Page 103 of Disobedient Pawn

“Aye and no. Not by any standards that heads of countries would want to recognize.”

Ren looked over her shoulder at me, and even in the dim lighting, I could see her beautiful silver eyes that reminded me of liquid metal.

“You’re confusing me.”

I wanted to kiss her so badly and forced myself to swallow the razor-like dryness scratching down my throat.

“We’re mafia Snowflake. All of us are Irish mob and have been for generations. When Nash’s great-great-grandfather was in charge, he created a smaller group of the most powerful families to act as a council. He would still be in charge, but he saw the value in having families wanting him to succeed so the entire group flourished.” I wet my lips. I was in it now. No point holding back. “Skipping ahead, there have been other leaders, but Lawrence wanted the title back for his family. He clawed his way to the top, then killed his father and brother to ensure no one else in his family could fight for leadership.”

“I knew he was evil,” she said. “I can see it in his eyes.”

“Aye, he is. Long ago, we were a secret society, a cult with blood sacrifices and ceremonies. No one even remembers, but there are old books on it. None of the other leaders took it seriously until Lawrence took over. He re-established the secret society and forced the five most powerful families to join if they wanted to continue to rule with him, my father included. He calls the group The Order of Kings.” I licked my lips. “Two of the families are still Ireland and the other three are here.”

Ren looked over her shoulder at me again and slowly shifted around so she was on her back. My body roared to life, wanting to forget all of this dark bullshit that had plagued me from birth and just lose myself in her.

“So you’re saying that Nash’s father is the head of the Irish mafia and opened Pandora’s Box?”

“Aye, exactly. He does terrible things, demands loyalty, and gets others to do terrible things that he can use as blackmail. Like running illegal businesses, guns, and drugs weren’t enough. He murders, traffics women and children, and does unspeakable things to people just for amusement.”

Her mouth dropped open, and she stared up at me so intensely that I was afraid to blink. My heart pounded hard as I waited for her to respond.

“And my father is part of this? He’s taken up with Lawrence and doing all this terrible stuff?” Her eyes were filled with so much sadness and heartache that I would’ve taken it all as my own to keep that look away.

“That I don’t have a definitive answer ta, but my guess would be in some capacity, yes. Only Nash is allowed at ceremonies. Ya have to be eighteen, but he’s never seen your father there, so he’s not one of the inner leaders and yet is treated like royalty.” Her eyes widened. “Please don’t be scared. I mean, ya have every right to be, but…please try not to see us differently. None of us chose to live this life, none of us chose to do terrible things in honor of loyalty to a man that is certifiable, but we do, and we are if we want to survive.”

“Why hasn’t someone taken him out?”

“Assassination?”

She nodded.

“It’s not that easy. Even if we killed him, one of the others would step into the role, and that could get messy and start family wars.”

Her eyes searched my face, and I wish I knew what she was looking for. I wish I knew what to say to make her feel safe.

“I’m not scared, even if I should be. I think I’m broken Myles. I have trouble feeling much of anything anymore.”

She looked down, and I ran my thumb over her lower lip, unable to stop myself.

“Yer not broken, yer perfect,” I said, and her cheeks pinked with a hint of a blush.

“I’m not sure what else to call it. I came here not knowing anything or anyone. I got to know you before you dropped this bombshell, and other than some odd quirks that now make sense, the school is like any other. The people inside these walls are no different from those back home. The thing is, Myles, I’m still trying to wrap my head around possibly seeing all of your faces on an FBI’s Most Wanted list for who you are and what you do…I don’t even know how to compute that.”

“I know.”

“Doesn’t it scare you? To run drugs, collect money, and…well, you know.”

“It used to, but I think somethin inside of me broke a long time ago too.”

I almost jumped out of my skin as she touched my cheek. Grabbing her hand, I kissed her palm and held it so I wasn’t as tempted to pull her under me and kiss her until she was gasping for air.

“So you weren’t exaggerating about everyone here and their families?”

I shook my head.

“Some have parents who are crooked politicians, lawyers, judges, and even police officers.”

“Like Ivy’s father?”