White Knight (Dirty Mafia Duet, #2)(36)



I wish I could fix things for them. After hearing Greer and Holly, I’m more convinced than ever that it’s crucial the breach in their friendship be mended.

“Now please sit, eat, and drink because we are on the edge of a new era. The next time we gather, I’ll share my plans for the future. But tonight—tonight we celebrate!” Dom lifts his glass in the air, and the crowd cheers and does the same.

Someone calls out “Salud,” and everyone shouts it before taking a sip and maneuvering around one another to take their seats.

Greer’s husband, Cav, arrives beside us and leans his head low, but he speaks loud enough for me to overhear. “Dom wants us to sit at his table. You, me, Eden, Bishop, Holly, and Creighton.”

“But what about—” Greer shoots a look at me, and I know what she’s thinking. Cannon, the outcast son once again.

My heart pinches at the thought of him not getting to sit with the others. It’s not like he’s the only illegitimate child. They’re all illegitimate.

Screw the pain in my chest. A fire borne of rage ignites in my belly, and I want to march right up to Dom and tell him that he’s being an asshole by treating Cannon the way he does. If he can’t respect Cannon and treat him as an equal with all his other children, then Dom doesn’t deserve to have Cannon managing something as important as the Upper Ten.

I have money. Cannon has money. We could open our own club. Screw Dom and his reign. I won’t spend the rest of my life watching Cannon being ignored like he doesn’t matter, when he should be the most important person in this goddamned room to everyone.

Whoa. I went there.

The rest of my life. That’s how long I want Cannon with me.

The realization should be scary. Frightening. Terrifying.

But it’s not. It just feels right.

Given my thoughts, it only makes sense that the man himself would be standing beside me before I have more than a moment to collect myself. I stare up at his face, noting every variance of his hazel eyes, which are greener tonight than normal.

“We can go if you want,” I tell him.

Cannon’s expression creases with confusion as he slides his arm around me and rests his palm on the small of my back. “Do you want to go?”

“If Dom isn’t going to put you at the same table with all your half siblings, then yeah, I do. Because that’s bullshit.” My indignation comes through loud and clear in my tone. “I won’t let him treat you like that. Not today. Not ever again.”

His expression softens with a smile, and it transforms his entire face. “You look like a fury, ready to go to battle for me over this.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “I would go to battle for you over just about anything. You’re my person, Cannon. I’m not going to stand by and let him—”

“Cannon.”

Dom’s voice breaks into my tirade, and I go silent, hoping like hell his next words aren’t going to make me want to kill him.

“Come sit with the family.”

Relief sweeps over me. Thank God.

“You sure?” Cannon stiffens beside me. I can only imagine how much he wants this. How important this is to him.

Dom waves at the last two open seats near him. “It’s where you belong. Come on. The food will be out in a minute.”

That’s how I found myself being seated across the long table from Holly Wix with Cannon at my side.

The doors from the kitchen fling open and the waitstaff march out in a line, carrying heavy trays loaded with salads.

I scan down either side of the table, but there’s no sign of Creighton. Holly shifts in her seat, searching for her husband too. As soon as a salad is placed in front of me, the tall, dark-haired man appears next to his wife, his hand on the back of the chair across from Cannon.

My entire body goes still as the two men face each other.

“Crey, sit. Eat.” Holly’s voice carries just a hint of her Southern accent, making it lyrical and sweet, but her husband stands unmoving like a block of marble as he stares at his former best friend.

His knuckles turn white, and everyone in the room seems to hold their breath.





23





Cannon





When you’re ordered to befriend someone when you’re barely a teenager, it’s not a job. It’s your life.

I’ve known Creighton Karas for over twenty years, and never once did I tell him that we were brothers.

Never. Once.

But with him staring me down, dozens of emotions flying across his features, chief among them anger and betrayal, I’ve had enough of the rift between us. I don’t care that everyone is watching like we’re the main event on a fight card. I say what I need to say, because I’m tired of holding back the words.

“I’m not sorry, Crey. I’d do it all again. I wouldn’t trade that twenty-odd years for anything. You can hate me for the rest of your life, if you want, but I’d do it all again.”

In an instant, Creighton’s face morphs into a polite mask, devoid of emotion, as he pulls out his chair, unbuttons his suit jacket, and sits. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says and then turns to say something to Holly, shutting me out.

Beside me, Memphis slides her hand onto my knee and squeezes in support, and I want to flip this table and force him to talk to me. But I know better than anyone how cold and hard Creighton Karas can be. He had no choice but to grow up with his emotions locked in a dungeon, just like I did.

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