, starting with who are Kane Dalton and The Order?”

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