Page 20 of Reign
Walking into the clubhouse, I take in the man’s appearance as he sits at one of the round tables dressed in black pants and a long-sleeve black shirt with a weird emblem sitting over his heart and an AK-47 strapped across his chest. He sits back, eyeing me as he smokes a cigarette.
“And who the fuck are you?” I ask with a raised brow. My hands sitting loosely on my hips, my fingers itching to reach for my pistols. Slash hangs from chains behind him with two goons on each side, also with guns strapped to their chests. The cries from the women who trusted us most linger in the room.This is supposed to be a safe place for the people we care about, and yet again, the enemy just waltzes in, causing havoc under my nose.
“Walker Brooks, leader of The Brotherhood. It’s a pleasure to finally meet the famous Jade Rivers,” he coos, and I roll my eyes.
“I’d say the pleasure is all mine, but that would be a lie. You have some balls coming here after what you did to my home. Ishould kill you right now, but I’m a very curious woman. So tell me, how can I help you this fine evening?” I ask with a sickly-sweet tone. He stands, and my fingers automatically tighten around the dagger sitting at my hip. The guys shift slightly behind me.If you’re not paying attention, you wouldn't notice how subtle it is.
“My apologies for the mess I created, but it seems one of your men killed someone of importance to me and...” he trails off, looking behind him then back at me with a sinister smile across his face. “And it seems Marshall is missing. Would you happen to know anything about that?” he asks, tilting his head as his eyes rake up my body. The growl that leaves Jamie’s mouth is evidence that he does not like this man or the words coming from his mouth.On my signal, Jamie will pounce and rip this man to shreds.
“I’m sorry, Walker, but you are going to have to be a little more specific. I don’t know a Marshall. And why would you assume I would know his whereabouts?” I ask as he takes a step closer to me. I immediately put my hand up to stop my men from making a move and raise a brow at the man before me. His hazel eyes snap to mine, and I can see deceit and want flowing through them, but his good looks aren’t going to get anywhere with me. No other man can ever grab my attention like the ones behind me, so this fucker can use his charm all he wants.Little does he know that I have a bigger dick than he does, and I’m not afraid to use it.He takes another step, and I still keep my hand up, with my other one on the handle of my knife, ready and waiting, because I really wish this motherfucker would.
“Because he was sent to distract you all earlier today, but it seems he never returned and his location is off. The last time he was seen was at your Mill before—well, you know the rest.” He smirks, and I narrow my eyes.
“I still have no idea who you are talking about. No one showed up at my place of business,” I lie, and he reaches up, tucking my hair behind my ear. My grip tightens on my knife the closer he gets to me, and I know my men want to pounce, but they won’t disrespect my orders in front of others, not unless it's warranted.
“We both know that’s a lie. What happened to your gorgeous face? Don’t tell me one of these jokers beat you?” He scoffs, letting the accusations linger in the air. I laugh, licking my lips and inching closer to him.
“These men behind me would never hurt a hair on my head. If anything, they are waiting for me to set them loose, and trust me, Walker,” I mock, “make one wrong move and I’ll be the last face you ever see,” I whisper, and he nods, taking a step back.
“Very well, so you say you don’t know where Marshall is, but what about Tyson?” he asks, and I roll my eyes again, getting really fucking bored with this conversation.
“Again, I don’t know who that is,” I tell him, and he smirks.
“Now, there’s the truth. You don’t know him, but your boys do,” he says, pointing behind me. I don’t turn and look.I’m not stupid enough to take my eyes off him, or his men, for even a second.
“And what makes you so sure?” I ask, and he chuckles.
“Because it was part of the plan. You see, I tried to get what was owed to me. Ask the blond. He knows the deal that was made,” he says, nodding at Jamie, who is standing to my right. Taking a deep breath, I still don’t budge—continuing to listen to him dribble on. “But since my plan failed, and you killed all of my men, I figured I’d send a decoy in—a fake. I knew you would let in a Devils Incarnate, and there’s nothing better than making a deal with a devil to get closer to what I want. So, I put a plan in motion. Paid a lot of money for this, so…” he trails off, clappinghis hands as he takes a step back, picking up his glass and taking a sip of amber liquid.
“What is it that you want, Walker?” I ask in a bored tone.
“A life for a life, and it looks to me—you owe me two,” he says, and I laugh, causing him to send the glass across the room to my left, shattering against the wall. “This is not a game, Ms. Rivers. And I don’t find this to be particularly funny,” he spits, and I cover my amusement and put on my game face.
“My apologies, Walker. I just don’t think that type of deal is workable. I’m pretty sure we are even,” I say, but his eyes narrow.
“We had a deal,” he growls.
“Not with me. Not with my family,” I snap.
“The kid belongs to us. He is an heir, and you have no business keeping him,” he says, and I shake my head.
“Jaxon is my son. He may have rancid Pierce blood in him, but he has Rivers—” But he interrupts me, and I realize my mistake.
“He doesn’t though now, does he? There are no ties to you or your bloodline. Hand him over and no one else will get hurt,” he orders.
“And if I don’t?” I ask, raising a brow.
“Then you leave me no choice. I will come for one of your husbands and one of your children. A life for a life.” He smiles.
“You will be dead before you even get close! I promise you that,” I threaten, and he takes a step towards me. Taking out my knife, I hold it up in front of me, ready to sink it into his throat.
“Or you can come with me. These are your options. This can all go away tonight.”
“For how long?” I ask, and that sets my guys off. I raise my free hand to shut them up.Why can’t they ever just fucking trust me?
“That’s up for debate. So many factors,” he says, and I smile. Suddenly his phone goes off, and he steps back to answer it, causing me to take a few steps back myself, never taking my eyes off of him.
“Jade, he’s not who he says he is. I’ve met the leader of The Brotherhood, and he isn’t him,” Jamie whispers into my ear.
