I nod, because they were. It was always strange.
He steps up to me, leaving the smoke in his mouth. “Do you feel that?” he asks, tilting his head.
I look deep into his eyes, a sense of peace washing over me. The fire I had burning for so many years from undying hate toward Lucan had gone out. Smiling, I nod. “Yeah.”
He blows out a cloud of smoke. “At least that’s one of us.” He narrows his eyes at me.
I frown. “You still hate me?”
His eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “No, fuck.” His eyes dart around the place. “It’s just—never mind. But I don’t hate you. I feel peace with you now.” Then he smiles. The first time I have ever seen Brantley smile, and it’s at me. I want to jump on him and hug him, but that’s probably going too fast for him. Baby steps.
Turning back around, wrapping my arms around Bishop, I look over his shoulder, directly at Hunter and Jase. My brothers. Biological brothers with Daemon.
Hunter steps backward, shaking his head and walking straight toward the parked car, slamming the door behind him. I frown, my shoulders dropping. I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t for Hunter to act like that. He’s always been warm toward me.
Jase just stares at me, his dark eyes glued to mine. The last string in my heart is about to snap when he smiles at me. Giving me a wink. For the older brother, that surprises me. I haven’t spent much time with Jase, if any, but I know in that moment that will change.
Bishop tucks me under his arm as the rest of the boys walk back to the cars. He looks at his dad. “Want me to call Katsia about this mess, or do you want to?” he asks his dad, nudging his head toward the destruction on the road.
Hector looks at me and then looks at Bishop. “I’ll call her.” Then he looks to me. “There was a reason for my bringing you here tonight, and it wasn’t that.”
I sink into Bishop, and his grip tightens around me. “Though, I did plan to tell you that you’re adopted.” He looks to Bishop. “But you see, as much as I love my son, he did something bad tonight. Something that is against our rules. And we only have one rule, Madison.” Hector looks right at me, and chills break out over my flesh. “So now that your adoption is exposed, I guess it’s only fair I find something else to tell you since my son is so trigger happy tonight.”
I look up at Bishop. Trigger happy?
Hector steps forward, pushing his hands into his pockets. “I’m sure you’re familiar with the initiation process of a King?” he questions, looking at me. I nod. “Very good. So you know…” He gestures behind him, and Khales reemerges from the shadows. Bishop freezes, his grip turning to steel. “…that Khales was Bishop’s…” My head spins and my stomach recoils. Someone else steps out of the shadows. “…as was your adopted ‘mother.’”
The End
I just want to thank everyone who has helped contribute to not only my stories, but to my sanity. Don’t all laugh at once!
First of all, my children and partner. They’re my rock, my home, my loves, and my most favorite people walking this earth. Everything I do, I do for them.
I want to thank my family who continues to support me.
Isis! My best bitch. Somewhere between a sister and a soul mate. You’ve been my #1 supporter, counselor, therapist, just basically my all-around PERSON. You’re my person.
My Wolf Pack! You girls keep me going even on my darkest of days. You make me smile when I want to frown—this is getting soppy… oh look! The D…
My betas, thank you for reading my unedited words. Truly, you probably deserve a medal or something.
Kayla for editing my words! The girls from Give Me Books for handling all my promo, Jay Aheer for always getting my covers on point. And Champagne Formatting for making the words all laid out nicely.
Thank you to my author buds who always keep it real! Nina Levine, River Savage, Chantal Fernando for the epic sprint sessions and our meme shares, Leigh Shen, Anne Malcom, Addison Jane. You girls are rad, got mad love for all of you.
Desperado—Rihanna
Adore—Amy Shark
Hail to the King—Avenged Sevenfold
B.Y.O.B.—System Of A Down
Toxicity—System Of A Down
Talking Body—Tove Lo
Hey Baby (Drop It To the Floor)—Pitbull, T-Pain
Bad At Love—Halsey
My Life—50 Cent, Eminem, Adam Levine
Everything, Everyday, Everywhere—Fabolous, Keri Hilson
F**kin’ Problems—A$AP Rocky, Drake, 2 Chainz, Kendrick Lamar
Familiar Taste Of Poison—Halestorm
Tourniquet—Evanescence
Touch It—Monifah
#icanteven—The Neighbourhood, French Montana
Nice & Slow—Usher
Last Night—Keyshia Cole, Diddy
Slow Jamz (feat. Kanye West & Jamie Foxx)—Twista, Jamie Foxx, Kanye West
I’m Sprung - Trick Daddy & YoungBloodz Remix—T-Pain
Wonderful—Ja Rule, R. Kelly, Ashanti
My Boo—Usher, Alicia Keys
Everyone Nose (All The Girls Standing In The Line For The Bathroom)—N.E.R.D
Climax—Usher
Crawl—Breaking Benjamin
Hate That I Love You—Rihanna, Ne-Yo
Bonnie and Clyde—DJ Hit-Man
Right Now (Na Na Na)—Akon
A Place For My Head—Linkin Park
Look In My Eyes—Rains
I Fucking Hate You—Godsmack
Pray For Me (with Kendrick Lamar)—The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar
Behind Blue Eyes—Limp Bizkit
Kiss Me Thru The Phone—Soulja Boy, Sammie
Light Up Light Up—Baby Bash, Z-Ro, Berner, Baby E
Move to L.A.—Tyga, Ty Dolla $ign
Sex With Me—Rihanna
It’s A Vibe—2 Chainz, Ty Dolla $ign, Trey Songz, Jhene Aiko
Bad Mother F*cker—Machine Gun Kelly, Kid Rock
Water—Jack Garratt
Get Dough—Dead Obies
Something I Don’t Know—Miras
wRoNg—ZAYN, Kehlani
Bad Intentions—Niykee Heaton, Migos, OG Parker
Lullaby—Niykee Heaton
I’m Ready—Niykee Heaton
Zombie—Bad Wolves
Hero—Skillet
Torn to Pieces—Pop Evil
Your Betrayal—Bullet For My Valentine
Stupid Love—Jason Derulo
Addicted—Saving Abel
I’m Not
