Page 164 of Secrets and Lies
The five of them exchange a look. They know they’re cooked; we just need to wait for them to get over themselves and admit it.
“What do you want to know?” Xave asks, his voice tight.
“We want to know everything you do about the drive, and anything else relevant to us and our house.”
Xave’s jaw works as he grinds his teeth, but he gives a curt nod, agreeing to our deal.
We listen as they tell us about a blackmail scheme they’ve been tracking for the better part of a year. Most of their evidence points to the Kings being behind it, but they’ve also discoveredthat others are involved, and the whole thing is actually a multi-house issue that’s been going on for almost ten years.
None of us utter a word when they finish filling us in, and I know my friends are just as shocked as I am, even if we’re all doing our damnedest to hide it.
“One-time offer,” Jace says, breaking the silence that’s fallen over us. “We form an alliance and work together to take these fuckers down. If you betray us, we kill you. Take it or leave it.”
“We’ll take it.” I say without bothering to look at my friends. This was the entire point of the meeting, so I already know they agree with me.
“No hesitation,” Jace says, giving me an assessing look. “And no fear.” He grins. “I like you. But I will kill you if I have to, so don’t fuck us over.”
“Same goes for you,” I say.
“It’s cute you think you could kill us,” Killian says with a smirk.
“We don’t need to kill you,” I tell them calmly. “In fact, it’s more fun if we just make you wish we did.”
“You’re all right, kid,” Jace says with another grin.
I want to point out that we’re the same age, but that’s not really what’s important here.
“So we have a deal?” Rath asks.
“We do,” Jax says.
“Tell Liam to get in touch with Carter, and he’ll pass on our intel,” Killian says.
“All of it?” Connor asks knowingly.
“Of course not,” Jace says, still grinning. “We’re crazy, not stupid.”
“And the footage you have of me?” Xave asks.
“No one will ever see it as long as your cousins hold up their end of the deal,” I assure him. “And don’t even think about trying to erase it off my devices,” I tell Jace. “I know what you can do,and I’ve made sure that there are multiple copies in places you can’t get to.”
“That sounds like a challenge,” Jace says.
“Take it however you want,” I tell him. “But our deal is off if I find out you’re fucking with our systems or messing around where you shouldn’t be. Understood.”
“You’re no fun.” Jace flicks a lock of hair back from his forehead with a toss of his head.
“Understood?” I repeat.
“Understood.” He glances at Shane. “I’m bored.”
Shane immediately slips his hand into Jace’s. “Behave,” he warns.
“I didn’t even tell you what I was planning,” Jace protests as he dutifully holds Shane’s hand.
“Is it going to be helpful to the situation?”
“Definitely not.”
