Page 61 of Jackal's Pride
“Is that so?” Sebastian stared Newt down, sniffing for guilt or fear.
“Gavin’s a buddy of ours, but I have no control over what he does,” Newt replied.
“Did,” August corrected him. “Smooth head.” He ran his hands over Newt’s bald head, earning an impatient glower from Newt himself.
“Maureen, do explain your brothers’ behaviors.” Newt was watching me intently now.
“Gavin’s dead.”
Something flickered in Newt’s eyes. “You played with him too long.”
“I never—” I refused Gavin time after time. His stupid bets were the only things I could never turn down. I wasn’t about to share that information with Newt. Out of everyone, he was around Gavin enough to know how much he bugged me. “Jackal killed him. I wished it had been me,” I muttered.
Newt scowled at Barron. “And what does this have to do with me?”
“Someone gave him something strong enough to cloak Maureen from us.” Barron grabbed his shirt and pulled him forward.
“And you think it was me?” Newt chuckled dryly. “Is that what you think, Maureen?”
“No.” I exhaled. “He said it was his brother so, let him go, Barron.” Barron didn’t let go, more like he shoved him.
“It seems like I’m missing something important here.” Fear crossed his arms and studied us. He pieced it together quickly. “I knew that one was no good.” He was referring to Gavin.
I rolled my eyes. “I can take care of myself.”
“Apparently not,” said August.
I swiveled around and gave him the stink eye. “Wanna say that again?”
“Kill him or not, either way, you guys have to leave. You picking fights with each other is one hundred years too old.”
I huffed.
“I see where Payne gets the stick up his ass,” said Sebastian. August and I stifled our laughs.
“Wanna get in the ring, pretty boy?” Fear’s neck popped as he rolled it around, watching Sebastian.
“Let’s go, old man,” Sebastian urged. Both of them grinned ear to ear—no malice between them.
“This is why I wanted to go alone,” Barron grumbled.
I placed my hands on my hips. “You shouldn’t have come here at all. Gavin’s dead. It’s over.”
“Cut ’em some slack, Maureen.” Fear patted my shoulder and smirked. “Can’t you see they’re worried about you?”
I stared at all of them. Barron and Newt furtively watched each other while Sebastian kept bobbing his head like he agreed with Fear. August stood at the edge of the group taking in everybody and everything.
I lowered my chin, trying to hide my smile. “I know, but they’resoannoying.”
“Is the verdict in or not? Am I dying or living today?” Newt finally asked.
Barron glowered. “I don’t like the glint in his eyes. We should kill him.”
I stepped closer to him. “You want to kill everything.”
“We should probably get rid of everyone while we’re at it. Maureen’s probably pissed off most of them. The next secret admirer might be somewhere lusting after her in one of these corners.” August added nonchalantly.
“You would know,” I told him, suspecting that most of the Underworld loathed my brother because of a debt or two. Honestly, I didn’t know how he managed.