Page 26 of Still Forever
I stepped into the circle. Hands behind my back.
“If that’s what you call it.” I knew that I had broken the code. But I wasn’t here to be respectful, and I damn sure wasn’t here to be apologetic. They had interrupted my life and taken one of the most important things from me; I wasn’t apologizing for my response to that.
The Matron cocked her head. “And yet, you had time to disobey orders with Kennedy Davenport again.”
I didn’t speak.
“We gave you one directive,” The Don said. “End the relationship and secure the alliance with the Cross Family.”
“My girl ain’t no chess piece,”
“Sheisa chess piece, Jaxon,” the Matron snapped. “Everything outside this room is the board.”
The Muscle stood. He walked toward me slowly, hands in his pockets.
“You’ve made your choice. And now, we’ll make ours.”
I straightened, head high, looking him in the eyes. Ready to accept whatever fate they gave me. He stopped just inches in front of me. I held his stare; if intimidation was what he was going for, he wasn’t going to have any luck here.
“We’re not exiling your organization,” he said. “Not yet. You’re too valuable, you have too much power. You can carry secrets, and you’re good with negotiations.”
“But from this moment forward,” the Matron finished his sentence, now standing from her seat, “we will be watching every move you make. Every. Move.”
“And if Kennedy becomes a problem,” The Don chimed in, “we won’t go through you next time.”
I clenched my jaw. “If anybody touches her-” I didn’t care that I was talking to The Don. Disrespect is met with disrespect.
“No one has to lay a hand,” The Don interrupted. “Accidents happen every day.”
He let the statement hang in the air. Not a threat, but an intention. A promise to stand on what he said.
“Your loyalty isn’t in question, but your judgment is.” The Muscle said smoothly.
“You love her,” the Matron smiled bitterly.
“So now she’s your weakness.”
I didn’t argue.
Because they were right, Kennedy was the only person who could have me in this position.
“Then let me be clear,” I said, voice laced with acid. “If a hair on her head is touched, accident or not. Then I’m going to stop being loyal and start being a muhfucking problem.” I looked each of them in the eye.
All at once, I could see their faces change. The Don’s eyes gleamed with something close to respect before he adjusted his cufflinks. “Dismissed.”
I turned to leave.
“Jaxon,” the Matron called, just before I hit the door.
“Yeah?”
“Clean it up, end it with the girl. Or next time, we’ll be forced to notify the head of the families, and they’ll have this meeting with Kennedy instead.”
I continued walking. No thanks, and no gratitude to them for not notifying the higher powers that I broke orders to see KD.
We walked out of the chambers and down the hallway. I could feel the heat coming from Trouble’s body, but his anger didn’t faze me. He would do the same for Storm, and I knew that without a doubt. As soon as we stepped out the doors, he turned me.
“You think this was a win?” Trouble gritted. His voice was low and sharp. “That wasn’t a pass, Jax. That shit was a warning.”
