What's a bad boy?

Chapter 27//The Discussion

Chapter 27: The Discussion

"Good morning everyone, and welcome to the annual meeting of the gangs. We are now in session" a burly guy exclaims from the front of the room.

"As most of you probably know, this years meeting had to be brought forward due to a pressing matter" he continues.

"This isn't a fucking 'pressing matter'!! Someone broke the accords and branded my daughter against her will!!", my dad bellows.

The room instantly goes silent, and I know that the pressure has begun to sink in as the hundreds of restless eyes are laid on me.

I'm not exactly sure how I ended up here, in a room full of angry men and women. Maybe it's my own fault for being so naive upon coming here in the first place. But in the end, I guess it started the moment Hunter and I showed my parents the tattoo.

//Flashback//

"THIS IS YOUR FAULT!" Dad points his finger dangerously in Hunter's direction, "if it weren't for you she never would have become involved in our world!"

"Dad, stop it!" I defend him, stepping between the two males, using my grip on Hunter's forearm as a sign for him to stay silent.

However, my contact doesn't seem to reassure him.

"It's not my fault Richard! I'm not the one that branded her!" He yells back defensively.

"Then who is?!?! I'll knock the bastard's teeth back into their head" my dad growls.

"Can everyone shut up for a sec-" I start cautiously.

"Just stay out of this!" Hunter yells.

His aggression sends a chilling shiver down my spine, sparking a vague sense of fear in my bones. I instantly find myself caving into my body, almost as if I'm searching for a way out of the situation and back to the way it was before.

"Don't you speak to my daughter like that!" My dad shouts, shoving Hunter backwards.

He stumbles slightly buts manages to stand his ground.

"You think I want to hurt her? All I've done since she found out about who she really is is try to protect her!"

My dad pauses his rant all of a sudden to take a deep breath. The age in his face is now very clear, a sign of his mortality. Running his fingers across his creased brow, he then continues his argument with Hunter in a more civilised manor.

"Look Hunter, I'm sure you care about my daughter, but the only thing we can do in this situation is request for the meeting to be brought forward. This can't wait."

//Flashback ended//

Then with a grim nod of Hunter's brunette head, my fate was sealed.

I am now currently standing in a court-like room located in large building just outside Bridgeville. If the mysterious location of the meeting wasn't frightening enough, the four fierce men standing at opposite ends of the room did the job. Each man sits boldly upright, as if they're carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders.

I don't need to ask my dad to know that I am staring at the other three gang leaders of Bridgeville. The four heirs each have a place beside their fathers, with their mothers on the other side of them.

"Richard, I know that you're feeling betrayed but-" the introducer begins, his pitch black hair glinting in the dim light.

Of course a meeting between gangs would be held at night.