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Chapter Twenty-Six

Hayze

We’ve hidden in the shadows most of the night, going unnoticed and passing ourselves off as security. Vox nearly blew our cover when he saw Nova walk in with Vivian, both of them beautiful but Vivian took my breath away in her dress. It's a weird design of a dress, only a strap to keep it up over her right shoulder and the rest flows around her like toga, but there are sections missing that show off her flawless skin. She captivated the attention of all the men in her vicinity but it wasn’t just the dress that had me stumped, it was the masks they both wear.

They are wooden like our own, but they are painted red and only cover half their faces, Nova’s has two horns to match Vox’s, which pleased the big fucker but Vivian’s has an antler type horn on the side leaving the other side bare. She wanted to represent the three of us.

“Who the fuck is that?” Ezekiel snarls from beside me. I follow his line of sight to see some cocksucker standing behind our girl at the bar but what has me seeing red is when she spins around and beams at the sight of the cunt and launches herself at him. Without meaning to, I take a step forward only for Archer to yank me back.

“Calm down, we have a job to do tonight,” Arch warns.

“I have to get Nova out of here,” Vox says in a tone that borders on painful. I look toward Nova and feel for her because she looks so distraught. She’s in a room full of people yet she looks so alone aside from David who stands guard beside her. When Nova suddenly snaps her head up and begins to frantically scan the room, I know it's because of that tether she has with Vox, she knows he’s here. “Come to me, witch,” Vox murmurs and then suddenly she stares directly at us. I know for a fact she can’t see us in the dark corner but she sure as hell feels Vox. When she moves toward us, David grabs her but she yanks free of his hold and says something to him, then she is gliding across the room.

Even with his mask firmly in place I can tell Vox is smiling. He loves knowing that he can’t hide from her, those two can track each other without much effort and it’s a skill I fucking envy. She walks blindly into the darkness and within a split second of being shrouded in the dark Vox has arms around her and she clings to him like a lifeline.

“Hello, my little witch.” Nova says nothing as she pulls back and pushes his mask up and removes her own, only to claim his mouth. The three of us turn away from them and focus back on Vivian. I was fully prepared to stand back and watch this play out until he placed his hand on top of hers. I lose all restraint and storm toward them, watching as she sits up straight and tenses. Oh, so you can feel us like Nova feels Vox.

I feel Arch and Ez at my back but neither of them stop me, it’s too late anyway, she knows we are here and the fucker she is sitting with has spotted us. I come to a stop behind Vi. Ez and Arch flank me on either side. Without having to be told Vivian slowly withdraws her hand from under his and returns it to her lap. The three of us continue to glare at the fucker who sits there without a single flicker of any emotion, he looks like a fucking creep.

“Alex, meet my…” I wait for her to call us her friends and shred my fucking dignity to pieces. “Guys.” I want to beat my fucking fists against my chest hearing her call us hers . “Ez, Arch, Hayze, meet my friend, Alexander Denver.” Ice fills my veins.

The Butcher!

Before any of us can say anything he speaks. “Remember we are in public and much like yourselves I have an identity to protect, so how about we have this conversation at a more private location?” His tone is calm and even.

“The penthouse is free, we’ll go there,” Vivian says, pushes back from the table and stands, but still she won’t face us. Alex stands and motions for her to lead the way. She does but we all crowd her and form a barricade. As we pass David, I nod in his direction but he looks to Vi who just nods and smiles, letting him know everything is fine. When we make it into the main lobby and she heads for the elevators, but I grab her wrist and force her to stop. She slowly turns to face us and the moment she does all the breath rushes out of me at the look on her face.

“Vivian, I must go. I’ll be in contact soon, enjoy your night.” Vi turns to watch Alexander storm out of the hotel, a blacked out jeep is waiting for him. None of us utter a word until the jeep disappears from view. It’s as if time has come to a standstill as we all wait for her to finally look at us. It feels like hours have passed before finally she gathers the strength she needs to turn to us. I know the fact we are wearing our masks doesn’t seem to make it easier for her to look at each of us.

“You shouldn’t be here,” she mutters.

“I got your code and I spoke the terms of the Filthy Few to be certain. We know why you did it and said what you did but this time it's you that needs to listen to us,” Ez says in a tone that leaves no room for argument.

“Now, are you going to lead us up to this penthouse or am I throwing you over my shoulder again?” I ask, earning a sexy smirk from her.

“In this dress? I think not,” she rebukes.

“I’m more interested in what's beneath the dress.” Archer’s comment has her cheeks staining red. She leads us toward the elevators and presses the buzzer. The tension between the four of us is tangible, you can taste it on the tip of your tongue. There’s so much sexual need pulsing in the air and I know I’m not the only one who can feel it. Vivian proves me right when she starts swaying side to side and clicks the buzzer twice more. The doors finally open and she growls which has me smiling at her frustration.

The three of us stand where we are forcing her to make the first move. She spins around and faces us with an annoyed scowl on her beautiful face. “Get the hell in here before your presence blows my plan out of the fucking water.” The three of us all push and shove to get inside first but fucking Archer winds up winning and getting to her first. Just as the doors begin to shut an arm darts in between the metal, forcing them apart. I’m ready to tell whoever it is to fuck and catch the next one until I see the two horned fucker.

“Can’t you take the stairs?” Archer grits out as Vox forces his way inside with Nova tucked under his arm. I stare in confusion when Vivian shifts as far away from Nova as she can and refuses to look at her. Did something happen in the week that we were gone?

“Fuck off, dickhead, we all need to talk,” Vox clips out just as the doors shut. The sexual tension that was pulsating between us a minute ago evaporates and is replaced by awkwardness. I for one would rather be edging than sitting here not knowing what to fucking say.

When the doors open we all file out into the grand entry of the penthouse, clearly no expense was spared when designing this place. All the furniture is pristine and new, the view of the city from here is photograph worthy. My perusal of the place is cut short when Vivian clears her throat and sits down on one of the three seaters. Fuck the tension, I dart forward and shove Archer out of my way as I drop down beside Vivian. Ezekiel claims the vacant spot on her other side, forcing Archer to the opposite sofa with Vox and Nova. I take my mask off and place it on my lap, then shoot him a smirk and wag my brows.

“Fuck you,” Archer snaps.

“Stop fucking acting like children or I’ll make you all sit on the floor,” Vox snaps as he removes his own mask.

“Think the fuck again, asshole, my ass is staying planted right beside my wife.” Vox turns and glowers at Ezekiel.

“Stop calling her that!” I roll my eyes. Vox has to get the fuck over it, Archer and I did.

“You called him your brother-in-law back at CHU, a bit contradicting don’t ya think?” Archer taunts as he twirls his mask between his hands.

“You motherfuckers?—”

Vivi cuts her brother off before he can continue his pathetic attempt at threatening us. “Everyone stop!” The command in her voice has my cock leaping to attention. “I don’t have time to sit here and argue over who hurt who’s feelings?—”

“No, but you can ignore mine!” Nova claps back. Vox frowns and looks between his girl and Vivian, clearly just noticing the tension between the two girls.

Vivian releases a long sigh. “I’m sorry?—”

“Don’t fucking lie to me Vivian!” Nova screams and tears her mask off, tossing it on the floor. “If you were sorry, you would have done as I fucking asked instead we are all here because of you!”

“ Me ?” Vivian snarls in an icy tone, she snatches the mask off her face and tosses it across the room. “I never fucking asked for any of this! I’m not going to sit here and pass the blame and take shots at you because I know you are hurting.”

“Fuck you!” Nova screams.

“Witch!” Vox roars, Nova swivels to face him. She is furious and that is obvious but Vox won’t back down. “You asked me not to hurt your brother and I didn’t, now I am telling you to leave my sister alone.”

Nova scoffs. “You're going to take her side?”

He shakes his head. “I’ll never pick a side when it concerns the two of you but I also won’t stand by and watch you lash out at her because you're angry.”

“She won’t let me see my mom!” At Nova’s admission Vox swings his gaze to Vivian.

“I refused to let her see Kelly and ever since she has blocked me out. I get why she is blaming me but I wouldn’t want that to be her final memory of her mom,” Vivian utters in a tone laden with guilt. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her into my side. She relaxes into me instantly, I place a kiss on the top of her head at the same time Ez interlocks his fingers with hers.

“Witch—”

“Don’t, Vox,” Nova chokes out as her tears begin to fall. “She was all I had.”

“No, she wasn’t. I’m still here Nova and I’m not going anywhere,” Ezekiel vows.

Nova leans her head against Vox’s chest and clutches his shirt in her hands. “I’ll never leave you, witch, I’ll always be here,” Vox promises.

“I can’t lose anyone else.” My heart beats wildly in my chest for Nova, she has suffered more loss in a short amount of time than most do in their lifetime and I feel for her.

“Then you all need to leave.” All of us turn to Vivian. “I can’t guarantee any of your safety if you remain in Hollow Hills. I think it's best if you all return to CHU.”

“Fuck that. We left you once already and now that we are back we aren’t going anywhere.” Archer’s tone is filled with venom and Vivian is smart enough to know if she tries to fight him on this that he won’t back down. It’s about time she realizes she isn’t in this on her own. I know she thinks she is a badass and can hold her own but she doesn’t need to anymore. Vivian has always tried to act like she didn’t need anyone to care for her and most of the time she doesn’t, but when she has those moments where she doubts herself, she needs someone to remind her how fucking incredible she is.

“We didn’t just come here to watch your back, little mouse,” Ez admits.

“What do you mean?” Vivi pushes.

Ez looks at me and I give him a subtle nod. “When we left you, we have been spending every minute trying to figure out what the fuck is going on and how the fuck they bugged your house.”

“I was hoping you would understand what I was trying to do. When you spoke the rules of the Filthy Few, I knew then that you understood and would fill the others in,” she admits.

Ez smiles comfortingly. “The fact you had cameras in the house means whoever the fuck is behind this knows who we are and that we are the Filthy Few.” The undercurrent of worry in his tone is valid, rumors had spread amongst The Brotherhood that there were some psychos going around wearing masks and targeting some of the brothers. Those whispers quickly disappeared when we stopped hunting them and focused our attention on Nova. If whoever is behind these attacks is a brother, then they would be able to connect the dots and know the rumors weren’t bullshit.

We could be blackmailed.

“I promise you, nothing will happen to the four of you, I made sure of that.” Her tone is filled with confidence and I start feeling like she has done something to make what she says true.

“What did you do, Vivi?” Archer asks as he leans forward and stares directly at her.

“What I had to. Now, can you explain why you wanted to be here instead of staying away and don’t say it was because you’re worried about your identity,” she throws back at him.

“The truth is, I couldn’t give a fuck about anyone knowing who I am beneath the mask. I couldn’t stay away from her any longer and it wasn’t like those three fought me on the idea of coming back,” Vox says as he runs his fingers through Nova’s hair. Vivian melts into me further and I suddenly forget about the shit we are up against. This girl is a distraction and I can’t find it within myself to be mad about it, because she is the best fucking distraction.

“What about your schooling and football practice?” Vi asks.

“Turns out the bitch ass friend you made at CHU has some pull,” Ezekiel grits out. When I called Coach to tell him we had some personal shit to take care of and that we lost a close family friend he was all for us taking as much time as we needed. I thought it was fucking weird but then he told me that Dawson vouched for us and said we didn’t need the extra training like some of the others.

“Dawson is sweet.” Vi defends the fucker and all she gets in response is growls and scoffs from the three of us.

“Why was The Butcher here, Vivian?” Vox asks.

“Honestly? I don’t know, after I met with him at the prison?—”

“You did fucking what?” Archer shouts.

“You best be fucking joking!” Ez snaps.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” Vox snarls.

“Baby, are you on drugs?” I ask.

Vivian leans forward and shoots us all a scathing look that has me worrying she may take her anger out on my dick. No, that’s a lie I would really love to angry fuck her, she looks like she would be wild in bed when she is pissed off.

“All of you can kiss my ass! I know what I am doing and it’s about time all of you stopped doubting me because it’s fucking annoying. Yes, I met with Alexander. At first I thought he was the one behind the letters and the… packages but after meeting with him, I learned he isn’t the monster he was painted out to be. He’s actually helping me!”

“How does he know who we are?” I ask.

“Apparently my hacking skills aren’t as good as his guys and he was able to figure everything out on his own.” The fact she sounds more put out about her lack of hacking skills rather than a murderer knowing our identity is grating on my nerves.

“You can’t trust him!” Vox snaps.

“Why? He’s proven to me he can be trusted and if he is offering his help to take down Nexus and Thomas, I will gladly accept any help he is offering because we haven’t been able to locate either of them. I am done looking over my shoulder wondering if Thomas is going to come and kill me because I took his spot…” Vivian clamps her mouth closed but her eyes widen to the size of dinner plates as she stares at Nova. What’s more unsettling is Nova looks at Vivi with the same look, she slowly pushes away from Vox and stares directly at Vivian.

“You thinking what I am?” Nova breathes out.

“Yeah. Yeah, I think I am.”

“Me and you?” Nova says.

“Just us, it has to be,” Vivian replies. The guys and I all share a confused fucking look, these two were pissed at each other a minute ago and now they are staring at each other with varying looks of triumph and speaking in code.

“How?” Nova pushes.

“We wait,” Vi replies.

“What the fuck are you two talking about?” Arch asks, looking as dumbfounded as I feel.

“Nothing,” Nova answers quickly then turns to Vox. “Spend the night with me?” Vox looks skeptical, he knows his girl is trying to distract him with sex and a part of him wants to argue but the red blooded man inside him is beginning to win the fight.

“Take the downstairs bedroom,” Vi offers.

“And where are you sleeping?” Vox barks at my girl with an accusing look in his eyes.

Nova answers before any of us can. “With your best friends.” Vox nearly chokes on his fucking tongue. “You can stay here and cock block your sister or you can come to bed with me and take my mind off everything. Choose wisely, dick bag,” Nova growls.

Vox weighs his options for all of two seconds before standing and dragging Nova out of the room. The instant they disappear Vivian stands, rights her dress and smiles deviously at the three of us.

“The master has a California king bed…” Point five of a second is all it takes for the three of us to be on our feet and chasing her upstairs, the sound of her laughter has smiles gracing all of our faces.