“Any word from your dad?” I ask West.
“Nope, but my bank account is fatter than it was a few days ago, and I spoke to our family lawyer today who confirmed the house and shares have been transferred into my name.”
I absently nod my head, unsure what to say to that. I mean, it’s good that he’s now financially secure, but I don’t like the thought of any of us having shares in our names or being in any way tied to Nocturnal Mercenaries. It’s bad enough that our surnames are associated with it, never mind having legal documentation linking them as well.
“You should probably transfer your shares into my name,” Hawk says, catching me by surprise. “I don’t know what my mom might try to do if she finds out you have Wilbert’s quarter of the company.”
“And you don’t think she will come after you when she finds out you have them?” I snap, scowling.
Hawk shrugs a shoulder. “I’m kinda hoping she draws the line at threatening or trying to kill her own son.”
Somehow, I highly doubt that. "Well, if that’s the case, why not put them in my name?” I counter, calling his bluff.
He’s shaking his head adamantly before I have even finished speaking. “Absolutely not. You just got rid of the target on your back, I’m not about to put a new one on it.”
“But you’re okay putting a target on your own back.”
“It’s a non-issue,” Beck speaks up before Hawk can form some sort of comeback. “Right now, she doesn’t know any of us have the shares.” He looks at me and frowns, and I know I’m not going to like whatever he says next. “Hawk is right, though. He probably has the strongest relationship with her. If there is anyone she might soften toward, it’s him.” I go to open my mouth, but he cuts across me. “But for right now, we should focus on getting Frank’s shares. We can sort out the rest once Maria is no longer breathing down our necks.”
The others murmur their agreements, so I zip my mouth. It’s not like I have a better plan anyway; I just don’t like the feeling that we’re getting dragged further into this mess, rather than extricating ourselves from it.
Everyone looks at Mason, who sighs heavily. “I have a meeting with my father at the prison on Saturday. I’ll get him to transfer the shares over then.”
Not wanting to push him, knowing he hates talking about his father, the others silently agree, but I don’t miss that he never mentioned how he plans on getting his father to hand over his shares. It’s not like he can just ask nicely and expect his father to comply. I drop the subject though, letting him enjoy his meal in peace as the conversation moves on to lighter topics.
***
After spending all day with my ass superglued to my chair in the library, I’m practically vibrating with energy as I make my way through the forest to the clearing for this month’s fight night. It’s the first one since I got back, and I’m actually a little nervous about it. I usually live for the blood and violence, but with anything and everything triggering me these days, I can’t be sure how I’ll react, and that lack of control scares me.
The fights are already underway, and I can hear the faint sound of cheering as I get closer to the clearing, soon intertwined with the noise of a scuffle as two boys duke it out in the ring.
Moving to join the guys, Mason drapes his arm over my shoulder, pulling me in against him as one of the boys takes the other to the ground, and he quickly taps out. The two of them move to the side, once again joining the crowd, and Mason and the guys scan their eyes over everyone, looking to see who will step forward next.
My eyebrows raise in surprise when Wilder steps forward, the threat of violence clear to see in his gaze as he grins psychotically at Deke.
“What the fuck did I ever do to you?” Deke snarls angrily before Wilder can call him out.
“You’ve been harassing Emilia.” At Wilder’s words, my gaze snaps to Deke, and I feel Mason straighten beside me. What the fuck is he talking about? I know he approached Emilia that day in the dining hall, but as far as I’m aware, he hasn’t bothered her since.
I open my mouth to demand answers, but Hawk beats me to it. “What the fuck do you mean by that?”
Wilder’s scowl deepens. “He’s suddenly started showing an interest in her, most likely because of her relationship with Hadley, and the fact she’s been seen hanging out with the almighty Princes. He’s been cornering her when she’s alone, pushing her to go on a date with him, and not accepting when she says no.” He grits his teeth and glares at Deke with a look of death in his eyes, and I just know, whatever he has to say next is going to make me want to kill Deke myself. “Last time, he left bruises on her.”
Yup, I’m going to fucking murder this shithead!
I take a step forward, intending to do just that, but Mason’s hold on my waist tightens, and Hawk’s next words freeze me in place.
“Deke.” His voice is as dark and deadly as Wilder’s. “You better get in that fucking ring with Wilder, or you’ll be facing all five of us, and you sure as fuck won’t like that outcome.”
Deke’s pissed off expression melts away, quickly replaced with a healthy dose of fear as he steps into the ring, but he still doesn’t look fearful enough as he stands opposite Wilder, eyeing him up and assessing his likelihood of winning.
I can see it in his eyes. He thinks he can take on Wilder and walk out of this ring, and sure, Wilder is lean, and he doesn’t have any of the muscle Mason or Hawk carry, but what he lacks in brawniness, he more than makes up for with his completely savage nature and lack of a moral compass.
Deke strips off his top, and Wilder follows, and I realize this is the first time I’ve seen Wilder topless. I’m not the only one who gasps as the beams from the flashlights illuminate his skin. Along one side of his torso, from under his arm to the top of his pants, and spreading out along his back, the skin is scarred and discolored in relation to the rest of his skin. The way the skin twists and undulates, it’s obvious he’s been burned, badly, in the past, and something he once said comes back to me—Yeah, but I bet you didn’t kill her. What happened to him, and is that why he is the way he is?
Whatever he suffered in his past, I revel in his brutality as he attacks Deke with a ferocity I have only ever witnessed at the compound. It quickly becomes painfully obvious Deke never stood a chance.