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"That's right, sweetheart. Your pussy knows exactly who you belong to, and it's time for your brain to get the memo."

My tongue lands on her sensitive nub right as the door swings open. Olivia startles, her hands flying down to cover herself.

"Boss. Oh fuck." It's Donnie's voice, and he quickly turns himself around so he can't see anything.

"This better be really fucking important," I growl, tugging Olivia's jeans back up her legs.

"We've got company. Serpents are outside."

Fuck.

It feels like a bucket of ice water is poured over my head. Why are theyhere?At Olivia's bar in the French Quarter. My name isn't on this place…

I sent John last night to get payback, but this time, I escalated so they knew I wasn't fucking around anymore. When John came back to my place last night to tell me the job was done, he reeked of smoke after burning their makeshift clubhouse to the ground.

Five dead. At least, that's what the news told me this morning. Kade wasn't in the clubhouse, since he's currently on the run, trying to avoid being picked up for the murder of my uncle. His running only makes them more convinced he did it.

I thought it would take them a while to pull themselves together with Kade MIA and their clubhouse gone. But they'rehere.At Olivia's bar. A place they shouldn't even know about.

"Did anyone follow us here?" I ask Donnie harshly. My driver pales under my scrutiny.

"No. Boss, no, I was careful."

"Clearly not enough," I grumble.

"We got a whole bunch of people here." Roman's voice enters the conversion. "Fuck," he hisses and immediately spins around.

"Wait outside!" I growl. Standing up, I refasten Olivia's jeans.

"What's going on?" she asks, concern etched across her thick eyebrows.

"I need you to clear this place out, baby. Can you do that for me?"

"It's Friday night, I can't just?—"

"Olivia." I place a palm on either cheek, holding her face while I look at her. I need her to understand that this is serious. "I need you to listen to me. Clear out the bar and then stay inside with Roman. Okay?"

"Okay." She nods, and I press a kiss on her forehead.

Stepping outside the back room, I find both Donnie and Roman waiting for me. "Roman, help Olivia clear out the bar, and then keep her in here. Donnie, with me."

I need to face these fuckers and figure out what they want.

Three Serpents stand out front, their bikes propped up on kick stands as they face off with my men. Dressed in denim and leather vests, with snake tattoos visible even in the dim streetlight. My stomach coils at the sight of them. Ever since that night eighteen years ago, I've never been able to stomach the scent of leather or the image of snakes, both tangled in my brain with the worst moment of my life.

I recognize the man front and center as Axel, their vice president.

"Just looking for a drink, Costello." Axel's eyes drift past me to the entrance of the bar. I turn around, finding Olivia standing there. I want to growl and yell at her to get back inside where I told her to stay, but I don't want to tip him off and let him think she means anything to me. I don't like the way he looks at her, the way his eyes scan her body, lingering on her tits.

"Look somewhere else," I respond, turning my attention back to him.

He's still eyeing up Olivia, and my fists clench, fingernails biting into my palms.

"Not trying to start anything." He lifts both hands in a defensive posture, his gaze coming back to me. "Though I see why you frequent this place. Sweet views, if you know what I mean." He nods toward Olivia.

My vision goes red, and all of my logic shuts off instantly. I become a caveman, unaware of my actions or their consequences. In two steps, I'm in his face, my voice low. "You so much as look in her direction again, I'll carve those snake eyes right out of your skull."

Axel's lips curl into a knowing smile.Fuck.I did exactly what I wanted to avoid. Now he knows she means something to me.