“What—Where? When? Why?” Cam stutters out, looking shocked, although I can’t for the life of me work out why.
I shrug my shoulder. “I dunno, I started stashing them when I moved in, but I had one or two already hidden before then. You can never be too careful.” I don’t tell them that I have hidden a bunch more around the school since what happened with Michael. I’ve even strapped one to the underside of my chair in the dining hall, and buried one in the ground down by the lake. It helped make me feel like I had more control over my surroundings, even if it’s not really true. After all, I had my knife on me that day, and it didn’t do me any good. But just knowing I always have something nearby, should I need it, helps me sleep better at night.
Nobody seems to have anything to say to that, and we gather up the flashlights and head back to the dorm, stopping by my old room so I can retrieve my knives and give one each to Hawk, Mason, and Beck. A calmness settles over me as I hand them over. I hadn’t even realized how stressed I was about each of them, but I’m really glad West suggested this tonight. I feel so much more at ease knowing they’re better prepared to face whatever is coming our way.
***
Beck, Mason, Cam, and I huddle around the computer screen, watching as West and Hawk walk into Nocturnal Enterprises. Unfortunately only shareholders are invited to the meeting, so we couldn’t all go—something I was most disappointed about. West, obviously, had to go, but none of us were comfortable sending him alone, so Hawk went with him for back-up. We’re hoping, once Maria finds out that we’ve fucked her over, she’ll be less likely to do something irrational and stupid if Hawk is there. We’re relying on the fact she might give a bit of a shit about her son, and not act out in her anger. Honestly, I’m not convinced she’s capable of caring about anyone other than herself, but Hawk seems to think he might be able to get through to her if shit goes sideways.
However, we weren’t about to sit around with our thumbs up our ass and wait for them to come back, so we attached a small camera and microphone to West’s suit jacket so we could all watch. No fucking way was I about to miss the look of shock on Maria’s face when she realizes we’ve screwed her over.
I hate the fact I’m not there in person, though. To say I’m nervous about them facing off against Maria alone is an understatement, but the guys have assured me there will be plenty of people in this meeting, so Maria won’t be able to do anything to either West or Hawk when she finds out what we’ve done. Pretty much everyone else who attends these meetings is clueless as to what goes on behind the curtain at Nocturnal Enterprises. They are only involved in the legal side of our parents’ operation, and as such, Maria won’t be able to do or say anything that could raise suspicion.
The elevator pings as the guys arrive on the thirty-seventh floor and are escorted to the boardroom. I chew on my bottom lip and my leg bounces anxiously with every step they take, until Beck reaches out and squeezes my knee reassuringly.
As West pushes the door open to the boardroom, we’re greeted with a nearly full table of businessmen and women, with Maria Davenport seated at the head of the table. Wilbert is sitting dutifully on her left and my eyes narrow on him. He’s been suspiciously quiet since handing over his shares and half of his wealth, but West hasn’t found anything in the cameras to suggest he’s spilled the beans to Maria.
The woman herself looks up at the intrusion, and her lips flatten in disapproval as her brows scrunch together in confusion.
“Hawk, what are you doing here?”
There’s a sharpness to her tone, and it’s obvious she’s all business right now. She’s about to inform the board that she’s the majority shareholder, and that she will be taking over the running of the company, so no doubt she’s keen to get on with her one-woman show.
I can hear the smugness in Hawk’s voice, and damn do I wish I could see his arrogant expression, but I know him well enough by now to picture it in my mind's eye. “Why, we’re here for the shareholders’ meeting, Mother.”
He strolls toward one of the spare seats at the top end of the table, next to her, which I imagine were the seats Barton and the others occupied at previous meetings. He’s careful to keep a seat between himself and her at the head of the table, and West claims the empty seat on his other side.
“This meeting is for shareholders only, dear. Of which, neither of you are.” Her gaze darts back and forth between Hawk and West, and I can see the anger radiating in her blue depths.
“Actually, I have recently acquired shares to the amount of 25% of the company,” West states, lifting the necessary documentation out of his inner pocket and placing it on the table in front of him. His tone lacks the same smugness as Hawk’s, but it’s no less victorious sounding.
My gaze is transfixed on Maria’s as she glowers at where West’s hand rests possessively on top of the paperwork, and I can see her jaw working in agitation. Her lips are pressed so firmly together, they’re nothing more than a thin pink line.
After a long moment, she tears her gaze away from West’s hand, sparing a glance around the rest of the table, as she works her face into an impassive mask. Focusing back on West, she manages to sound indifferent as she asks, “Where did you acquire those?”
By now, Wilbert is a bucket of sweat beside her. I can see the pit stains from here, and his hair is sticking to his forehead. On the other hand, West sounds cool as a cucumber as he casually states, “Father here decided it was time to hand them over to the next generation.”
With trembling hands, Wilbert lifts a handkerchief out of his jacket pocket and dabs at the sweat lining his temple. He’s going to need a lot more than one measly square of cotton to mop up all that perspiration, though.
Like something out of a horror movie, Maria’s head slowly swivels to fix Wilbert in place with a Davenport special glower. So that’s where Hawk learned it from. He shifts uncomfortably in his chair, deliberately avoiding eye contact, and I can tell he’s resisting the urge to bolt. I’m actually a little impressed. I have seen kids all but crumble when Hawk has turned that look on them.
He doesn’t say anything and she quickly dismisses him, focusing back on West, before fixing Hawk in her sights. “And what are you doing here, son?”
I notice the sleeve of Hawk’s suit shift as he shrugs. “Moral support.”
She could easily tell him to get out, since he’s not a shareholder—it’s honestly what we expected—but instead, she dismisses him, huffing out a frustrated breath before calling the meeting to start.
She takes her time, her gaze slowly drifting over every member at the table, and making it perfectly fucking clear who is in charge here.
“Who is everyone else?” I whisper to Mason.