Page 27

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Vivian

Standing here and looking at the three of them sprawled out over the bed fast asleep is a sight I will forever cherish. Last night the three of them took their time worshiping me and showing me without words that they mean what they say about wanting this thing between the four of us to work. Being with them last night showed me that there is something worth fighting for aside from the freedom of those I love and getting the revenge I crave against The Brotherhood for all they have taken from me and so many others. A year ago this sight before me was never a possibility.

I had always thought I would be a one man type of woman but I was wrong. Hayze was right, if Archer didn’t break my heart I would never have seen him or Ezekiel as anything other than my brother’s friends but as the months went by, I started seeing him and Ez as… more. I just had no idea they both felt the same way about me and fuck, I’m so glad they do because after having the three of them I could never choose.

I want them all.

I just hope they can understand why I have to do this. I want this finished and I want to be by their sides every single day. I want the college experience with my guys. I want to sit in the grandstands and cheer them on while they play football. I want late nights on the couch eating pizza and watching reruns of their games while they pick apart what they need to improve on. I want it all with them. I want my happy ending and I am going to do everything in my power to get it because I am in love with the three of them and there is no point denying it anymore.

I’m in love with my brother's best friends.

And, they love me too.

I give myself one more minute to just drink in the sight of them. It takes every ounce of my willpower to walk away. I feel a lump forming in my throat but I refuse to give into the emotion, one day they will see I did all of this for us. I head for the elevator and it doesn’t surprise me to see Nova leaning against the wall waiting for me. Neither of us say anything as we wait for the doors to open, our moods somber as we step inside the metal box and allow it to carry us away from the men we love.

“Vox will come for me, you know that, right?” she says as we walk out of the hotel and climb into the back of the car I had David send for us.

“And my guys will come for me which is why we aren’t going to my house. Give me your phone.” She hands it over without complaint. I roll down my window and toss hers and mine out the window.

“You couldn’t have just turned them off?” she snaps in annoyance.

“They can still track them while they are off. You know you don’t have to do this, right?”

“Yes, I do. If we are right then I want to look that bastard in the eyes as he falls while we rise. He doesn’t get to walk away this time.”

“Agreed.”

“Are you sure it's even him?”

I sigh and lull my head back against the headrest. “Honestly, no, but he is the only person who knows all our weak spots and he is the only one to gain something out of the death of your mother.” Ever since the notion struck me last night I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. Kelly is the only person out of the four he has killed that meant something to me which means, he did that to provoke Nova. He wants us both and he wants the guys out of the way.

“Vivian?” I lull my head to the side and face my friend, she looks utterly spent and I cringe to think of why she looks like she hasn’t slept.

“Yeah?”

“Why do you have a company named after my brother, Hayze and Archer?” I’ve been waiting for her to bring this up. I tell the driver to turn up the music in the hopes he won’t be able to hear our conversation over the music.

“When I took over the Saints, I had a plan from the start.”

“Which is?”

“Nikoa told me once that the only way to take down the Saints was from the inside. He said you could cut the head off the snake but another one would just grow back and the cycle would continue. When I was informing for him and gathering intel I decided to take a deeper look.”

“What did you find?” she hedges.

“Money.”

Her brows furrow. “Huh?”

“The guys thought that they could torture members for intel on Thomas and hey, they did get what they wanted but it wasn’t enough. The Saints have enough money to own the town. Hell, they pretty much do already.”

“I’m not following, Vivian.”

“The only way to truly kill the snake and make sure it never comes back is to take away every resource it has and that’s what I’ve been doing. Ezy A is a company I opened before I took over the Saints.” Her eyes widen in surprise. “That company has been funneling the income from the Saints and investing in other companies, legitimate companies. Like Lividica, they think with how busy it has been since the grand opening that they are making huge amounts of money. They have even put money into The Brotherhood's accounts to go toward building more hotels just like Lividica.”

“Won’t they know you are ripping them off?”

“No. When the accountants check the bank balance they will see millions of dollars on the screen but it's all smoke and mirrors. The account they are actually viewing is mine.”

Nova gasps and reels back. “Vivian, they will kill you for this!”

“They can’t touch me. The money I have taken from them is already invested and I am already building other hotels. They think they are about to triple their incomes but none of it is under The Brotherhood, it's all under Ezy A. The more money they keep sinking into The Brotherhood means they are emptying their accounts. Once they are all broke they won’t have a leg to stand on. All I have to do is push a button and the remainder of the money's gone. They have all been restless because none of them have seen a return on their revenue but with the promise Lividica has shown and the lies I tell about the new builds costing more money than we thought, they keep buying my lie. David owns an accounting firm and is helping me. He is the only person that knows what I have planned. You can’t tell Vox,” I beg.

“I won’t say anything but, Vi, they would have helped you.”

I shake my head. “No, the money isn’t the only thing,” I admit somberly. She studies me for a long moment then suddenly she gasps and reaches out to place her hand on my arm.

“What the fuck have you done?”

“What I had to do, Nova. They are all killers, they ruined families and destroyed countless lives. We live in a corrupt world and I am the leader of the worst of them. They need to pay for what they have done, so I struck a deal.”

She stares at me with a horrified look on her face. “They won’t let you go, they will need a fall guy.”

I nod, pain washes over me but I push it aside. “I know but I made sure the four of them, our families, yourself and a few members of the Saints that I know and trust will be granted freedom and they will never come after any of you. It’s okay, Nova, I know it’s a cruel existence and it feels like there is no point hoping at all, but I am at peace with my decision.” Tears fill her eyes. I smile sadly, unable to appease her worries more than I have. She reaches for me and wraps her arms around me in a tight hold. I hold her close and breathe in her scent, utterly grateful that she came into my life.

When we arrive at the new house, Nova has her face plastered against the window. Unlike my house, this place is gated, patrolled, bullet proof windows, alarm system, cameras, motion sensors and the rest. This place will make it hard for the fucker to get to me now. Nerves begin to thrum through me when I climb out of the car and see David standing in the entrance. Nova follows after me.

“Welcome to your new home, Lordess,” David says as he steps aside and lets us pass by. The house isn’t anything overly huge, four bedrooms, two baths, two entertainment areas, heated pool and gym.

“Thank you, David,” I say as we follow after him into the living area. I freeze when I see the box on the little table. David nods confirming that it is what I think it is. Nova stands beside me looking out of place. I grab the box off the table and turn to face her with it in my arms. She looks at it then looks at me and shakes her head.

“I don’t want whatever is in there.”

I scoff and roll my eyes. “This isn’t that !” I chastise her. She just purses her lips. “This is me trying to make my wrong right. I couldn’t let you see Kelly that way, Nova.” Instantly her gaze drops to the box. “David and I had her… cremated.” I tense in preparation for her to rage and yell at me for making that decision for her. I warred with it for a long time given the fact Vox cremated Waylen without her consent as well.

She shakily reaches out and lifts the lid to expose the cream colored urn, she reaches in and pulls it out. I had it engraved for her as well, on the front of the urn it reads.

Kelly Quinlin,

Beloved mother of Nunu.

A mother holds their child’s hand for a while,

But, she holds their hearts forever.

Rest peacefully, until we meet again.

4221…

Tears roll down her cheeks unchecked as she rubs her thumbs over the inscription. I look to David for confirmation that I did the right thing. He smiles and nods, then silently excuses himself to give us some time alone.

“I never needed friends because I had her,” she chokes out. “When Waylen came into my life I thought everything was perfect. I had my mom and my best friend and that was all I needed. When she met Thomas I was happy for her because it was the first time she had ever done something for herself. She revolved her whole life around me and she never complained once.”

“Your mom was an amazing woman,” I say quietly.

“She was the fucking best.” Her pain is evident in her wavering tone. “She didn’t deserve this, nor did Waylen, but loving me got them both killed.” She flicks her green eyes to me and the shattered look in them robs me of air.

“No, it didn’t. Loving you is what gave them the courage to want more from their lives. Kelly was so proud of you, Nova, you could see it in the way she would look at you. I didn’t know Waylen well but from the brief encounter I had with him I could tell he would have jumped off a cliff for you. Being able to love you is a gift.”

“Yeah, the gift of death,” she bites out.

“No. Those bastards took them from you and we are going to take everything from them, I swear it.”

“I want them both to pay!”

“And they will, we will make sure of it.”

“For Mom and Waylen.”

“For Kelly and Waylen,” I promise. I don’t include my father or Ezekiel’s because they knew what they were doing when they became the lord. They could have chosen to take the Saints down a different path but they didn’t. Like all the others, they wanted power and money and that is ultimately what led them to their deaths.

Later that evening David and I are sitting around the dining table working on our laptops when his phone rings. He answers it and when I see his face contort I know something is wrong. He ends the call and faces me.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Your brother and his friends have managed to get inside Lividica and Tate wants to break their necks.”

I cringe. “What have they done?”

“Nothing to any of the girls but the club is about to open and they can’t be found by the brothers.” I sigh and hold my hand out for his phone. He gives it to me and I redial Tate’s number.

“I’m gonna break the blonde one's nose!” Tate says when she answers.

“That blonde one happens to be my husband, Tatum,” I growl.

“Vivian?”

“It’s me. Now tell me exactly what they are doing?”

“You mean aside from being assholes?” she bites out.

“Yes!” I snap.

“They are being loud douchebags and demanding you and Nova get your asses here or they are going to—wait.”

“Wait, what?” When she doesn’t reply, worry begins to stir inside me, I can hear shouting in the background. “Tate!” I shout.

“What?”

“What’s going on?”

“Ah, that Aztec God from last night is here talking to them.” I scrunch my face.

“Aztec what?”

“The guy you were talking to last night.” She sounds annoyed which just pisses me off.

“Alexander?”

“I don’t know, you hugged him and then went and talked to him,” She answers.

“Shit. Hang tight, I’ll sort it out.” I end the call with her and open my iCloud on my laptop. I find Alexander’s number and quickly dial it. It takes him five rings before he finally answers.

“How did you get this number?” he growls.

“Alex, it's Vivian.”

“You seem to have disappeared and left a mess behind,” he says.

“Is that my girl?” I hear Hayze say.

“I know. They can’t find me Alex?—”

He cuts me off before I can finish. “Because you want him to find you and you know he won’t do that if you have round the clock bodyguards with you.”

I gasp. “How did you know that?”

“Because it’s something I’ve done before. I’ll handle this situation but I want something in return.”

Of course he wants something from me!

“Name it.”

“Nexus Valerian is mine, no one is to touch him.”

I don’t hesitate. “Deal.” Alex ends the call without another word.