Chapter 6

Blue Rose, Alabama

Taylor

My stomach somersaults when I watchmy parents drive away from town, and head back home. They gave me the perfect out. A way to excuse myself from the tangled web of murder that I've fallen into, but I couldn't do it. I couldn't walk away from them. Steffan is strong, everyone could lean on him, but I know sometimes he wishes he had an out. Soren is more soulful than he lets on. Leaving would crush him. Then there's Lee. How could I even think of leaving when we don't know where he is, or what is happening to him. My parents offered me a clean break. An escape. I can't do it. And watching their disappointment hits me in the chest. I can't leave behind the men who have my soul. I can't live without the three parts of my heart that each of them holds in their hands.

On shaking legs I manage to make it to the door of the fraternity. Steffan's car is there, so I know they're back from the trip to see Jose's father. I hope they have information. I can feel myself losing my usual pep. Swallowing against a wave of nausea, I knock on the door and one of the brothers answers it. I'm immediately led to the room that Steffan and Soren use as their office.

My gaze connects with Soren's deep eyes and I run to him. As if sensing how much I need him, his arms are already open for me. I feel them band around my waist, pulling my body against his. I glance over his shoulder and find Steffan, watching, waiting for the same response from me. I lean on my tiptoes to kiss Soren before walking to Steffan. He meets me halfway, his hand cradling my neck, and our lips meet in a heated kiss as well. I'm oblivious to anyone or anything else. Now that we're all three reunited, my soul feels lighter. A warmth spreads through me, and I could almost cry with relief.

"Ah, should I come back?" Jose's voice filters into my consciousness, and I feel my cheeks turn pink. Spinning in Steffan's grasp, I turn to face him.

"Sorry. I got a little caught up."

He chuckles and shakes his head. "It's okay, Taylor. You came at the right time."

My brow lifts and Soren glares at Jose. I look between them, and then to Steffan who is also looking less than impressed by what Jose has said.

But then I study them. I look back to Jose who is watching the guys expectantly. They're hiding something. "Were you just not going to say anything to me?"

Steffan sighs, "It's not that, Tay. We want you to know–"

"It just might be safer if you don't know, Little Mouse," Soren completes the thought.

"Sounds like a bullshit excuse to keep me out of the loop," I say, taking a step out of their reach.

"No, Tay, it's not like that at all. This is bad though. Really bad." Steffan holds his hands out trying to keep us all calm.

"Maybe now is the time to see if she can really be Illicit." Jose shrugs, adding fuel to a bonfire. "Maybe that way we can stop history before we all turn into our horrible excuses for fathers."

He tosses back his shot glass and I swear I smell tequila. Well fuck, if we're shooting tequila, this can't be good. I slide my eyes to Soren who is watching Jose with murder in his eyes.

"Soren," I say his name softly, but loud enough that he hears me. His gaze shoots to mine. "Give me the truth."

"The baby who was abandoned, the child that belongs to Amir Concord, was a product of an affair he, my father, and Jose's father were having with Soleil Boudreaux.The fifth family that our families helped push to extinction because of their greed for power and wealth."

My hand clasps over my mouth. "Oh my God!"

Steffan shakes his head, "It's not pretty. I can see why this woman is hellbent on revenge."

"Woman? The heir was a baby girl?" I feel tears sting my eyes.

They all nod their heads in unison, while the atmosphere in the room grows darker, heavier. Now that they know, it's as if they are truly carrying the sins of their fathers.

"I think Chanda was right," I breathe out, "she's been saying that women's roles in The Illicit have notoriously only been to serve. Now to hear about this. I'm sorry, I know it's your fathers but–"

"Don't feel bad, Little Mouse." Soren shakes his head. "I made peace with it years ago, that my father has been, and always will be, a monster."

Steffan glances at Jose who looks about as sick as I feel. I can't imagine finding out that the man you looked up to is capable of such a thing. At least in his case. Lee and Chanda have expressed their negative feelings about their father. More so Chanda, and the role she was given. She is older than Lee and should have been Amir's heir. She wasn't the right sex in the eyes of The Illicit, and it went to her brother instead. Then she became a pawn for her chosen husband.

"What is the point of receiving a tie if you're a woman in The Illicit? All it did for Chanda was shackle her further. What about your younger sister?" I turn to Steffan.

His brow furrows for a second, as if it isn't something he's ever considered. All I know about the tie was what had come out of Alex's mouth when he first arrived. That it was a symbol of love and devotion.

"I hear what you are saying, Taylor." Steffan grasps my hand in his. "This is what we want to change for The Illicit. So nothing like this happens. So the women in our families aren't forced into things against their will. When I give you my tie, it will be out of what I feel for you in my heart."

"All these murders still don't make sense to me. But I do feel like I understand more now why someone would think taking down your empires was worth it. It's for her mother. A woman who was wronged by the men she loved." I shake my headand lean into him.

My stomach roils and I feel a slash of heat down my spine. The months of worry and grief are catching up to me. My eyes close, while I try to compose myself.

I feel Soren move in front of me and his chilled fingers run along my cheek. Opening my eyes, I find him watching me with a frown on his lips. "Go lie down, Little Mouse. You look pale and you could use some more rest."

He's probably right. As much as I want to help, right now I'm useless. I feel dead on my feet exhausted. I give them each a kiss and head upstairs. Lying in bed, I roll to my side, hoping this wave of nausea will pass soon.

A woman. The killer is a woman. I flex my own arm. I'm not in horrible shape. Not the best, I could try jogging more, lifting some weights, but I'm not exactly a slouch. Some of these murders were against men. Large, fast, some athletes, even. How would she have been able to do it? There were twenty bodies at the beach house. Either she has help, or she is so filled with rage, she is consumed by it.

I can't imagine what she has been through, though, and to lose her mother that way. I fold my arms around my middle, squeezing tight. I'm going to have to address it soon. The sickness. Being tired. I bite my lip, knowing the biggest indicator is that I'm late. And I'm never late. How could this have happened? My eyes slam closed against the tears threatening to escape. After what I just learned, I shouldn't even be considering raising a baby in The Illicit. I can't tell them yet. I can't provoke the killer, or give them more ammunition to come for the men I love. After. After we have Lee, Chanda, and Kali back, I'll tell them. But if history is repeating itself…then I'll run.