Page 133 of Blood in the Water

Obi nodded and looked around at each of them. “My brothers and I need time to discuss and reach a unanimous decision. Would you please step into the other room and give us a few minutes?”

I glanced back to Cas, and he stood as I nodded.

“I don’t know you all that well,” Cas began as he walked into the living room and took my hand. “But for what it’s worth, Leona is the most stubborn person in the world. If she says she’s going to do something, she does. This proposal is a sure thing, and you’d be fucking idiots to turn it down.”

I smiled up at him and squeezed his hand. He winked.

I leaned into his shoulder. “Call us when you have a decision. We’ll respect it either way. No hard feelings.”

Obi inclined his head, and I held my head high as we walked from the room.

I wasn’t sure where they’d land, but I had hope. I’d done my best, and now the cards were out of my hands.

46

OBI

As soon as we heard her door to her room click behind them, Wynn shot to his feet.

“We need this.” My youngest brother’s emotions were written clearly across his normally stoic face. “We should agree.”

“Yes, Wynn, we all know you’re in love with her.” Ryuji sighed from his seat next to me on the couch. Wynn narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth to snap back, but I raised my hand. They went quiet.

“Feelings aside, agreement to Leona’s partnership must be unanimous.” I looked around at my brothers. “If we agree to this proposal, we’re reshaping who we are. We’ll no longer be the assassins who stand apart, with a certain amount of respect and anonymity from the criminal underworld. We’ll be choosing a side. Think about what that means for you.”

For me, this would be the step forward I hoped it would. Together, we could create the safety I envisioned for me and the people around me.

“You think we’ll make enemies,” Ryuji stated. “We’ll be drawing a line in the sand.”

I nodded.

“Fuck it. I have too many enemies to count, anyway.” Ryuji placed his empty glass on the coffee table. “Ciel?”

“I don’t mind enemies. Never stopped me before,” he responded, voice clear. Even Ciel had gained confidence since Leona came into our lives, not just in his work but in himself.

“Wynn,” I turned to face him. “What about you and the Irish? Willow?”

He sat back down on the edge of the couch. “Willow will be fine. She’s strong, and she’s made a place for herself there. I’m more worried about how this will affectus.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Our brotherhood has not been strong for quite a while.”

I smoothed my face into passivity, holding back the grimace. It was true. We’d been growing more disconnected for years, but I’d rarely had the time or energy to deal with it. I’d assumed that we all carried our burdens, and so long as we stayed focused on our contracts and work, we’d be fine.

But the frustration had been festering under my nose. Even though I knew we were missing something, it still dug at me to hear Wynn say it. I had failed as our leader.

“Explain.”

“It’s not obvious?” Wynn looked between us all. “We’ve been brothers for years, but nothing ties us together. Ryuji does whatever the hell he wants.”

“Hey—”

“Ciel’s terrified we’re all going to eventually kick him out,” Wynn continued while Ciel looked like he wanted to sink into the couch cushion and disappear. I frowned. Did he really feel that way? “And you, Obi, move us all around like pawns without telling us what you’re thinking, what contracts you take and why, or where we’re headed.”

I downed the rest of my glass of wine and stretched my neck from side to side. “I don’t disagree with you, Wynn.”

“Obi, really?” Ryuji scoffed. “It’s not that bad. We take contracts, we make money. It’s simple and easy.”