The Mafia's Arrangement

Chapter 7

Aspen POV

In the backseat of a giant limo, I can’t believe that I have to go to a f*****g club. Like the city wasn’t disgusting enough, I have to actually be here, around people. I practically roll my eyes and just pray that I don’t get recognized from anyone in high school, though that may be a tougher feat given Bast’s reputation.

“Let’s go.” Holden tells me as he opens the door first and gets out of the limo with the flashing of cameras snapping away.

I did my homework on him when we devised this plan. Holden Carmichael. Athletic and built like an ox, but apparently he can show restraint. He knows how to use his strength to his advantage. Devishly handsome but he doesn’t quite have the reputation for sleeping around like Bast has. There’s not as much information about his private life. And dangerously quiet. He doesn’t say something out loud unless he actually has something to say. Thankfully, that means perhaps a quieter night than it would be if Bast were by my side.

Holden reaches in and reaches out a hand respectfully. I grab his hand and step out of the car. Bast made me change whatever outfit I had on earlier because he said it wasn’t believable. Apparently, my entire wardrobe is going to change now because I am in the limelight. But I suppose I did ask for that.

Lots of bright flashes cause me to turn away from them, do they have to do that so incessantly? The lights seem to darken a bit so I look back up to see Holden’s chest towards me. He is blocking the flash of the lights as he looks down at me.

“We can go back.” He lets me know, but I hate that. I’m already here. I’m already dressed in this sleek black dress, showing more cleavage than I would rather show. I’m already in heels and I’m already out in the open.

“I’m fine.” I let him know as he uncovers me from the crowd and get used to the lights flashing at us as everyone is riddle with shock and excitement.

“Mr. Carmichael! Who is the woman next to you?” A reporter’s voice distinctly yells at Holden, but his face is pretty stoic like he doesn’t even hear him. We make it through until the front and he turns me around. Again, he respectfully puts his hand on my waist.

Neither of us say anything, I lift my left hand and turn to him to fix his tie. I’d rather not say anything anyway. He looks down almost curiously at me given that I was supposed to say something, but I am instead making sure his tie is in order and giving them a glimpse of the rock on my finger.

“Is that an engagement ring?!”

“Mr. Carmichael, are you engaged?!”

Reporters are furiously snapping away as my brothers have come from behind us and cover the publicity part for me. They’re more used to it than I am. As they make their speech about me and our relations, I look over to the side and see a number of women glaring in my direction. And dangerously enough, I think I actually recognize a couple of them. s**t.

A drape is wrapped on my shoulder as I look back next to me to see Holden placing his blazer jacket around me. Nice enough, I guess. I take the jacket despite not feeling cold. It’s a nice look to piss off the women on the side and the public, I suppose. A series of gasps go through the crowd as I shudder out a bit. Someone is watching.

Holden’s hand on my waist grips tighter as he felt my shudder. Damn it. He leads me inside the club with its blaring music and drunk people dancing all up against each other. Leading me all the way to the top of the warehouse, you get a full frontal view of the people dancing below.

Even I have to say that I am impressed. For someone who never struggled a day in their life, Bast has quite outdone himself. Holden and I are the only ones in this room, where the music has been completely blocked off and I can finally hear myself think. He grabs a drink from the bar and offers me one, but I shake my head. The last thing I need right now is for my inhibitions to lower.

Instead, we are in this comfortable silence. He’s a man of little words, but I kind of like that. I look down to observe all these practically naked people dancing against each other. Gross.

Holden comes to stand next to me as he looks down to peer at them as well, but the difference is he’s looking to see who their traitor is.

“Any idea who it is?” I break the silence between us as we watch everyone below us.

“Not yet.” He says darkly, he’s pissed that’s for sure. I would be too.

The door opens abruptly as a flood of men parade in. Neither of our fathers are here, but I am sure they are closely watching somewhere.

“They bought it.” J says as loosens up his tie and throws back a drink. “God, they’re trying to get in here. Anything to snap a picture of you.”

“Good.” I let out. “If they’re that determined, I can only imagine that the Ivory Brotherhood will be even more intrigued.” Again, I go back to my people watching as Holden never removed his eyes from the scene below us. He squints down at a group of guys and turns to me.

“Know them?” Those group of guys are staring up at the room and talking amongst themselves. Unfortunately, I do.

“They’re part of the Ender Project. Otis brought them here.” I inform him as Tom comes over to the window to see what we are looking at.

“What is the Ender Project?” I breathe out heavily.

“Can’t say.” Holden and Bast’s eyes fall on me quickly. “It’s a government program, only a couple of slots for students to work on it.”

“A project that needs a Weapons Engineer.” Holden says matter as factly. I can’t be surprised. I’m sure he did his homework too. I don’t exactly hide my plans. “Is she the reason you guys have so many plans drawn up?”

“She’s good. Been drawing weapons blueprint she was in high school.” I glare at J. He doesn’t need to tell him that. “Perhaps one day she’ll gift you one.”

“Oh, God. Remember what she gifted you on your last birthday?” Riley points out.

“Nearly decimated a small city.” Tom laughs at the thought. Holden seems to remember something about that.

“And here I wondered how you got your hands on a machine that my sources tell me shouldn’t exist yet.” Oh, great. Just great. Just tell the world why don’t you.

“I’d rather not speak on it. Can I leave now?”

“No.” Holden stops me from leaving. “I know what they’re going to do next.” Intrigued, I look over at him as his soul-sucking eyes glance down at me.