One retorted, “Shove it, Monson. Our deal with you was between you and the house. You brought them in, not us.”

Nate’s arm went back down. “What are you talking about?”

“You left us.”

Another guy said, “You turned your back on us. The shit could’ve been handled in-house, but you didn’t give us a chance to fix the problem. Park gave you an ultimatum, and you left, like a bitch.”

“He was speaking for the house.”

“No,” a new guy, who was taller and bigger, spoke up.

He had a girl pressed against his side. Her arm was hanging off his arm folded over his chest.

“Park doesn’t speak for everyone in the house. He’s got a crew, yes, but not all of us would’ve followed him. You didn’t give us a chance to even decide that though. You ran to him.” He jerked his chin in my direction.

Nate’s eyebrows were permanently locked together. He was staring at the last speaker, almost fixated on him, before he asked, much quieter, “Are you for real? You would’ve backed me up on that issue?”

The big guy scoffed, jerking a shoulder up and down. “You’ll never know now. You’re out, Monson. We’re here to show support to the brother who didn’t hightail it out of the house.”

Nate glanced at me before his eyes slid down to the ground. His head hung there. He was going over everything they’d just said.

Sam pressed against my side, watching the exchange. I felt her trembling, and I swept a hand out to catch her on her hip. I anchored her to me. As soon as I did, her body calmed. She grew firm, as if taking my strength into her.

I met the bigger guy’s gaze and asked, “What’s your house policy on girls?”

“What are you talking about?” But the bigger guy glanced at Sam. He knew.

Sebastian looked back at his fraternity brother. He moved forward a step, getting between the two of us. “Stop meddling in our business, Kade.”

“None of us would be here if you hadn’t tried to meddle in mine.”

“Nate was our brother—”

I shot him down, “I’m not talking about Nate.”

“What are you talking about?” The big guy moved forward, brushing off the girl.

Sebastian shot him a nervous look.

The big guy didn’t care. He said to me, “What do you mean?”

“His politics.” I nodded in Sebastian’s direction. “He wanted to use my name and connections. He never said anything outright, but it was there. I know when a piece of shit is trying to manipulate me into being one of his patsies. That’s what I’m talking about.”

A lot could be argued there. I was bringing up undercurrent dynamics, and most could pretend to be ignorant of them.

This guy didn’t. He nodded slowly, casting a side look at Sebastian. “That’s not what he said to us.”

“I’m the president, Clint.”

“No.” The big guy shook his head, turning to squarely face him. His arms folded over his massive chest again. “You were the president, but the house is gone.”

Sebastian sputtered, “Come on. We’re not really gone. All the old positions hold—”

“No.” His head moved forward. He was almost in Sebastian’s face. “They don’t. The old positions were disbanded when that house burned down, and we were given the ultimatum to remain as students and not as brothers or remain brothers but not students. You could’ve gone to another chapter. You didn’t. You chose to stay, but the old way burned down when the house did.”

“Clint—” Sebastian looked at the rest of their guys.

A few guys shuffled, showing their support for Sebastian. A lot of them didn’t. They didn’t move an inch. Their faces were impassive.

“Look, this is business we can deal with outside of here.” Clint skimmed over Sam, Nate, and me. “Especially now that new information has come forward.”

“Clint—” Sebastian started again, a more authoritative bark to his voice.

But the doors opened. My father, my coach, and Sebastian’s representative walked out. The board members were with them. They all paused in the waiting room to shake hands. My dad shook each member’s hand. All of them were grinning, even Sebastian’s representative.

Miriam was the first to leave, passing by me. She slowed and remarked, “I meant what I said in there. I do think you have a promising future, and your father just made it even more promising. Come and see me at my office sometime. I’d like to speak with you.”

Sebastian’s representative went to him. Their heads bent together before Sebastian reared back, shot me a hostile look, and stormed out. The rest of his friends, Clint included, followed behind at a more sedate pace. Everyone trickled out until it was Nate, Sam, my father, my coach, and me.

My father shook hands with my coach at the door.

My coach said to me, “Keep up with your off-season training, Mason. I’ll be seeing you.”

When he left, I asked my dad, “Logan’s okay?”

James let out a deep breath. “Yeah. He’s resting at the house?”

I nodded.

“I’d like to go see him, but yes, you’re both fine.”

“How much did you pay?”

James cringed. “A lot. Let’s just leave it there.” He clasped me on the arm and squeezed. “It’s good to see you, but I haven’t missed these meetings. You boys used to be hard on the bank account, and you still are.” He became somber. “I have a feeling things aren’t going to be just fine.”

He turned to Sam. “Can I talk to you in private for a quick second?”

She straightened, and her mouth opened slightly. “Sure. Uh, yeah.”

Nate and I followed them outside. James and Sam migrated toward his vehicle. Nate and I went to mine, but we didn’t get inside. We stayed there, leaning against it, as we watched James and Sam talking.

Nate mused, “So…it’s our move next?”

My eyes narrowed. I was studying Sam as she continued talking to my dad.

I murmured, “Yeah, it’s our move.”

Finally.

SAMANTHA

Here we were.

Mason, Logan, Nate, and I were all in the living room, each in a different corner, as we looked at each other. There was a moment of silence. It was a few hours after the board meeting.