36. Sigma Sin Urban Legend

36

Sigma Sin Urban Legend

Declan

I lied to the Council, and while I used to believe that was the greatest sin, I’m starting to think that’s my strength. It proves who I’m truly loyal to—the House.

I used to think that what the Council ordered us to do here was for the brotherhood, but now I see where they went wrong. I understand how they were disloyal to the greater cause. As the president, it’s my duty to right these wrongs.

Just like Sigma Sin’s founding members carved their promises into the wall behind me now, I will take back Sigma House and honor their words.

For our brothers, we live.

We die.

We honor.

To our grave and into the afterlife .

Take from the House, we take from you.

Give to the House, it gives to you.

Loyalty. Honesty. Sigma House above all.

I understand those words now, and I’ll live up to them. I’ll take back what the previous generation broke, and we will be untouchable.

Teal gave me the strength to see what I need to do and then to act on it.

She might see herself as broken, but she’s stronger than anyone else to walk this Earth. The pain she carries around was amplified by what her family did to her. They preyed on her and then led her to believe she was broken.

Her father let her godfather hurt her, and he did nothing about it. Instead of protecting his family, he cared more about his business interests. And when she tried to kill herself over it, he locked her up. He let them drug her, hypnotize her, and manipulate her until she forgot entire chunks of her life so that he wouldn’t have to walk away from his business dealings with Weston Randolph.

He’s as much of a coward as my dad. Both use their children in the name of the House to hide their mistakes. Thinking their position on the Council absolves them of their sins.

They haven’t been loyal enough to deserve their titles, so if judgment must come, I’ll be the gavel to hand it over.

I’m taking back the House and making us what we once were.

Sitting at the table at the head of the room, I wait for all our current fraternity members to filter in. This is one of Sigma House’s most cherished spaces. It’s where we hold ceremonies involving the Council, and it’s set up like an old church. There’s a table at the front and pews down either side.

I’m in the seat generally reserved for my father, with Kole and Maddox at my sides.

We wait as everyone from initiates to legacies makes their way into the room. So long as they live within these walls, they were invited. And when they see that it’s not the usual Council sitting in front of them, they look nervous.

My phone buzzes, and I pull it out to see a message from Teal. I wish I could be with her right now. She’s heading to dinner at her father’s house, and I still need to deal with him.

But this comes first. Until they’re on my side, I have to keep up appearances.

Teal : I’m nervous.

Declan : I’ll be there as soon as I’m done. Promise.

I don’t like the thought of her facing her father alone. Rumors have started spreading about Weston Randolph’s disappearance. But I can’t do anything about Paul until I have the loyalty of the men in this room, so I have no choice.

Bubbles appear on my screen like she’s going to text me back, but nothing comes through, setting me even more on edge.

“Doors,” I yell to the initiates sitting in the back of the room after everyone has made their way inside.

One stands, walking over to shut them so we can get started.

A sea of nervous energy stares back at me. Sigma Sin might breed strength and confidence, but even the worst of us know we all worship at an altar that has the power to snap its fingers at any given moment and take everything away.

I glance at Kole. “Are we all set?”

He locks his phone screen and nods. “Cameras are looping.”

There’s no safe space within these walls, regardless of what many of the men in this room think. They know the trials and Council meetings are recorded, but they think everything else is private.

They’re wrong.

Everything that happens in their time here is watched and collected. It’s stored in the official records and used when the Council needs puppets.

Which is why Kole is feeding the cameras a loop right now. Anyone watching this back will think we were going about our day.

“Let’s get started.” I pull out my phone, but there’s still no new message from Teal. “We’re here today to talk about loyalty.”

The room is silent as I look out at the forty-two men in their seats.

“After what happened a few months ago with the Westwoods turning against fellow members of Sigma House over the election, there have been questions.” I tap my fingers on the table in front of me. “We’re past due to make some changes. ”

A door at the side of the room opens, and everyone’s attention turns to it when Alex walks in. Whispers kick up like a tornado brewing in the room.

Half the men here don’t remember his initiation two years ago because they weren’t here yet, but everyone knows Alex Lancaster, Sigma Sin urban legend.

The one who broke without losing his official place in the House—and only a few people know why or what really happened.

He walks to the head of the room with his scarred arm and hand on full display in his black T-shirt. It’s been two years since he’s walked through these halls. Two years since he left Sigma House. And now he’s back.

“I assume you all know Alex Lancaster.” I nod at him, and he takes a seat next to Kole.

Crossing his arms over his chest, he leans back in his seat. He’s a shell of the lighthearted jock who used to crack jokes nonstop, and only a few of us have known him long enough to miss that side of him.

Kole and Maddox aren’t surprised since I gave them a warning. Everyone else looks like they’ve stepped on a grenade. The Council has used Alex as an example of why people should fear them, and that’s one of the many reasons I needed him here now. As a show of solidarity for what we’re about to do.

Alex worked past what he needed from Montgomery a year ago. That isn’t why he was still there. That isn’t even why he hasn’t spoken. I’m one of very few people who knows that .

“After what happened with the Westwoods, Alex used his unique position to gather some information for the House.” I glance out at the room. “Deals. Trades. Theft. The men who promised to guide us are a disgrace to Sigma Sin, and up until now, the Council hasn’t had to answer for it.”

“Because they don’t have to.” Shane chuckles from the front row.

“Why not?” I challenge him.

His smile falls as he watches me. “Because they have the power?”

“Is that a question or an answer?”

“An answer.” But he doesn’t sound sure.

Humming, I nod. “Power is a funny thing. Some people think money gives you power. Some think it’s reputation. The members who graduate from Sigma House think that just because they survived the marks on their flesh, they’re entitled to it. But instead of keeping to the vows on the wall behind me and protecting their brothers, they forget. They start to turn on each other. They use it for war, and they use us to do it. But do you know where the real power lies?”

Shane shakes his head.

“In information.” I glance over at Alex, who is watching Kole type something into his phone. “What’s done in these walls is meant to make us stronger. We learn everything about each other in a vow to protect our brothers by any means necessary. But we’re only unbreakable if we stand as one. It’s time we honor that. ”

“You’re talking about a mutiny,” Jase speaks up this time.

“I’m talking about taking back what’s rightfully ours since they no longer value it.” I narrow my eyes. “I’m talking transparency. No more secrets.”

The sound of phones chirping rings out through the room.

“Take a look.” I tip my chin, and one by one, they pull their phones out.

I watch as each of them reads through the information Kole sent, which is just a taste of what Alex found in the official Sigma House records stored in the basement of Montgomery Psychiatric Ward.

“What is this?” Jase’s face is bright red when he looks back up at me.

“Just a few of the records the Council has been keeping on us.”

“But it’s—”

“All your dirty little secrets.” I smirk. “Trials. Vacations. Texts. Sexual preferences. They’re always watching whether they say they are or not. And do you know what they’ll do with that information?”

Most of the men are looking at me, while a few are still staring at their phones.

“Anything they want,” I answer my own question. “Whatever you think you’ll be owed here means nothing to them because they hide behind the name of the House without actually respecting it.”

“And what, you want to save us?” Trent asks from the back .

I smirk, standing. “ Saving implies redemption. There is no redemption between these walls. No good deeds. No gods, and no penance. I don’t want to redeem anything. This is revenge.”

I start to circle the table, walking until I’m facing the room, with the table behind me.

“The Council abused their brothers. They abused their roles. The words behind me speak about loyalty, and they are a disgrace to that word. But no more. Judgment is here.”

“And you expect them to fall in line? They’re the Council,” Jase argues.

“They were.” I cross my arms over my chest. “We’re the Council now.”

Whispers start again.

“They’ll bury you for just thinking that, much less saying it out loud.” Jase shakes his head, protective over his own father’s position if I had to guess. “You’re suggesting we start a war.”

“I’m informing you that we already have.” I glance back at Kole and nod, silently instructing him to send the second wave of information.

Once again, pings ring out, and everyone looks at their phones.

“Simon Blackthorn, Council member, funneling Sigma Sin funds to fund his failing medical practice. Weston Randolph, former Council member, using a Sigma Sin property in Seattle to produce and distribute snuff films.” I clench my hands into fists, wishing I could have taken more time with Weston, knowing the extent of what he did to Teal wasn’t even the end of it. “The information is right there in front of you, and that’s only a small fraction of it. There’s a long list of members who are disrespecting the marks carved into them, benefiting in the name of Sigma Sin while threatening the House’s reputation and financial stability to do it. If we’re held to these standards, they should be too. They will either respect the House or face the same judgment we do. The war isn’t beginning. It’s already started. Two down and more will follow.”

“How do we know this isn’t just a play for your father to get more power?” Jase asks.

I step forward, coming to a stop directly in front of him. “Haven’t you heard? This morning, the FBI raided his campaign headquarters due to a tip he was involved in a ballot fraud.”

Jase shakes his head.

“Did you know the Council originally voted a different Sigma member for that seat in office, and he used secrets learned in the trials to steal it? He turned on his own brothers, and he’s finally going to pay the price for that.”

Jase’s eyes widen as he stares up at me.

“Take from the House, we take from you. Are you ready to live and die by that sentence?” I step back, looking around the room. “Are you ready to be loyal?”

They all silently watch me.

“For the record, I don’t care what dirty secrets about yourselves Kole sent you just now. I don’t care what you’re hiding so long as it doesn’t hurt the House. If you are loyal to the House, I will protect you. This is not a vote, and this is not a test or trial. This is a decision to make. Are you with our traitors, or are you Sigma Sin?”

The men glance at each other, slowly answering one by one until the entire room rings out with, “Sigma Sin.”

I nod, looking back at Kole, Alex, and Maddox. “Good. Then meet your new Council. Be loyal to us, and we will be loyal to you. Am I understood?”

“Yes,” they answer in unison, even Jase.

“One more thing. Everything you’ve received about the Council will be dealt with. The old Sigma Sin regime will fall, and your test will be making sure that happens.” I smirk, thankful when I finally see excitement sparking through the room. “Dismissed.”

Talking takes over as they start to stand, and one by one, they walk up to shake my hand. They each make their way down the line in a show of respect for their new Council. Alex refuses to stand or greet any of them, but they nod and pledge their allegiance because they know what’s for their own good.

As the room empties, Jase hangs back.

“Jase.” I tip my chin when he finally stops in front of me.

“Declan.” He shakes my hand. “I hope you don’t think I was challenging you out there.”

“You were. But it proves you give a shit about Sigma Sin, and I respect that.”

“Good.” He nods. “And my father?”

“He was notified a half hour ago that he’s no longer Sigma Sin Council, but he’s been loyal to the House, as far as I can tell, so he won’t face any consequences. Unless you’re here to share something with me?”

“No.” Jase shakes his head, looking relieved. “I’m here to let you know I stand behind you.”

“Then how do you explain sharing Sigma Sin business with my girl?”

“I fucked up. I didn’t realize the extent of what it was when I was saying it. I didn’t know you two were serious.”

“We are.”

“I see that now.” He nods. “Then you should know something, Declan. In the spirit of proving my loyalty, you need to know her father’s a real piece of work.”

“I’m aware. He’ll be dealt with personally.”

And I’m going to enjoy it.

“I don’t think you do know.” Jase rakes his hair off his forehead. “I heard him talking to my dad last night after he found out your dad was backing out of whatever he was promised. He said Weston Randolph was missing, and he guessed you had something to do with it.”

“He’s not wrong.”

“I see that now.” Jase swallows hard. “He was rambling, but it wasn’t just him being pissed off; it was something else.”

“What?”

“He blames you for ruining everything. The deal with my father, his arrangements with Weston. He said he’s going to make you pay, even if she’s the only way for him to do it.”

“She…”

“Teal.” Jase tucks his hands in his pockets, and his expression makes my gut churn. “He said if he can’t get what he wants, then neither will you, or anyone else for that matter. And he’s going to use his own daughter to prove that point.”