by Marks, Teir
“There’s that smile.” He leaned in and kissed her. “Thank you, Beauty.” Maleiha furrowed a brow at him. She didn’t know why he was thanking her, but she didn’t have to wait long to find out. “Thank you for talking to me and not accusing me.”
“Well, communication is key.”
“Indeed. Now, let's eat, and we’ll watch that show you like so much.”
Smiling at him, she nodded and stood from his lap — content to spend the rest of the night lazing around with her boyfriend.
13
Sutton looked herself over in the floor-length mirror. She was wearing a two-piece outfit. The top was three-quarter sleeves that left her midriff exposed slightly. Her skirt came down to the bottom of her calves. She had pulled on some pumps with the outfit — all of it in black.
They were all going out as a group tonight though Sutton wasn’t sure if it was such a good idea.
She and Miles had found some information that led them to someone that seemed to be acquainted with the four men they had identified. Three by name and one only by picture. They were hosting a party tonight, and the siblings had suggested they crash it.
This was where she was unsure whether or not it was a good idea. The last time they had attempted to crash someone’s party, it hadn’t gone so well, and as a result, Maleiha had been taken into custody.
She had voiced this, albeit quietly, but was told it would be okay because this time, they would all be going together. It would also be at the last place anyone would want to call the authorities too.
Sutton caught movement in the mirror behind her and turned to find Kylen standing there. She watched as he trailed his eyes up and down her body before pulling a box out of his pocket. Her eyes went down to it as he made his way towards her.
When he opened the box, she saw a beautiful necklace inside. The centerpiece was a pearl that sat atop a small row of diamonds. It was simple, and Sutton was honestly in awe of it. It had been an extremely long time since someone outside of Nyela and Luna had bought her a gift. Not that she ever usually let anyone else close to her.
Kylen turned her around to face the mirror again, taking the necklace out of the box and putting it on her.
Sutton’s hand came up to cover the necklace, and she felt herself becoming emotional. She turned around, wrapping her arms around his waist and hugging him tightly. When she released him, he looked down at her.
“Why are you crying, Doll?”
Sutton simply shook her head before replying, “Thank you.”
Kylen hummed. “You’re welcome. Are you ready?”
Sutton nodded, and Kylen took her hand, leading her out of the bedroom.
They made their way down the stairs and into the living room where everyone else except for Nyela and Synn were waiting.
“I see we all seem to have new bling,” Larkin spoke, and at her statement, Sutton looked around at the other women and noticed they were all wearing pieces that seemed to fit them or their personality in her opinion.
“They’re tracking devices. So, don’t take them off.” She heard from behind her and found Nyela and Synn approaching.
“This bitch.” She heard Korrae state under her breath.
Sutton’s eyes widen, and she bit the inside of her jaw, hoping that Nyela hadn’t heard the other woman. However, when Kylen began to laugh, she knew that there was a possibility she had since he was standing further away from Korrae, and he had heard.
“Agreed.” Her boyfriend stated.
While Sutton didn’t agree with either of them, she sort of understood Korrae’s sentiment. The fact that Nye had pointed out that each item was a tracking device took from the gesture of the gift, but she was still pleased to have it either way.
“I take it we’re ready to go,” Ashton stated.
Those who had been sitting began to stand, and it was then that Sutton took in everyone in attendance. She looked around at everyone and had to admit that they all looked nice. Each couple, to her, gave off a different aura to her. While she knew that she and Kylen would probably be considered the adorable couple, if for no other reason than they were the youngest couple, Emery and Larkin would be the cute couple, Ashton and Korrae would be the opposite couple, and Nyela and Synn would definitely be the dangerous couple, but it wasn’t their aura that seemed to fill the room.
That without a doubt in her mind, went to Grae and Maleiha. She wasn’t sure if it was because Maleiha happened to have the craziest boyfriend in the room or the fact that they complimented each other well, which they did. She could admit that both of them separately were pleasing to look at, but together…they were even more aesthetically pleasing. She had to wonder if it was the fact that she got the vibe they could fuck up someone’s life in several ways without even trying, and in Grae’s case, not give a fuck that they’d done it, or in Maleiha’s not realize that they had.
She and Kylen brought up the rear as they all headed out of the house and into the vehicles that waited. She slid into the back of one before Kylen and fastened her seatbelt.
As the car took off, she felt his hand come down on her thigh, and she looked over at him to find him looking at her with those blue eyes.
“Are you nervous?” He questioned.
Sutton found no reason to lie to him. So, she nodded. “A little. I don’t normally go out in situations like these. I stay at home, behind my computer screen.”
He squeezed her thigh gently. “Don’t be nervous. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” She smiled at him. “The others are on their own.”
Sutton raised a brow at him. He was such a lousy liar, and she figured it was why he didn’t do it often. “You'd leave your siblings to fend for themselves? They could get hurt.”
He shrugged. “It wouldn’t be the first time one of us got hurt. Besides, they can take care of themselves. So, yes, I would.”
She studied him for a moment. He was sort of telling the truth. So, she figured it was his sister he was lying about. Or maybe…
“What about, Emery?”
“She’d be alright.”
“And Maleiha?”
“Definitely leaving her annoying ass behind.” He told her. Sutton began to giggle, and his eyes narrowed at her. “Something funny, Doll?”
“Just that you’re lying. You’d be worried about both of them.”
Kylen leaned in and pecked her on the lips. “If you say so.”
“I do.” She told him with a nod. “I’m going to tell her.”
“Ry is my sister. She’s going to expect me at least to act as if I care.”
Sutton smirked at him. “Not her.”
Again, his eyes narrowed at her. “I liked you better when you were too nervous to form sentences around me.”
He was teasing her. Sutton was aware of that fact. He liked to bring up the fact that she was more comfortable with him now, but he would always do so in a teasing manner.
It was her turn to shrug at him. “Too bad.”
They pulled up behind the other cars to what looked like a warehouse that had been converted. It was then that she realized why they had said it would be in the last place anyone would want the authorities. They were in what she would assume to be the middle of Manson, where anything illegal taking place was kept as far away from the police as possible.
Sutton knew that while the Amato siblings were feared, no person was a close second. However, from what she had gathered, he had always stayed out of the siblings’ way and never tried to hone in on their territories, which consisted of about sixty percent of the state. Not to mention all their expanded endeavors. So, they had never had any real reason to worry about him.
Though they were pretty much crashing the party. Sutton had assumed that they wouldn’t make too big of a ruckus when they walked in. They could find who they needed, talk to them, and hopefully not have to escalate to violence, though even she knew that last one was wishful thinking.
Once they had gotten past the security guard
s outside that seemed to be intimidated by a look they received from both Synn and Grae, she thought he should get better guards as they made their way down the hall towards the noise. When they rounded the corner and came into view of the people in attendance, she knew her assumptions of not causing a distraction had been misplaced.
They had walked into an all-white party. The ten of them wearing all black.
This shit was a bad idea. It was the only thing that Larkin could think of as all eyes turned to look at them. First, she had to question whether or not the siblings knew that they were crashing an all-white party, but figured there was no way they didn’t since everyone wearing black had been the suggestion from the jump. Second, she wondered which one of the geniuses had suggested it, but knew that it was more than likely Emery and Kylen together since her girlfriend did like controversy for whatever reason.
So, here they all stood. The center of attention, and they hadn’t even stepped foot into the large room the party of whatever sort was being held in. She figured it was what the sibling had wanted. They were in the only color that could be considered the polar opposite of white, and they had come uninvited. Those two things alone told her that shit might hit the fan.
She felt Emery place her hand on the small of her back and began to lead her forward as everyone else began to move as well. It seemed they knew exactly where they wanted to go, and she fell into step — letting Emery guide her.
They made their way over to a section of armchairs and couches where a man was sitting with two women. One on each of his legs and two guards standing beside him. Larkin felt that if these guards were as easily intimidated like the two outside, he would be better off without them.
“Amato siblings. What a pleasant surprise.” The man stated, looking them all over. “Though you are a bit outside of the required dress code.” When none of the siblings responded, Larkin watched as the man lifted a brow before gesturing to the chairs and couches. “Have a seat.”
No one moved for a moment, and then she felt Emery’s hand tap her back before guiding her to a chair. She sat down, and Emery sat on the arm of it. Placing herself between Larkin and one of the bodyguards. She noticed Sutton and Kylen in much the same position as they were in, and the other women took a seat on the couch, with Grae, Synn, and Ashton standing behind it.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of all the siblings and their beautiful women coming to see me?”
“We need some information that only you may be able to give us,” Ashton spoke.
“I’m flattered that you’d come to ask me for help. I never thought I’d see the day.” The man responded before taking a sip from his glass.
“Careful, Doss. You’re still breathing because you stay out of our way, and you’re nowhere near as slimy as your father.” Grae warned him in a cold tone, and Larkin felt as if the temperature in the room had actually dropped.
Doss narrowed his eyes. “Harold donated his sperm. Never has he been a father.” She watched as he leaned back in his chair. “What is it you want?”
“We’re looking for someone. We have reason to think you may know them or where we can find them.”
“What a coincidence. Someone else came to me not too long ago inquiring about you.” Doss replied.
“And what did you tell him?” Emery inquired beside her.
“That he could chase death on his own.”
“Smart,” Synn responded.
“Now, be even smatter and tell us what you know about him,” Kylen demanded.
For the next several minutes, they listened as Doss told them about the man who had introduced himself as Pruitt to him. He didn’t know much, hadn’t been told much. Simply that he had a score to settle with the siblings. Larkin would be willing to bet that Pruitt probably wasn’t even his real name, but it was something to go on.
She had learned how talented Miles and Sutton both were and was sure that they could find out more information now on the man using the possible alias. Nyela confirmed it was indeed the fourth man by showing a picture to Doss.
Larkin was curious as to what this score was that Pruitt needed to settle but realized it could be anything. From the siblings taking over his territory to them, eliminating someone that he cared about. She had been well aware of the type of life her girlfriend lived when they were all brought up to speed the night Nyela, Sutton, and Luna had been attacked. This, however, shined the light a bit brighter.
To any reasonable person, this would have been enough cause to send them running for the hills. Larkin wasn’t normal, and she knew that. Even if she were, she had come to care for Emery far too much to just turn around and walk away.
“I’ve told you everything I know. Now, feel free to stay, enjoy yourselves, mingle.”
Larkin’s eyes came up to look at him for a moment before glancing at Emery, wondering if her girlfriend had caught on to the double meaning; or anybody else for that matter. Because to her, it sounded like while Doss was saying he didn’t have any more information for them, he believed there was someone in attendance at his party that did.
Grae stood at the bar with Maleiha surveying the room as the rest of his siblings and their girlfriends mingled with other people in attendance. Many of which he could tell, even from the distance he was from them, was scared shitless by his sibling’s approach to speak to them. Though as he suspected, Ashton was making the most headway.
“This is unnecessarily hard.” His little beauty spoke from beside him. He turned to look at her. “Your siblings are approaching this like they’re looking for a victim to lead to a slaughter.” She paused for a moment. “Though I wouldn’t put it past Kylen or Emery to be doing just that.”
Grae founds himself chuckling. She was right in both aspects. If they didn’t soften their approach, they wouldn’t get much. He had opted to watch the crowd. See if anyone’s demeanor changed in an unpredictable way when they were approached. If there was someone who was going out of their way to avoid his siblings and keep them from approaching out of something other than fear.
“I could go talk to some people. If you told me what to ask.” Maleiha suggested.
Grae shook his head. “No, stay with me. Nyela is out there. She can ask around.”
“That honestly isn’t much better.” She responded, and he had to nod in agreement.
He was surveying the room again, his beauty leaning into his side, his arm draped over her shoulder, their hands laced together. That’s how they stood when he saw someone approaching them from his peripheral. As he realized who the person was, Grae groaned to himself. It was Billy.
Grae steeled himself, prepared to be annoyed with the boy. He just had a way of getting under Grae’s skin. He had asked far too many questions and was over-ambitious. Which, yes typically, ambition was a good thing, but Billy was reckless in his goal, and Grae knew it was only due to Doss keeping an eye on him that he hadn’t gone out and gotten himself killed.
Billy was the same age as Kylen, but the two couldn’t have been on further levels from each other. In a way that was good for Billy. It meant he wasn’t crazy for the hell of it. In another way, it wasn’t. Because while he had the drive, he didn’t have the talent that his youngest sibling had.
“Grae. It’s been a while.”
“Not nearly long enough,” Grae responded and felt Maleiha elbow him.
Billy, however, was not phased and turned his attention to Maleiha. “Hello, Gorgeous.”
“Hi.” She responded, and Grae decided that was enough interaction from the two of them.
“What do you want, kid?”
The younger man sighed. “The same thing I always want.”
This caused Grae to release his own sigh. For the past couple of years, the boy had been trying to get in with his family, and Grae continued to give him the same answer each time, which was to pawn it off on someone else.
It wasn’t that he felt that allowing him in would be a bad thing per se. It was the simple fact that none of them h
ad the time, energy, or desire to babysit him the way that Doss seemed too. He would probably be dead quickly, and while none of them would mind having that on their conscious; because it would be a drop in the bucket, it wouldn’t be fair to Billy. More importantly, though, he just didn’t want too. So, he decided to defer as he always did.
“I told you, I wasn’t the one you needed to talk to. Go ask, Synn.” Grae responded.
Billy raised his brow while he scratched his head. “How long do you plan on pretending?” He questioned. Though Grae didn’t know what exactly he was questioning, it was a bold one to have asked him either way.
“Pretending what?” Grae bit out through clenched teeth, wanting to know precisely what he was talking about.
“As if Synn is actually the one in charge.” Grae didn’t respond simply stared at him. Billy continued. “Honestly, you joined the business first, and everyone knows that it runs so smoothly because of you. I’ve done my research. Yet, because he’s the oldest, he automatically gets to be in charge. I don’t buy it. I think you allow him to think he’s in charge, and you move the pieces as you see fit. Your siblings, your men, they’re all pieces on a chessboard, and yes, while you respect them, care about them, someone has to move the pieces and, well, I enjoy watching the moves you make.”
With that, Billy turned around, throwing his hand up to wave in parting, and Grae followed him with his eyes until he disappeared in the crowd.
“Baby.” Maleiha’s voice drew his attention, and he looked down at her before leaning down to peck her lips.
“Let’s go find Ashton and Korrae.”
They began to weave through the crowd to look for his middle sibling. He felt they needed to discuss their persistent little friend Billy.
14
Ashton leaned against the wall, his eyes on Korrae and Maleiha, who had walked off a little while ago to give him and Grae some privacy. They were mingling with a few people in attendance, and though he was sure no one would be so bold as to try anything with them there, he and his brother both still kept an eye on them.
