Deceit (Gallows Hill #1)

18. Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

Ronan

T here are a lot of things I would rather do on a Thursday than be in a meeting with the Brethren. I’d always rather do almost anything than be anywhere with the Brethren, not like I’d ever say that out loud, though.

I’ve been tempted half a dozen times to get up, move over to the box where they collect our phones before we enter the room. Just to check and see if Skyla has texted me. I feel a little pathetic that at thirty-two, I’m completely gone for a nineteen-year-old. Actually, when I say it like that, I feel downright disgusting.

I’m spacing out as I stare at the large ornate mirror to the side. It practically takes up the entire wall, it’s so tall. It has been here for over two-hundred years, which is pretty remarkable considering its condition.

“Ronan,” Christopher chastises, clearly observant of how little attention I’m paying.

It’s bullshit that I’m even here. None of the other siblings from the Elders have to attend these. The oldest is the only true heir, I’m just spare parts in case someone finally takes him out.

Whoops, did I say finally? Oh well.

The only reason I’m here is because our father insisted. He was the Elder to hold the position as the head of the Brethren, for the longest period of time since its conception. He died six years ago and Christopher was practically salivating for his time to lead us. He couldn’t wait for dad to pass.

My eyes are on him to show that he has my attention, but I don’t speak.

“Robert and I were just discussing your betrothal to his daughter.”

That grips every bit of my attention. I sit up a little higher, my back straightening as my eyes swing to Robert Williams. Annie is a nice girl. Nice enough at least, but I’m not the least bit interested in her. When she showed up to my place the other day, we had a good time until she wanted to fall into bed together. Normally that wouldn’t have been a hardship, she’s gorgeous with perfectly tanned skin, rich chocolate brown hair and legs that go on for miles. Since I first laid eyes on Skyla though, no one has been able to compare. Especially now that she’s mine . Yeah, hell no.

“If I can be frank, I’m not sure we are the best match,” I say carefully.

Robert’s eyebrows furrow, while my brother narrows his gaze at me.

“And why is that? Do you have a better one in mind?” Christopher asks.

Yes.

“No, we’ve spent a little time together and we didn’t have much to talk about, we don’t share much in common.”

“Consider yourself lucky,” Will Stroughton laughs, causing several other members to chime in with their agreement.

That vein in the side of my brother’s head throbs and his jaw tenses in visible irritation. He doesn’t like losing the attention of a room. Our father practically beat it into his brain that if you have their attention, you have their respect. If you have their respect, you have power and if you have power…you can rule this earthly world.

“You will,” Christopher says easily, claiming the spotlight once more as he levels a heavy look around the long table. “That’s the point of a union. It’s to grow, strengthen bonds and unite two families into one.”

All hope of attempting to talk him out of this decision dies with those words. Like the others, I can read between the lines. I’m not marrying Annie because she is a good match for me. I’m marrying her because Will has something that my brother wants, whether for himself or the Brethren is inconsequential. We’re all merely pawns and it’s this game that he is playing.

I nod once and dip my head, an obvious sign of respect and defeat. That has his smile growing as he settles back into his chair comfortably.

“Excellent. After Asher’s ceremony would be perfect. Maybe July? Enough time for us to get everything in alignment,” Christopher says, though he isn’t talking to me. He’s looking straight at Will who nods his agreement.

My brother nods happily to himself before he goes down the table addressing a few more issues with other Elders, which I promptly tune out. Once business seems to be addressed for the day, Christopher looks at me.

“Bring them in.”

I nod, standing up from my plush leather chair at the slate stone table, as I make my way to the door. When I pop it open, I find Asher and Liam standing in the waiting area pressed, polished and ready. If only they knew they’d never be ready.

They both nod at me, stepping in and depositing their phones into the box before standing beside my brother at the head of the table. Simultaneously, they bow their heads in respect and I watch the table carefully to see several nods of approval.

“Thank you for being here today,” Christopher says to Asher, before his eyes dart to Liam. “As you have both been made aware, someone has been tampering with the school’s security cameras. Obviously, this is not only a threat to our children but to our very foundation. So, I’m tasking you two with the job of finding who this is and finishing them.”

Their faces are stoic, though even I can see the hesitancy in Liam’s eyes from here. I know Christopher is testing them, mainly Asher. If he really was concerned about finding the person responsible for the outages, he could get anyone from the Hutchinson family to look into it. They are all tech geniuses, and their Legacy is still at the University.

If he wanted to have someone taken out, then Griggs would have been a much better fit. It’s what his family lived and died doing; it’s his destiny, to follow their footsteps in their role of the Brethren.

I’ll be disappointed when they do trace it back and figure out who has been behind the outages, though I think we all know the obvious answer. I’ve been using them as a perfect excuse to shut down the cameras in the pool and surrounding areas when Skyla and I meet. We’ve been sneaking around in the Brethren’s blind spots, which I know is a strategy that won’t last forever. It’s the best we can do, at least for now, though.

“Of course,” Asher says.

Christopher nods approvingly. “Excellent, Alexander will send you the information on what we know so far. You’re both dismissed. Ronan, please escort them back to their dorm.”

I frown, uncomfortable with the fact that my brother is making plans or discussions and intentionally wants me out of the room for them. Still, it’s not like I could refuse. So, I stand from my seat, moving over to the box where I retrieve my phone along with Liam and Asher’s before we all file out of the room, through the holding room and into the tunnel.

Once we make it to the stairs and are inside the church, we all seem to exhale a sigh of relief. That’s how life in this world feels, like you’re always holding your breath, always waiting to see what happens next. A life on edge keeps you alert, but fuck it’s exhausting.

“Man, this is bullshit. Why the fuck were we selected for this? This isn’t in either of our skill sets,” Liam says with a shake of his head, as we move through the three-hundred-and-fifty-year-old church.

“Because he said so,” Asher shrugs, pushing open the doors before stepping out into the moonlit cemetery.

“Since when is that enough for you?” Liam challenges. “Ash, he wants us to find this person and kill them. I can’t kill someone, can you?”

“If I have to,” he snaps sharply, sending his best friend a withering glance before he starts typing quickly on his phone. “Your birthday isn’t too far behind my own, Liam. Did you really expect to enter the Brethren without a single drop of blood on your hands?”

He pauses, looking at me as I quickly avert my gaze.

“Is that part of initiation? We have to kill for them?” he asks.

“It varies,” I answer cryptically, forcing Asher to let out a derisive snort.

“Which means, yes.”

Liam looks sick as he shakes his head, seemingly pushing whatever thoughts or conflictions he’s feeling aside before he speaks.

“Whatever, I just want to go home. You coming?” he asks, as he begins veering right towards his dorm, while Asher is heading left.

“No, gonna go get my dick sucked real quick.”

“By Skyla?” I ask irrationally, unable to hide the jealousy in my voice fast enough.

Asher doesn’t think anything of it, or he doesn’t notice, as he continues texting. Liam, however, is watching me with a curious gaze.

“Yeah fucking right,” Asher scoffs. “That prude wouldn’t know the first thing about sucking a man off.”

Something in me would love nothing more than to put him in his place. Tell him how wrong he is, how she has a mouth that feels like heaven and a pussy that tastes like it too. Obviously, I don’t and for good reason. He doesn’t deserve to know those things about her. That’s only for me to know, it’s a privilege I will cherish greatly.

“Why do you hate her so much?” I bite out before I can stop myself. “She’s a nice girl, she doesn’t deserve your spite. She is just as much a victim in this as anybody, maybe more so. She doesn’t have the advantage of growing up in this world like you two did. She was a normal girl, who has now been dropped into the middle of Brethren business during one of the most crucial and dangerous points of our history.

Asher’s feet pause as he turns to face me, phone long forgotten.

“What do you mean? What’s happening?”

I blow out a breath as I shake my head. “You’ll be inducted soon. You’ll know more than you ever cared to.”

He doesn’t seem to like that answer. So, he turns back around and stalks off to whatever poor girl he’s basically using as a prostitute. I scoff at him, rolling my eyes before my gaze stops on Liam.

His green eyes are narrowed at me, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

“So, you and her?”

“Me and who?” I ask, doing my best to keep my tone even.

Liam’s smirk spreads into a full on grin before he giggles almost excitedly.

“No fucking way! Oh my god. Asher doesn’t know, obviously. I’m assuming neither does your brother? Oh, oh, what about her dad?”

He continues his fit of giggles before I close the distance between us. Gripping his shirt in my hand, I ball it up and yank him towards me until we are nose to nose.

“Listen to me carefully, you don’t know what you’re talking about. If you spread bullshit rumors, I’ll fucking bury you. I’m not afraid to get my hands bloody, I’ve done it many times before. You’re just a Legacy and to your parents, you’re the disappointment, the letdown. No one will mourn you for longer than a day, so before you open that cock sucking mouth of yours, think about all you’re willing to lose, over a lie .”

He looks stunned by my words. Honestly, I’m a little stunned by them. I didn’t mean to be that harsh, I like the kid a lot, but to protect myself, to protect Skyla? Yeah, I’d kill him in a heartbeat, and bury him right here in this cemetery, without a single ounce of regret.

I release my hold on him, roughly shoving him away before I storm across campus towards my car. I planned on sneaking into Skyla’s room tonight, something about holding her against my chest, her scent on me brings a sense of calm I haven’t felt in years. I’m too pissed off right now, though. Too terrified that we’ve both already signed our death certificates. If I was smart enough, I’d cut all ties with her and let her go on to live her life as it was planned.

There is no fucking way that’s happening, though.