Page 42 of Don’t Hate Me (Secrets of Ravens Hollow #2)

It’s times like this I wish to God I had Harley with me.

I could really do with a lunch date with my girl right about now.

She could help me get to the bottom of what this is.

Because I would never admit this out loud to any of them, but this is more than just sex for me.

I feel like there is this invisible chain attaching me to all of them.

Like fate has brought us all together for a reason, and like it or not, we’re now stuck together.

A phone rings, its shrill tone piercing through the quiet, making me jump and nearly throw my fork across the table.

Reef goes to answer it, his face turning more serious when he checks the caller ID.

He stands quickly and moves away from the table.

“Tell her I’m going to need a few more days.

I have a lead…” is all I hear him say before he makes it out onto the pool deck and his voice is muffled.

“Work?” I ask Romeo. I had wondered how Reef could be staying here with us when he must have police work to do.

“Probably. A couple of days ago when he left, he told his boss that he was following a promising lead in the missing girl case. But who knows how long she will let him get away with that excuse.”

“Why does he need to keep working as a cop anyway. You two have enough money to do whatever you want with your lives,” asks Orlando, aiming his question at Romeo.

I watch Romeo for the answer, curious to know myself. Reef had implied he had a lot of money, but I didn’t realize it was his and Romeo’s together.

“He wants to be a cop,” Romeo mutters around a mouthful of food. “Besides, he can’t leave, not if he doesn’t want retaliation.”

Orlando’s eyes meet with mine. “From the family,” he says, and I know his answer is for me; the other boys in the room already know that little nugget of information.

“Exactly,” Romeo agrees.

I sit up a little taller, placing my knife and fork down. “What does that mean?” I ask, knowing I sound vapid, but what the hell.

Orlando throws me a look, one that makes me feel young and na?ve even though we both know I’m not. “Everyone has a role to play. It’s how our papa and the other dons keep control.”

“Everyone except the ghost,” Romeo says with a bitterness to his tone, his comment meant for his brother.

Orlando’s brow rises as if challenging Romeo. “I play my role, Brother. Just because you didn’t know I was there for the last nine years doesn’t mean I wasn’t doing my bit.” His gaze locks with Romeo’s, and the two of them stare at each other for a beat, tension crackling in the air.

“What about Onyx?” I ask out of curiosity more than anything. But Onyx is also staying deadly quiet, and I want to know why.

“He doesn’t work for the Morettis anymore,” Romeo answers for him.

“Why?” I direct my question to Onyx, needing to hear it from him. “You all grew up in the same group home, I’m assuming run by the Moretti organization somehow. Don’t you only get out if you die?”

“Or you’re sold,” Orlando says.

Onyx’s posture changes, his chair scrapes along the ground, and he stands in a rush, looking like he’s going to fly across the table and take Orlando out. “Shut your fucking mouth,” he spits out.

My eyes snap to Onyx’s. “What? My family bought you?”

His angry eyes flick to me. “He has no fucking idea what he’s talking about,” he snips, but I know it’s a lie. I can see it in his eyes. He was sold to Syd, that’s how he came to live with us. What the fuck.

“Watch yourself,” Romeo snaps at his brother, venom in his voice, and I see how protective he is of Onyx for the first time. There is so much more going on here. So much history that I can’t even begin to understand.

With a gentle push, I recline my seat and move around the table toward Onyx.

Reaching for his hand, I feel the slight tremor in it.

“We don’t have to talk about it,” I tell him, placing my other hand on his chest, trying to calm him down.

He squeezes my hand back, but I can still feel the rage vibrating off him and the way his heart races.

That comment really has him worked up, and more than ever I want to understand why.

I cast a glare at Orlando for causing trouble, and he shrugs, not caring one bit for the problem he caused.

“What did I miss?” Reef comes back into the room, looking toward me and Onyx with curiosity.

“Nothing.” I smile at him, hoping to defuse this situation with the distraction of his call.

I move back from Onyx, seeing that he’s calming down.

He takes a seat and I do the same. “Are you in trouble with your boss?” I keep my voice light and playful, even though I’m feeling anything but.

Fuck, take me back to last night, at least the sexual tension was fun.

Reef retakes his seat at the table, running a hand through his hair, and I see the stress in his expression. He’s so different when it comes to his job. “I have a week to follow my lead undercover.”

“What about your partner, don’t you have to work with her?” I ask.

He lets out a heavy sigh. “I have to check in every day and feed her whatever information I find. It was the only way I could come to the island with Romeo and Onyx. You boys better sort out your old man quickly. If this shit gets back to the commissioner, we’re all fucked.

Sloane will be outed as the missing girl, and who knows what kind of new threats that will place on her head.

And if they work out that I’m helping to hide her, I’ll lose my job, and we all know what that means.

” The gravity in his tone, thick with unspoken dread, makes me not want to know.

“It’s not going to happen,” Romeo says more seriously, his eyes locking with Reef’s. He’s so protective of him. It’s that same look he gives me when he’s trying to convince me I’m safe with him. It’s sweet how close the two of them are.

I redirect my attention to Orlando, needing answers. “How do you intend to take the crown from your papa?”

Orlando rolls his lips, and I know this isn’t something he wants to talk about. “We take care of him, then our younger brother Valentine steps into his place.”

“Is he willing to?” I ask, knowing he’s making it all sound so easy, but there is no way reality is as simple.

Their papa has been in charge for a long fucking time.

You can’t just take someone like that out, not without huge consequences from the rest of the family.

From what I can see, he has sway in Italy and in the States, more businesses than I can count on my fingers, and with that would come powerful allies.

No matter what these boys’ last name is, they don’t have the influence their papa does.

“Valentine’s been groomed to take over since Orlando disappeared. I’m sure he’s just waiting for him to be knocked off his perch so he can take his place,” Romeo agrees with him, their eyes locking.

I eye the two of them more suspiciously, getting the distinct impression they are keeping shit from me. There is more to this plan. There has to be.

Reef takes my hand under the table, distracting me. “We won’t let them find out who you are.”

I nod, offering him a half smile. I believe he will do everything he can.

It doesn’t mean my secret will be kept safe.

Too many people know now. It’s why there is a hit on me.

And if they don’t shut down their papa soon, it will be too late for both of us.

Reef will lose his job, and I will end up the talk of all Ravens Hollow and probably the whole country—either that or dead, with any new threats that brings on me.

My life won’t be my own anymore. I will be the missing daughter of the vice president.

The thought makes my heart ache so hard I feel sick.

I’m Sloane Stryker, not Ava Kingsley. I grew up a badass biker chick, and that’s who I am down to the bone.

I won’t ever be that girl I was supposed to be.