Chapter - 14

The Circle

"Do you know what Rendell means?" Ricky asked and sit on the windowsill, opposite to other guy. Neal shook his head, no.

"It means Wolf Shield."

"Is that why they have tattoos of wolf?" Neal asked. He remembers the tattoos he saw on the arms of the males there.

Ricky was surprised, "You saw them?"

"Yeah." Neal shrugged, "Do you have those too?"

Ricky smiled and turned around. He pulled down his t-shirt, exposing the tattoo on his nape. Neal leaned close to take a good look. It was a small tattoo of a wolf head with a few horizontal and perpendicular lines. The black ink actually looked good on Ricky's light slender neck.

"Your breath tickles." Ricky commented, and that's when Neal noticed how close he was. He scooted back embarrassed. The blonde guy giggled and let go his top before turning around.

"I got this 2 years ago. My brother wasn't fond of the idea but I was stubborn. I didn't eat anything for three days," Ricky started and when he saw Neal's wide eyes, "I sneaked some candies." He added with a wink. Neal chuckled shaking his head.

"Kaiden was sad and argued with Drake. Finally he agreed. But he said 'Just one'" Ricky said trying to imitate his brother at the last part.

"Did it hurt?" Neal asked pointing behind his neck.

"Yeah, a bit. But I was so excited and happy."

Neal nodded. He remembered Arjun had one on his left arm. It was a bow and arrow.

Neal sighed. He don't know when will he meet that guy again.

BANG!

Ricky let out a yelp and Neal jumped and cursed. They looked outside and saw Caleb holding a gun towards the aiming board.

"You will hear this often from now on. I hate this sound" Ricky scowled, "Jino won't put his hearing aid because of this. We are not fan of guns."

"You were saying about Circle." Neal stated, suddenly remembering about their conversation and how it went to tattoos.

"Oh yeah! So...we Rendells kind of works like pack." Ricky started, "Hunter is what we can call an Alpha where Kaiden is beta, second in command. And my brother is delta, third in command and we are the warriors."

Ricky continued when he found Neal listening intently, "See that ponytail over there?" he pointed at a black haired guy, leaning against a van, his shoulder length beautiful hair tied behind.

"That is Oliver and the grumpy bear he is talking to is Ian." Ricky said, now pointing towards a red head who looked like he is going to blow the entire place.

"They are in charge of our bars and nightclubs. Sometimes helps with the recruitments."

Neal observed the two males. They looked tall and muscular. He wondered everyone here is like that. Oh! he forgot Ricky, the small one.

"That guy in suit is Landon. He is our lawyer, and the man in glasses next to him is Max. He is my uncle." Ricky said pointing towards the two person sitting in the yard.

"Your uncle!?" Neal asked surprised.

"Hmm.. he's in the circle too. You know, he have connections inside and outside." He explained.

"Did you see a Korean guy around here?" Ricky's eyes searched the yards and gate before turning to Neal who shook his head.

"No."

"Ah...he is probably with Kaiden. His name is Jeong, in charge of our financial records. You already know Bradley, I guess?"

Neal nodded his head processing all informations he heard.

"There is other one too, Cole, he was one of Hunter's father's followers. He is the head of old guards. Then there is Kaiden and my brother."

"So this is the Circle?" Neal pushed the bowl of cookies towards Ricky, who gladly took that like a child.

"Yeah. Kaiden is in charge of our legal businesses. Brad and Jeong helps him with that, whereas my brother controls our every illegal business. Oliver and Ian helps my brother. Caleb, Cole and Shino belongs to the training team. And you already know about Landon and my uncle. They help us a lot actually."

Neal looked out and tried to remember each name looking at respective persons.

"What about you? You are in the circle too?" He asked turning towards Derrick.

The blonde shook his head. "Not really, but kind of. I help them in training sometimes, that's it. Hunter doesn't want me to involve in any business here. They always lecture me to stay out of danger." He rolled his eyes.

Neal's eyes caught the silver thing around Ricky's neck. His curiosity sparked. "What about the chains? Why are they so important?" He asked leaning forward.

Ricky took his jewellery out of his t-shirt.

"You mean this? It's a vital thing, you know. It's our identity as Rendells." He explained turning the pendant between his fingers. Neal observed the shiny thing closely. It was also a warrior helmet, but there were only four diamonds in total unlike Drake's, which covered in diamonds.

"We all have this."

"But this is different from your brother's." Neal stated. Ricky was surprised at that comment then he remembered the person in front of him came there because of the chain.

"Hunter, Kaiden and Drake have special ones. It belongs to our fathers. When the elders step out of their positions, they gave that to their sons. It's kind of... tradition?"

Neal nod his head, "Oh." He had more questions but before he could open his mouth the other one spoke up.

"I'm hungry again," Ricky frowned. "We can raid the kitchen!" His eyes sparkled.

Neal's eyes widened, "But you just―"

Ricky didn't let him finish as he hold Neal's wrist and dragged him out.

**********

Neal let out a content sigh as he plopped back on his bed, tired. Surprisingly, he had fun that day. Derrick is a good company. He gave Neal a tour inside the mansion.

There were places they were allowed and not allowed, but he got to explore the most part of the place. He doesn't want to know what happens behind the closed doors. But he was happy that he finally got the chance to admire the beauty of the place. Jeez...these people are so rich!

Ricky managed to distract Neal from his worries. They watched The Lion King and some other movies. Although Neal watched them all before, it was more entertain with Ricky's side commentaries.

Neal rubbed his a little too much filled tummy. One thing is sure that he won't be starved as long as Ricky is there.

Neal let out a chuckle at the thought of the blonde guy. Derrick is an interesting character. Childish and mature at the same time, sensitive, and have mood swings often. He can lure anyone his way with a smile.

Neal shook his head with smile and turned to side and his eyes unconsciously found the forbidden door.

Did he missed a blue eyed guy?

Neal shuddered at the random thought and closed his eyes.

**********

In the dark alley near the local restaurant, stood a seven foot beard man, waiting for someone. He was leaning against the dirty wall, one foot against it, hands in pockets.

He watched the man in black hoodie walking towards him. They greeted each other with a nod.

"They will find me soon." The man in black said, a little fear in his scratchy voice. The warrior helmet on his chest shone even in the dim light.

"Can you do it or not?" The beard man asked monotonously.

"I said I can, and I will." The other one said in determination, "But I need some time, Derrick is here. He will probably visit the old mansion these days."

"Oh. He's here?," the beard man's lip curled up in a vicious smile. "Don't worry, we welcome more cuties." He laughed out and the other one joined him.

**********

"THANK YOU!!!" Neal screamed as he picked up Ricky, spinning the guy around. The other one giggled and hit Neal's shoulder, "Okay, that's enough put me down." Ricky said with a smile.

Neal was a little annoyed that Ricky woke him up too early. These days it was hard for him to fall asleep and Neal wasn't pleased that the blonde guy interrupted his beauty sleep with a "Surprise!".

But the annoyance gone as soon as his eyes landed on a four legged furry ball.

Neal picked up the one month old puppy gently. The small sparkling eyes looked up at him curiously, his little tongue visible in his slightly opened mouth.

"He is so cute." Neal cooed at the puppy's adorableness and kissed it's little head.

Ricky watched with a huge smile on his face. He was overjoyed that he made the guy happy at least. "Isn't he adorable? Brad helped me to pick him." he said caressing the puppy.

"I thought you missed being around animals. I mean, actual animals." Ricky said and added the last sentence glancing at Kaiden who rolled his eyes at the two guys.

"I have some mails to check," Kaiden said walking towards the door. He turned around and pointed at the puppy, "Now you have got him, stay inside. Don't roam around."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." Ricky waved him off. Kaiden shook his head and walked out.

"He needs a name." Neal said looking at the half asleep being in his arms.

"How about Tiger?" Ricky asked eagerly.

"Um...but this is a puppy." Neal chuckled.

"So what? okay okay, I will let you name him. It's yours anyway." He smiled.

Neal's eyes widened but he didn't said anything. He touched the white patches on the brown fur, earning a purr from the little thing.

Both guys looked outside when a car pulled into the mansion. It stopped just beside the training session. Drake got out first and when the other door opened, Neal's breath hitched in his throat.

Woah..! He looks so young.

"He IS young, 26 is not that old you know, and yes you said that out loud." Ricky said and added when he saw the shocked expression on Neal's face.

Neal's eyes stuck on the blue eyed guy who just got out. Hunter had a new hair cut and the stubbles on his face was absent now. He looked more gorgeous!

"Watch it friend, you might catch a fly."

Neal closed his mouth as soon as the words left Ricky's mouth, causing the guy to laugh out loud.

"Um...aren't you going to them?" Neal asked, hiding his blush.

"What belongs to me, comes to me." The young one said without taking his eyes off his brothers. Neal didn't understand that completely, but when the males shown up in his room, he understood.

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