Page 34 of Murder & Mayhem

The look he gives me is a clear challenge, daring me to try. However, I get the impression it’s not because he thinks he’s better than me… more like he’d enjoy the battle; the fight for dominance.

He taps his fingers against the cheap, plastic tabletop. “You know, you and I are going to have to learn to get along.”

I scoff. I never trusted him, but I sure as shit don’thaveto do anything when it comes to him. “And why is that?”

He slides out of the booth, holding my gaze the entire time, until he’s leaning over the table, forcing me to tilt my head back to look up at him. “Because whether you like it or not, our futures are intertwined. You don’t have to like the fact that I’m an Antonelli. You don’t even need to trust me, for now… but youdoneed to accept that I’m not going anywhere.”

On that cryptic statement, he walks out, leaving me wondering what exactly he meant by that declaration.

***

Tonight is Jon’s first official fight. He’s eighteen now, and by Cain’s rules, old enough to participate in the pit fights. The club is alive with energy as I look around, everyone excited to watch him dominate. Looking around as the Rejects drink and celebrate, the atmosphere is lighthearted, as though Jon has already won. They arethatconfident in him. Having been on the other end of his attacks in the gym, I can understand why. He’s brutal; savage, and I have no doubt he will win his fight tonight.

All the same, I’m here to support him, and, despite wanting to keep Luc as far away from all that violence, alcohol, and drugs, I’ve said he could watch. The other kids will be there cheering Jon on, and I’m trying out this wholerelaxed parentingthing—which is complete fucking bullshit, by the way. Going against my instincts to wrap him up in bubble wrap and lock him inside our apartment is fucking exhausting.

“Jon’s fight is up next,” Cain remarks, glancing at a text on his phone.

As Cain, Oliver, and I get to our feet, ready to head over to the gym, I spot Luc and the kids as they enter the bar. “Hey, squirt,” I call out, earning a glower from Luc as the other kids smirk and snicker at his embarrassment.

“Hey,Saw—”

“Time to go,” I bellow over the top of him, throwing him my most deadly glare. Cain and Oliver share a confused look over the top of my head, and I swear I’m going to murder Luc if they start asking questions.

“How you doing, kiddo?” I ask Luc as we head out the door. “Excited for tonight.”

“Oh, yeah. Bones is going to crush it. You should see the moves he’s teaching me.” He shakes his head, obviously in awe. I smile, glad he’s enjoying his lessons with Jon. His eyes are shining with excitement and he’s got a massive grin on his face. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him so happy.

Despite my protests, he’s basically living at the clubhouse now. He spends most nights here when I’m working. And for that, I’m actually thankful. I’m glad he has some company, even if it is the company of gangbangers. I don’t even view them that way anymore. The Rejects are slowly coming to mean something more to me. I’m not sure what exactly, but I no longer see them as the gun-toting, violence-loving idiots that run Downtown Black Creek. Sure, they are absolutely those things, but there is a lot more to them than first meets the eye. These men aren’t simply violent thugs. They live and breathe for a purpose. They’ve all lost something—someone—and most of those losses can be linked back to the Antonellis. But instead of letting that grief tear them down, they have used it to build themselves up. They’ve formed a makeshift family that has one another’s backs. They know without a shadow of a doubt that they aren’t alone, and there’s a lot to be said for that.

“How about dinner tomorrow night, just the two of us? You can tell me all about what Jon’s teaching you.”

His smile is soft. “Yeah, that sounds good.”

Oliver moves to walk beside me, sliding his hand into mine and linking our fingers. Luc cocks a brow at me, silently letting me know we will be talking about more than just Jon’s fighting skills tomorrow night, before running to catch up with the other kids who are up ahead, chatting with Cain.

Switching my attention to Cain, I notice that he seems so much more at ease when he’s with the kids—or pretty much anyone else—than he is around me. There’s always this defensive tone. A casual brush-off attitude, and I don’t understand why. I sigh heavily, refusing to think any more about him. For a guy who I’m not dating, he demands far too much of my time and attention.

Oliver lifts his arm to wrap it around my shoulder, pulling me in against him and kissing the top of my head. It sets off butterflies in my stomach, and I tilt my head back to look up at him with a soft smile.

“Everything will work out,” he assures me, before glancing in Cain’s direction. I don’t understand how he can be so sure. Yeah, Cain and I have made some progress, but not much. And every time we take one step forward, he stomps off in a huff like a little bitch.

“Is that really what you want?” I question. I still find it impossible to wrap my head around how okay he can be about sharing me with another guy—even if that guy is his friend.

“Yeah.” Well, at least he sounds confident about it. “All I want is for him to be happy. And you.”

“I’m not entirely sure Cain and I can make each other happy.”

He just smiles down at me with a knowing twinkle in his eye. “I’ve seen how Sophie and her guys behave around one another. They’re a family, no matter what. They’d protect each other to the death, even if they drive each other mad half the time.”

“And that’s what you want?”

“Isn’t that what anyone wants? People who give enough of a shit to be willing to kill or die in their name?”

“But you and Cain already have that? I know you’d both sacrifice yourselves to save the other.”

“We would. We’d do the same for you too.”

A soft scoff passes my lips. I mean, maybe Oliver would, but Cain? No chance. “Cain might come to my rescue or help. I’d even believe he’d kill for me—and hold it over my head for the rest of my days—but die for me?” Another scoff. “Yeah, I don’t think so.” Nor do I need him to. I don’t want either of them to give up their lives for me. It’s not what I signed up for when I agreed to work for them, and it’s not what I want. My life isn’t worth more than theirs.

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