Dynasty (Boys of Winter 1)

“You do not deserve my respect,” I spit at him. “Let’s cut the crap, yeah? There are eight families all lining the left side of this very table who conspired against my family and murdered my parents, each of you as guilty as the next, and I can assure you that those plans were not discussed or ever brought forward to the gentlemen who sit on the opposite side of the table. I have been hidden away for eighteen years because of the disgraceful men sitting before me, eighteen years of hell, eighteen years of having absolutely no idea who I am or where I belong. The fact that I was hidden away only goes to prove their suspicions against you. You took my world away from me when you murdered my parents, and I will not rest until I have taken everything that you hold dear. Where is my justice? You may have ended my parents, but I will not sit back and allow you to do the same to me.”

I take a breath, trying to calm myself before continuing. “I heard that Dynasty once used to be an organization to be proud of, but what I see is an embarrassment of old men who have been let loose for far too long, an organization full of corruption and lies. And while I never met Gerald Ravenwood, I can guarantee that he would be ashamed of what has become of Dynasty, ashamed of the eight men sitting to my left.” I focus my stare back on Carver’s father. “So, while I would love to stand here and make a mockery of you, I do not need to because it seems that you, along with the other seven men sitting around you, have already achieved that task on your own.”

I hold his stare as his face burns a bright red. I can feel Carver’s less than impressed stare on me, and I don’t doubt that we’re going to have a few words of our own, but right now, that’s the least of my problems.

Carver’s father doesn’t respond, so I give him one last chance to stake his claim in front of the whole organization. “So, what’s it going to be, Mr. Carver? Are you publicly declaring that your loyalties lie to yourself or to the greater good of Dynasty?”

He huffs, only proving how much of an ass he is, and I hold his stare even longer, relentless in my attack against him. He finally bows his head, not willing to publicly stand against me and bring eighteen years of suspicion to his doorstep. “Of course, Miss Ravenwood. You have my loyalty and my full cooperation.”

“You will not stand in my way as I investigate my parents’ murders and the attack brought on me last night?”

“No,” he growls, averting his eyes. “I will not stand in your way.”

“Good.” I finally take my seat again, and glance around the room, feeling my nerves beginning to creep up on me again. I didn’t know how that was going to go. I had absolutely no plan of attack, but I think it went well. At last, I hope it went well. The fire burning in Carver’s eyes suggests that maybe it didn’t, while the nervous energy pouring out of King and Cruz only makes me feel sick. Maybe I fucked up.

I glance back at Earnest, having absolutely no idea where to go from here, but he thankfully picks up on my silent cry for help, picking up where I left off. “There is the matter of your initiation, Miss Ravenwood,” he tells me. “It is a matter of great urgency.”

“Initiation?” I question.

“Yes, ma’am,” he says with pride. “Every child born into the Dynasty family is initiated into our ranks on their eighteenth birthday, and unfortunately, at the time of your eighteenth birthday, you were otherwise … unavailable.”

“How urgent is this exactly?”

“We have the ceremony scheduled for this afternoon followed by a grand celebration for our lost heir.”

My eyes flick up to Cruz who discreetly nods, and just like that, I give Earnest a forced smile. “Of course. Is there anything else that needs to be discussed?”

“There is a brief induction that we will need to take you through to show you the role that you will be taking on. Usually, this is a tradition passed from a father to his heir after their initiation. However, we find ourselves in a unique situation. Tobias King was your father’s closest friend and has personally offered to take you through your induction over the following weeks.”

I sit up straighter looking over at King’s father in a new light to see a fondness shining in his eyes. He nods, and just like that, I feel like I finally have a connection to my father. I nod back as a mutual respect forms between us. “Thank you,” I tell him. “I appreciate that.”