It makes me wonder what Zay has done. Has he hurt people? Is he part of a mobster group?
“Are you guys mobsters?” I dare ask, hugging the arm Zay had ahold of against my chest. Not because he hurt me. My scars just feel so … exposed right now, like a big, red letter A has been branded to my chest. Only it’s not an A, but a declaration of just how much I hate myself sometimes.
Just let go.
Give up, Raven.
When I realize no one has answered me, I glance at Hunter since he seems like my best bet in getting to the truth. “Are you?”
Rubbing his lips together, he wavers. “Sort of.”
“Okay.” That wasn’t really an answer. “What does that mean exactly?”
Hunter sighs, his lips parting.
“It means that we are for now,” Jax is the one to answer as he ambles over to the sofa across from where Hunter and I are sitting. He takes a seat and leans back, resting his arms on the armrest.
For some weird-ass reason, I can picture him sitting in a chair behind a desk, dressed in a suit, everyone referring to him as “The Boss.” But that stuff is all in the movies. This is real life.
“For now?” I say slowly. “So, eventually you won’t be?”
Jax shrugs, swishing around the ice in his drink. “Yep.”
Jesus, could he be more vague?
“How does one get out of the mafia, though? I thought it was like a leave and die sort of thing.” I give a short pause. “And can anyone join it? I mean, you guys are only eighteen … How long have you been part of it?”
Jax watches me from over the rim of his glass as he lifts the drink to his mouth and sips a gulp of whiskey. Every one of his movements is careful, calculated.
“All our lives,” he says as he lowers the glass.
“So, you were born into it?” I glance at the three of them. “All of you?”
Jax nods, placing the drink on the end table beside him. “My father is the leader of the Capperellies. We control the east side of Honeyton. Zay’s dad is my dad’s brother. Hunter’s dad was an outside member who was brought in, but he’s been part of it for longer than Hunter’s been born.” He leans forward and rests his arms on his knees. “So, yeah, we were born into this. It’s all we know. For now anyway.”
“Again, you say that like you’re gonna leave,” I say as Hunter slides his arm behind me.
“That’s because we are,” Hunter says, drawing my attention to him. “We made a deal with Jax’s dad quite a while ago. We’ve been working for him ever since, and we’ll continue to work for him until we graduate. Then we’re free to go live our lives.”
“Just like that?” I question with skepticism.
Hunter grows serious, a side of him I didn’t believe existed.
“It hasn’t been easy … what we’ve had to do …” His throat muscles work as he swallows hard then looks away.
The room grows so quiet I can hear the racing beat of my heart.
“So then, why bring me into your circle?” I ask quietly. “I mean, you guys don’t seem like you even like being part of it.”
“Our circle has nothing to do with the Capperellies.” Zay walks over and sits down beside me, leaving more space between us than he did last time. “We created it to protect ourselves from other families … from our own families.” He downs another cup of whiskey then sets the glass aside. Then the three of them trade a look, having some sort of silent discussion with their eyes.
“The thing is,” Hunter says, looking at me. “With your dad being the sheriff, you’re in a very vulnerable situation. If he tries to play good cop and goes up against the five families, things are going to get really ugly for your family fast.”
“And if he decides to let one of the families buy him off,” Zay adds, “then the other four families are going to come after you.”
“So, basically, I’m screwed,” I state, unsure how I feel about that, about any of what they’re saying.
“You should sound more worried,” Zay warns, his gaze searing into mine. “This isn’t a joke. The people who run this town are dangers. Trust us. We’ve been working with them for years and have seen the darkness …” He slouches back on the chair and mumbles, “We’re part of the darkness ourselves.”
Again, I wonder what