Page 11 of Secret Betrayals
“Any excuse for a cookout, we take it. We know this meeting was important and had to be today, but with my niece and her momma being my brother’s world... plans couldn’t change.”
My breath catches in my throat. I cover it quickly with a cough. The name doesn’t need to be said. We all know who he means. I hear a low growl beside me. I reach out, placing a firm hand on Sebastian’s arm, giving him a warning look. Now’s not the time. We don’t need questions—not yet. Sebastian knows more than he’s ever admitted, but I won’t push. He’ll talk when he’s ready. Just because I kept my distance from Talon doesn’t mean I don’t know about his life. I do.
Torturing myself with it has been my pastime. I’ve mastered the art.
I refocus just in time to hear the tail end of Axel’s speech.
“… as much as it pained Talon, he understood this meeting was necessary. So here we are.”
There’s a scoff behind me—Malikai. I ignore it. Axel gestures around the yard like he's proud. The party's still buzzing, but most people have stopped to watch us. The kids and old ladies, especially. The brothers? They look uneasy. Good. They should. The amount of security with me isn’t subtle. Sammy sent half a team, but it's still overkill. He did it to make a statement.
I take a step forward, flanked by Malikai and Sebastian. Armand stays close behind, silent and unreadable. I smile and offer Axel my hand. His eyes widen when Armand steps back.
“Axel, good to meet you. I’m Gabe Barone. This is Armand—not my husband, not their father, and definitely not the one in charge.”
My smirk widens as the shock rolls through the men behind him. A few let comments slip, but I ignore them. Malikai and Sebastian don’t—they shift forward protectively, but I stop them with a raised hand.
Let the idiots process.
“This is Sebastian and Malikai,” I continue, calm and firm. “They’ll be attending the meeting. Armand is my right hand.”
Axel opens his mouth to speak, probably to recover, but I shut it down quick.
“Please, show us the way.”
No time for jaw collecting.
Maybe I’m being a bitch. I don’t care. This is business, and once that’s over, the personal side of this visit will come knocking. And when it does? God help them. If they start shit, they won’t win. No one ever wins against a Barone.
Axel chuckles to himself, and some men behind him follow suit. Not sure if it’s nerves or respect. Doesn’t matter.
Some of their faces I recognize, others I don’t. A few look at me like they’re trying to place where they’ve seen me before. Good luck, boys. You won’t get there unless I want you to.
“Well, shit. My bad, Mrs. Barone,” Axel says, scratching the back of his neck. “We were told we’d be meeting a ‘Gabe’—just assumed...”
“It’sMiss,” I correct smoothly. “And it’s all right. Reasonable assumption. Just Gabe. Or Gabriella.”
I observe him carefully, but my name doesn’t get a flicker of recognition. I don’t know what I expected. Still, a sharp little pang hits me in the chest, anyway.
“There’s no need for formalities,” I add, voice light but laced with steel. “We all know there are no gentlemen here.”
I point toward the doors, ignoring my men’s stifled laughter. Armand shakes his head, muttering under his breath.
He loves it when I’m like this.
Asshole.
A few jaws clench at my last comment, but they smirk and let it go. Wise move. They don’t want this smoke, even if they think they do.
We head toward the entrance, my men flanking me in formation. I wave off the others, keeping Malikai, Sebastian, and Armand close. I don’t say a word as we pass the crowd.
Axel leans over and says something to one of his guys. I catch the glance he throws me. The one he spoke to moves off toward my soldiers. Probably trying to keep them occupied while the big kids talk business.
The inside of the clubhouse is just as well done as the exterior. Gone is the dingy ’70s brothel vibe—this place looks more like a high-end nightclub now. A bar spans the left wall. There are still the old hallway cutouts I remember, but not much has changed in the layout. As we walk, the memories come—unwanted, uninvited.
I shake them off. Not today.
Girl, cut that shit out.
