Page 128 of The Deceptions

"They aren't threats. They're promises. Because I swear... One day..." I'm going to lose my fucking mind on someone. He knows it. I know it. Fuck, even Hux knows it. With a sigh, I lean down and pet the top of Waffle's head, soothing some of the pesky feelings I’m having.

I guess that's why I'm in sports. It occupies me away from the murderous thoughts plaguing me. Something that hadn't occurred to me until after the love of my fucking life ceased to exist.

Since she's been gone, a black hole has lived in my chest, pumping poison through my veins. Hate. Rage. Pain. I've become the angrier, more unsettled version of myself. And I kinda don't like the guy I give the world.

Olivia Viotto was the sunshine in the sky. She warmed me. Made me a better fucking person. Without her, life isn't worth living.

If I died tomorrow, my brothers would mourn. But Franco? That asshole would replace me within minutes without a second thought.

I just want to reunite with my girl. Sooner rather than later.

I look to the stars. Somewhere up there, my girl is smiling down at me. Or probably frowning. Yeah. She'd have a lot to say about my attitude and wouldn't let it go like JJ and Hux do.

Whatever.

I sigh when Amanda shouts her goodbyes. Thankfully, she doesn't follow us, which means she's set her sights on someone else. More than likely Hux. He's around here somewhere. Parading around with his shirt off and a scowl on his face. Perpetually in Hell, like we are.

"Sooooooo," I sing-song. "Find any loopholes for that yet?" I raise my brows.

"There are no loopholes," JJ says matter-of-factly, staring at two people stumbling through the exit.

I snap my fingers in front of his face several times. "There has to beeee," I whine, slumping my shoulders. "We can't live with that every day for the next million years."

"You're welcome to try," he says in a low voice, unable to take his eyes off the front gate again.

He's locked in on that asshole who provoked Hux in the administration building. Impressive, as fuck. No matter how much it pisses me off that he took Brutus down with a few punches. How, though? He should have been crushed into the mat, bruised and broken. It was a lesson he needed to learn. Don't fuck with us; we're the kings of this fucking castle.

But what did he learn? Absolutely nothing.

I'll have to think of something bigger and better for next time. Shit, I should probably remind the guy, too. Now, JJ is enthralled with this asshole and trying to get to the bottom of... whoever he really is. He's suspicious of him. I can't quite figurehim out or put my finger on what makes him so strange. Maybe it's the looks he gives us when we're near. Shit. Maybe he's in love with us.

I shake my head.

I need some more booze and a nap. I've been going all damn day. My body is desperate for anything but this. And tomorrow, Sunday—my only fucking day off from workouts, practice and school—we have to go on a run, doing whatever Franco wants us to do. AKA keeping us occupied and our eyes on the prize—our future empire.

"Ugh. There has to be. There's no way he can be tied to that... that..." I gesture toward Amanda's retreating back, at a loss for words when she saunters to more people at the party and makes her rounds like a hostess in our line of work would. All she needs is a teeny tiny dress, drinks, and Hux by her side, and she'll fill the shoes perfectly.

Or so she thinks.

She'll have a rude awakening when she moves into the mansion with us and realizes we don't fucking care about her or this business. If she moves in with us, that is. That’s the plan the moment they say I do.

"It's an ironclad contract," JJ says emotionlessly. "Unless you want Franco's entire operation to cease and our heads on a damn platter."

Well, yeah. Of course, I want that. Then Franco could fuck off to somewhere far from here and leave us alone to create our own world. But then again, if our heads will be served on a shiny silver platter... I rub at the back of my neck with a cringe. I like my head intact, thank you very much. It keeps me alive to see another day. We’d run away, but Franco possesses so much power throughout the country now that we’d never get a fresh start anywhere. We’re stuck.

Unlike...

A rogue sense of sadness hits me out of nowhere, and my eyes flit to Livy's ruined grave. Again. Whoever did that will pay for their crimes against her. And me. And JJ. And, well, not Hux. That asshole doesn't come here to visit her. Ever. He planted flowers in memory of her, but that's it. Bastard. She was the most important person in our lives. Well, mine at least. I leaned on her for everything.

She lit up my life and then took the sun with her when she perished.

It's unfair.

"You ever find out who did that?" I ask, pointing to the cracks on the 224.

My ribs ache and the memory. My tattoo practically pulsates at the thought of someone damaging her.

JJ frowns, rubbing at his brow. "Footage was too grainy. I'm currently following their vehicle through town on surveillance videos from different shops. But it takes a bit to hack into those systems. Once we get home, I'll look into it more. But it probably won't be until Monday when I find anything." He shakes his head, running a finger over his temple. "If we didn't have the job tomorrow, I'd find out who they are."