Page 87 of Unravelling The Beast

"You're playing with the fucking devil, sweetheart, but rest assured, Lil won’t have to deal with even a fraction of what you're dealing with."

I just search his piercing blue eyes, speechless, but when I hear Lily, I rest back and break our intense stare off.

"Are you guys okay?"

Jasper stands to allow her to return to her seat and I give her a small smile.

"Yeah, everything is fine."

It’s late in the evening and I am seated at the head of the table in our huge meeting room, reclined back with my ankle resting across my knee.

With a sigh, I set my elbow on the arm of my chair and tugged on my bottom lip with my fingers, watching everyone negotiate in front of me. I move my focus on the cradle that swings back and forth on the table, attempting to block out the nonsense being said by all the Elite criminals.

My thoughts turn to Wren, and I soon find myself unable to get her off my fucking mind, wondering if she's safe or home yet. Then I wonder why I care; she’s supposed to be just a fuck.

I glance down at my phone on the desk in front of me, considering reaching out to her, but I stop myself just as James Sinns speaks.

"Charles, arms and narcotics are going great, but we need to step up our game. We can't keep holding back any longer; we have to take it all."

Then Ashton Draco speaks up, and my gaze is drawn to him.

"James is correct, Charles. We need to expand."

I look at my dad as soon as he opens his mouth.

"What do you both suggest?"

My eyes wander around until I spot Savannah sitting at the opposite end of the long table from me. She's the only woman in here, and she clearly believes she's entitled to be because her father is.

She has her tits on full display wearing a low-cut black dress, inviting every man to gawk at her, but she fucking disgusts me. I despise the cunt. She'd seem attractive to any sane man, but I know precisely what she is.

I can't really judge considering the insane shit I do, and in reality, we'd make the perfect couple in the Elite world, but I loathe her, and her begging, needy behavior makes me want to puke. She doesn’t give a fuck about me; she’s only interested in one thing she can gain from me.Power.

Her crystal blue eyes burrow into mine from afar, and she licks her lips delicately before giving me a devious smirk, but when James speaks again, I break eye contact.

"I propose we move onto live cargo. I know all the right people in the Russian Mafia, and the money is good. It's the greatest time to join forces right now in New York too, since the system is slowly disintegrating."

My angry eyes dart between my dad and James, and I grit my teeth just as my dad is going to respond.

"We don't do human trafficking. When are you going to get that through your thick, fucking skull?"

My dad sounds a warning tone at me.

"Arlo..."

He should know better; I'm not fucking ten years old anymore, and I own this shit just as much as he does.

Ashton now decides to open his big, fucking mouth, drawing my attention.

"Arlo, we need to expand this business, and trafficking is the only logical next step; it's very profitable."

My eyes flare with rage as I sense wrath growing within me at an alarming rate, and I expose my teeth.

"I don't give a fuck, you greedy cunt. We Hayes don't do rape or shift fucking heartbeats!"

When I see my dad turn my way, I can sense he's considering it, so I give him a harsh look.

"Don't fucking attempt to undermine me, old man. For many years, this has been a rule of ours, a rule and vowel you fucking made with me."

---