Chapter sixteen

Chapter sixteen


Carter

“Fuck you!” the sound of Astrid's voice followed by a frustrated yell echoed through the hallway as Ray and I left the training area.

It took a whole lot of restraint not to go back there and shut her mouth with my gun or cock. But sadly, I can't do either of those things.

For the millionth times, I wished I had killed her that night at the bar before the Serpents got to her. Or maybe I could have left her unconscious on the side of the road when she crashed my bike. Because now she was a literal thorn in my flesh.

“She’s quite interesting.” Ray grinned, casting a side glance at me.

I shot him a glare, but instead of shutting up, his grin widened.

Make that two people I wanted to kill today.

Unfortunately, I can't kill Ray either. I needed him. Especially for what we were about to face. And of course, he knew that. It's why he's been running his mouth.

“I'm intrigued. No one has the balls to talk to you like that, but she doesn't even flinch around you.” he shook his head and chuckled.

“Well, it seems she isn't the only who thinks they can get away with their words today.” I glared at him pointedly.

Ray raised both his hands defensively. “I'm just trying to lighten the mood, dude. You seem tense.”

“Of course, I'm tense. We both know how this is going to end, and it might not be in my favor. I've worked too hard for this.” I groaned.

I had just voiced out the one thing that had me on edge since she showed up. I hated how true that sentence was. Because it was. The meeting we were walking into might not end in my favor.

“We will make sure it does.” Ray said and clapped me on the back. His reassurance did nothing to loosen the tight knots in my stomach, but I nodded anyway.

We made it to the meeting area, a small outlet attached to the main building, and as expected, council members from all over America were seated in the space.

Most of them turned to look at me as I walked in while others ignored me. The members who raised their heads were whispering something in hushed tones to each other. It didn't take a genius to figure out what they were whispering about.

My fingers curled into a tight fist that I kept firmly beside me, just in case I needed to punch someone before this meeting ended. Starting a fight wouldn't help my case, but it would definitely give me some form of relief.

But then again, I can't start a fight at a council meeting. It was a rule that many of us struggle to stick to. The room is supposed to be a neutral zone that gives egoistic bastards the false sense of safety. It doesn't mean fight doesn't break out, it just never got physical.

“Nice of you to finally join us, Ace.” Sebastian was the first to speak, our eyes locked in an intense battle. I knew, before I even stepped foot in here, that I wasn't getting Sebastian’s support.

The Colombian Section Leader hated my guts. Well, most people did, but Sebastian had a personal vendetta against me. A long time ago when we were still rookies, he caught his girlfriend on her knees, sucking my cock. Of course, I rubbed it in his face, right before he punched mine.

The stupid lover boy had convinced himself that I seduced his girlfriend. Like I had any time for that. The girl was still blowing up my phone with nudes despite how long had passed. I don't reply, but I always give Sebastian the impression that I was still fucking her, just because it pissed him off.

And that's exactly what I did now. It was probably not the best choice since I would be need his opinion very soon. But I did it anyway.

“No offense, Sebby, I was busy.” I drawled, my lips hooking up in a smirk. His gaze hardened when he heard the ridiculous nickname. That was what his girlfriend calls him doing sex.

Sebby. How ridiculous.

Ray nudged me slightly, probably reminding me it wasn't a good idea to antagonize Sebastian, but I ignored him. I settled in my seat and scanned the room for potential enemies or friends. I couldn't find much of the former. Those people either respected me or feared me.

While the people against me were few, they were still strong enough to cause an uproar and tip the balance slightly against me.

“Since we're all here, let's begin the meeting.” my father finally spoke, his tone clipped.

I could tell he wasn't pleased about this meeting either. It wasn't just my position at risk. If Astrid managed to snatch the reins and take her position, she could challenge my father's position. While there was no chance of her winning, it would definitely cause another disturbance. My father hated disturbance. And he expected me to put an end to it, but without hurting her.

“Shouldn't the rest of your family be here as we decide their fates, Arthur? Your new wife, your other son, and especially, your new stepdaughter.” Sebastian said again.

My father's jaws tightened visibly but he didn't give him any response. Everyone in the Council know Leon doesn't attend meetings. He was a Shadow by name only. He might be a trained killer like the rest of us, training was a necessity, but my brother made it clear several times that he hates violence.

Father had since abandoned him when he chose to pursue medicine, but with the condition that he does it within Shadows territory. Leon was either at the infirmary right now, or his room.

I suspected Caroline's absence must be her choice. My father couldn't exempt her from council meetings even if he wanted to. She was married to a Founder, so she was a Founder by marriage. She answered only to the leader, my father. But even he had limitations of what he could ask of her.

I wouldn't it past Sebastian to know all these and decide to stir troubles, but Arthur Grey was clearly not in the mood for banter. He waved Sebastian off and continued.

“Alexander Wolfe's daughter was found after believed to be dead for twenty years. Her mother, Caroline Wolfe, came to seek refuge with her old family and got married to me in exchange of protection for her daughter. The people after her are our long-time rival, the Serpents.”

Murmurs broke out in the room. Guess not many people knew that piece of information until now. I ran my tongue over my teeth and refrained my smirk.

“The Serpents are after the heir?”

“This is war!”

“Why are we sitting here when we should be fighting them?!”

“Unacceptable!”

I stayed quiet as they exchanged words among themselves, one thing became clear. My father had diverted their attention from away Astrid’s return to our rivals. Nothing made a group of trained killers excited like the promise of war. The thought they could let out their unhinged side and destroy their enemies.

He had just done me a favor and now I owed him. I hated owing him. Especially when I knew he hadn't done it for me. No, it was for himself. Arthur Grey only thought about himself.

“We need to protect our heir!” someone yelled.

“That's right, Gareth. We need to protect the Wolfe line, and that's exactly what our Heir has been doing.” Arthur started. I didn't miss how he referred to me as the Heir and called Astrid by her last name. If anyone else noticed that, they didn't let on.

So he proceeded, “The Wolfe descendant has shown lack of basic training skills. My Heir has been training her and providing her with necessary skills to defend herself in case of an attack. Their sessions have been going well but they still have a long way to go. I can assure you she isn't thinking about ruling anything now. I believe that answers all your questions.”

The silence after his words was deafening. The council members exchanged looks but no one spoke. My father had shut down any questions and declared I was still the Heir, no vote necessary. It doesn't mean this was over. It was far from it.

Fucking Sebastian smirked at me. “It's quite ironic that Carter is the one assigned to training her. What's to say he wouldn't hurt her just so she doesn't get her rightful place?”

“I'm not gonna kill her if that's what you're implying, Sebby.” I drawled.

“That's debatable. Considering you have the reputation of eliminating anyone who disagrees with you.”

I lifted my gaze to him slowly, but the asshole only grinned wider.

“And yet you're still alive. How unfortunate.” I chuckled.

His eyes glimmered with an emotion before quickly vanishing.

“You could try.” he said.

I leaned forward, my arms on the table.
“Is that a threat?” I arched an eyebrow. We glared at each other. I wanted to pull out my gun and blow his fucking brains out.

“Okay, boys. Simmer down.” Ray said but I didn't tear my gaze from Sebastian. No one interrupted us. It was almost as if we were the only two in the room.

The doors flung open. In the blink of an eye, half of the room turned towards the door, guns pulled out and prepared to shoot whoever the intruder.

I lowered my gun slightly when I recognized the guard who barged in. He immediately fell to his knees, his head lowered.

“What the fuck?! How dare you barge on a council meeting?!” Ray groaned and kicked the guard's side. To his credit, he barely flinched.

“Apologies, Masters. But there's an important message I need to deliver.” he said.

“And it couldn't wait till we were done?” someone said.

“It's the Serpents.” He said without hesitation.

I didn't need to hear the rest of his words to know what was going on. Astrid.