5- Remy

I made a face, staring at the rest of the crew who were, for some fucking reason, sitting all in front of me like I did something.

Did someone see? They did, didn't they? Fucking hell. Doesn't matter. I'm not letting Decker go. No way in hell.

“So…” I drawled, trying to flash my brightest smile at them. “How's the weather—?”

“Stay silent, Remy Lou.” Not a full name. I'm alive. I'm free!

The door opened, and Decker Kane walked in. He didn't look like I'd attempted to break his balls, but that's also probably because he barely showed any emotions to begin with.

My father didn't seem to notice that he looked a little disheveled though. He turned his attention back to me, his eyes cold. He slid a file to me. “Did you know about this?”

I raised an eyebrow and looked down. I opened it. I looked back up. “Why the fuck is Travis Benson with the President of the Serpents Club?”

“That's his baby brother.”

I blinked. Laughed. “That's cute. I know Travis. He's a pussy. A coward. No backbone. Baby brother of a president? He couldn't even pick which restaurant to eat at without having a full-blown panic attack.”

“We didn't say he was a plant, Remy,” Wolf sounded sad. “He's just—”

The sound of my father's hands banging on the table had me jolting as he snapped, “Why don't you ever fucking stay out of trouble?! For once in your entire life, why can't you just stay away from shit that could kill you?!”

I snorted. “This was me staying away from shit that could kill me! I chose him even if I didn't fucking like him! I had to do missionary for months before he even knew there were other positions! I sacrificed my sex life for this!”

Someone tried to muffle a laugh in the background, but Cole Calloway didn't seem to be in the mood. “You think I'm joking? You think this is funny? You know who the Serpents are, don't you?”

I clenched my jaw. “Of course I know who the Serpents are. I'm not stupid, Daddy.”

“Could've fooled me.”

The words came from the asshole behind me.

Something cracked inside my chest that made my vision go red at the edges. “You know what, Kane? You're right. I should have known. I should have done a background check on every person who was nice to me while I was pretending to be normal because your president wanted me to have a real life.”

“Remy Lou—”

“Fuck my vagina too for not having a beacon,” I cut in, glaring at Decker before facing my father. “I'm not sorry that I broke him in though. I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I must.”

My father sighed. “That's the problem. Because Travis is in a coma and his brother, Blake—look, we've had territory disputes, but we agreed not to touch each other. This… this complicates things.”

A… coma…

My chest hummed for a second. Oh. Oh, I didn't… I didn't think that would…

No. Fuck him. He deserved it. I hope he doesn't wake up. “So what? You want me to leave?”

“Would have asked you to apologize, but you aren't good at that, are you?”

I swear to God, Decker Kane, I will murder you in your sleep.

“You are the beating heart of the Iron Clad Kings. Of my soul. You are… all I have after—” Cole's eyes softened. Only for a moment before he sighed. “It's why he and I had an agreement.”

My blood turned cold. “What fucking agreement?”

“The Serpents are involved in some… good businesses. It's relatively far more safe with them than here. Remy Lou, before you fucking say anything, listen—”

“Over my dead body.”

“Look, the only fucking reason you aren't excited about this engagement is because I'm telling you to be with Blake. To piss me off, you'd be with him anyway.”

“I put his brother in a fucking coma!”

“And he's a business man! We've talked about this. The last thing we need or want is this turning into a full-blown war that we are ill prepared for. Plus, Blake didn’t even ask for money. He agreed that this would satisfy him enough not to retaliate, and if you wanna join his club—”

I stood up from my chair. “You know what? You win. I'm fucking leaving. I'm going back to my 'normal' life—”

Hands suddenly pushed me down to the table, forcing both of my arms behind my back as something clamped over them.

“You're gonna be staying with your sponsor in his cabin, and hopefully, he'll talk some sense into you before we meet Blake.” Cole Calloway said in front of me.

I laughed, cranking my head so I could look at my side. “Expected this shit from my father but not from you, Kane. Not like my feelings matter, though, yeah? I'm just a fucking dumb slut without my own wants and desires.”

The word tasted bitter in my mouth. But I said it anyway. Because it was easier to say it first than to hear someone else say it.

The bastard handcuffed me and pulled me upwards. “You talk too much.”

“And you're as bland as a fucking wall. We all have our things.” I faced my father. “My six months are still up. I'm gonna stay here and prove I belong here. If I do, then we're all good. And if I don't, then you can ship me off to whatever snake pit you've arranged for me. Deal?”

I had no fucking plans on leaving this place ever. But what I did know was the moment Decker Kane realized how madly in love he was with me, he'd fight to the death to keep me.

Six months. I had six months.

Cole Calloway's jaw worked, then he said, “Don't fuck it up then.”

I grinned. “Oh, I won't.”

Let the games begin.