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and a sardonic grin.
    “Well, I’m in a relationship with Jake but I’m . . .”
    “Mine!” Jake snapped behind me. I rolled my eyes, already fed up with how people had to interrupt from behind instead of having the decency to actually face me when they spoke.
    Sighing and not even bothering to argue with him, I turned to scowl at him. He glared at Seth. Seth just chuckled then turned back to me. “Catch you later, beautiful!” He winked and sauntered down towards a pack of men playing football farther down the lawn.
    “Sort your brother out, Kee, before I find a nice spot for him in St Luke’s cemetery,” Jake growled as he stepped up to me and grabbed my hand.
    “Really?” I scoffed when Keegan nodded and sloped away. “I’m not your property, Jake. He was only being friendly.”
    “Seth doesn’t do friendly. Don’t be fooled by that pearly white smile.”
    Rolling my eyes, I pulled away and made my way to the makeshift bar—eight barrels of ice with various brands of beer shoved deep within—situated under a veranda to one side of the garden.
    Jake’s arms slipped around my waist as his lips brushed my neck. “Trust me, sweetheart. Although Kee and Seth are twins, they’re nothing alike. Seth runs Birmingham and the south. He’s wanted to rule London for an era, and hates it because I own it. This is the only day we call a truce because of Kee.” I wondered why Keegan worked for Jake and not his brother if that was the case. However I kept those thoughts to myself.
    I stared at Jake for a long moment, slightly stunned by his depiction of how the ‘underworld’ worked. “You’re not bloody royalty, Jake. I don’t understand why all the criminals in the world can’t get along. Surely things would run a lot smoother for all of you if you helped each other out.”
    It was Jake’s turn to stare at me. I must have said something utterly idiotic or hilarious because as soon as his stare vanished, hysterics came. He bent before me, holding his belly as he hooted and laughed, tears streaming down his face. A few people scattered about also turned to look, their eyes shifting to me with smirks on their faces. The women looked over, each one displaying a disgusted curled lip as their deadly gazes gave me the once over.
    “Fuck you,” I spat at Jake as I turned on my heel and stormed back up the garden, my cheeks heating furiously as the men whooped and catcalled.
    “Isla!” Jake called out but I marched ahead until he caught my wrist and spun me around to face him. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” He was still chuckling but I could see him struggling to control it.
    “I’m sorry I don’t understand the rules. I’m new to all this.”
    He nodded firmly, taking both my hands in his and kissing the knuckles on my right hand. “I know. I know. I’m sorry.”
    “Well, don’t make fun of my suggestions. I thought it was a good idea!”
    He ran his thumb across my pouting lip and nodded again. “I know, and believe me, if I knew that could work then I’m sure every ring in the country would be all for it. Unfortunately, we’re all greedy fuckers. We all want the top spot and fighting is a necessity to keep everyone in line.”
    “It’s stupid!”
    He shrugged and tugged my hands so my body pressed against his. “You’ll also find that the women here are the same, sadly.”
    “Wonderful!” I huffed as we made our way back into the mass. “I think I’ll stick to Adam and Keegan.”
    Kris was stood to one side of the garden, leaning against a fence, watching us closely, a bottle to his lips as he took frequent swigs.
    Jake, noticing me looking, leaned towards me. “Kris isn’t a sociable person, but Kee is his best friend and I’m his oldest friend so he makes an appearance at the yearly do. Just take him with a pinch of salt.”
    I nodded in reply, unsure what to say. If I hadn’t seen so much hatred in a single expression then I wouldn’t have believed one look could have said so much.