“What’s the rush?” he asks. Knowing that he heard everything that went down between Jarred and me, he’s either trying not to encroach on my business, or he finds it amusing. They are, after all, the Gilded Sovereign.
“I need to get back to Thorne Haven. I have a wedding to plan,” I inform him as I settle in the chair opposite his desk. It’s true. I do have an event coming up, and Zaria and I need to sit down and make a few decisions.
“I understand,” he says. “Since my brother is only on his way to Tynewood now, I’ll go through the contract.”
“It’s the same one my father sent through to you.” I slide it over the desk to him. Ares picks it up, flicking through the pages slowly. His gaze scans the information. The most important is the cut we take for installation of our systems in all their venues. The Lancasters have taken over the clubbing scene after Philipe, the eldest Lancaster brother, started his nightclub in New York.
“Twenty-five percent?”
“We have to ensure we’re running at a profit,” I tell him. Even though they’ll pay full price for installation, it’s the running of the systems that need constant monitoring. When it comes to criminal organizations, you can’t leave anything to chance.
“Understandable,” he responds, before turning the page and screening what’s written there. I did read through it; it’s a standard agreement, which shouldn’t be an issue. “What are your thoughts on joining the Sovereign?”
“It depends on a few things,” I tell him. “My father and I still need to discuss it. I only learned about it yesterday.” The fact that my dad didn’t think it would be advisable to talk me through the Society beforehand frustrates me. But, there must be benefits or it would have been shut down years ago.
“It’s a good place to be,” Ares says. “I’ve wanted to be one of the Elders since I was a kid. My father, however, used the society for his own perverse intentions. I run it differently.”
“Why the hate between the Gilded Sovereign and Silver faction?” I ask. It’s something that’s been bothering me since I heard about the two factions.
A small smile dances on Ares’s lips. “All men are prideful bastards,” he tells me. “It’s nothing more and nothing less than that.” With a shrug, he chuckles then picks up the shimmering gold pen and signs the last page of the contract before initialing each one separately.
“Perhaps I’ll join then,” I tell him. “Pride may be a sin, but I’ve never been afraid of breaking the rules.” We smile, a knowing one that confirms we both have similar ideals.
“We will welcome you,” he says. “I think both factions need new blood and that will ensure we bring down the old mindsets of our fathers and forefathers. They ran the society like a goddamned criminal organization. I like to keep my nose clean, to a certain extent.”
“Once I get back, I’ll sit down with my father and talk to him about it. We can confirm in forty-eight hours.”
Ares nods before pushing to his feet. “I’m sorry you couldn’t stay longer. Perhaps in the future you can visit with your new wife and Jarred.”
“I don’t know about him, but thank you for the offer.”
Ares laughs. “Trust me when I say Jarred is stubborn. He won’t give up easily.”
I leave it at that because I’m just as stubborn. This will be an interesting few days.
16
JARRED
The moment of heartache that slams into his chest is obvious. I see it shimmering in his perfectly dark eyes. I never thought this secret would come out. But there comes a time in everyone’s life when they need to face their demons. This is mine.
Finn stands silently as the chill in the air hits us. Zaria stands just behind him, watching, waiting, confusion creasing her brows. The ghosts of the past join us as we stare at each other.
“You’re from here,” Finn says again. His words are carried on the wind toward me. He doesn’t come near me, but as I hold onto the ice-cold tombstone, I nod. “And my father knew, which is why you’re here in the first place.”
The guilt that weighed heavily on me for months, for years, finally comes to a head and I don’t know how else to tell Finn that I lied to keep him with me.
I don’t have words. I can’t bring myself to say anything to him because I know he’ll walk away and there is nothing I can do now, but to let him go.
“I never deserved you,” I tell him honestly. “All these years, I knew that. But I took you anyway.” My throat closes with heartbreak and pain. “I needed to keep part of myself from you to safeguard our hearts.”
“This was never about that. You know I accepted you for all that you were,” Finn insists. And that may be true, but I don’t know how to fix this.