Page 19

Piper

The silence was so long I thought I’d dropped the connection. “Beast?”

“Yeah. I’m here.”

“So what do you want me to do?” My gaze collided with my father’s steely stare. “About Drake?”

“Are you sure it’s Drake?”

“I suppose. It’s not like I can recognize a voice on a text. Why would anyone lie about that?”

He ignored the question. “Text him back. Ask him something only the two of you would know.”

He sounded cold. Distant. Something was up. Those damn butterflies in my stomach flew a little harder and faster. “Why? What’s going on?”

“Not sure yet. Just need to cover the bases.”

My father motioned me to give him the phone.

“Here. Dad wants to talk to you.” I handed the phone over and watched my father’s face. He would have made a great poker player. His expression never changed. He nodded a few times, but his side of the conversation mostly consisted of grunts and one-word answers.

He finally handed the phone back to me, and motioned Thor over to the side of the room. They conferred in muted whispers.

I held the phone back up to my ear. “You figure things out with my father?”

“Yeah. I want you to text Drake back. Make sure it’s him and then give me his number. I’ll take it from there.”

“What do you mean you’ll take it from there? Not that I care about Drake, but I’m not sitting here waiting while you do time for murder.”

Beast chuckled. Actually chuckled, which made me want to smack him. Pity he was so far away. “You won’t have to. I promise whatever goes down, I’m not doing time for it.”

I wasn’t exactly comforted by that. “Then what’s your plan?”

“If that really is Drake, I arrange a meeting and the boys and I discuss the situation with him. Neutral ground. Truce in place. No one gets hurt.”

It sounded simple but I could see a few issues. Mafia and bikers. Neither one was known for their peaceful natures. “Can I be there?”

“Why?”

Trust him to question my motives. “Because I’m kind of fond of you and I want you in one piece. Starting a war with a mafia don-to-be is not a good way to stay safe.”

“I could point out I didn’t start this.”

“I get it, Beast, and that’s what scares me. I’m serious.” I could see my father and Thor both watching me, and at this point I didn’t care. “Either I’m there, or I don’t put you in touch with Drake.”

“You know I can find him on my own if you do that.”

“Yes, but it would take you longer. Like long enough for you to cool off and behave.”

“This is me behaving. I want you safe, Piper. No way in hell am I okay with you being within ten miles of a guy who wants you dead.”

We were both silent, and I mulled over my options. I didn’t want to be left in the dark, but I had to give Beast credit for honesty. He was just trying to protect me, the same way I was trying to protect him.

I looked up as my father crossed the room and put a hand on my shoulder. He took the phone from my hand and put it on speaker. “What if I bring a couple of snipers with me and stay with Piper, back from the action? They’re damn good. They could take a person out before they get anywhere near her.”

“I suppose that could work.” Beast did not sound happy. “If things go south, you promise to get her the fuck out of there ASAP? I don’t care if you have to hog-tie her to do it. Promise?”

“Promise.” My father handed me back the phone with a wry smile. “You really picked a charmer. Hog-tied?”

Ignoring Thor’s snicker, I took the phone. “Now what?”

“Verify it’s Drake. What’s something only he would know?”

I thought about it. “The first night we were together, it didn’t go so well. I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t have bragged about that to anyone.”

“How do you mean didn’t go so well?”

I grinned, knowing this would make Beast’s day. “He was drunk. He couldn’t get it up.”

That earned me a chuckle. “Go for it.”

I pulled up the message app and sent Drake a text, explaining I needed to make sure it was really him by asking something only he would know.

Sorry, but this is the only thing I could think of. How many times did we have sex that first night you slept over at my place ?

The answer came back immediately. None, and you know why. Good enough?

Yeah. I’m going to let my new guy set up the meet, okay?

The biker guy?

That’s the one .

I cut the conversation off and called Beast back. “Yeah, it’s him. He’s expecting your call. I just texted you the number. Got it?”

“Got it. I’ll be back in touch when I have the meet set up.” He paused. “Piper?”

“Yeah?”

“I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe.” He broke the connection before I could reply.

Thor stalked over to me, his expression serious. He looked straight into my eyes. “He’s serious, you know. I haven’t seen Beast this worked up about anyone except the twins since his POS wife walked out on him. Please don’t do anything to get him hurt. Or worse.”

I glanced at my father standing beside me, and he nodded solemnly.

I was touched. These guys cared about each other a whole lot more than some families I’d met. They might not be blood, but they were family in way that made me feel special to be included in their tight-knit circle.

“I promise.” I took a deep breath and tried to calm the butterflies that were still swirling around in my belly. “Now what?’

“Now we wait.” My father walked over to the kitchen area and picked an apple out of the basket of fruit one of the prospects had dropped off. “The hardest part of any operation.”

“You think it will be today?” I asked.

Thor shook his head. “Not likely. It’s already getting late. There’s set-up needs to be done.”

“Set-up? Like what?”

“Where they’ll meet is a big one. Your ex is on the other side of the country, isn’t he?

And he’ll want to hand pick the guys that are coming with him.

So will Beast. That takes time. Both of them are going to have someone go in and discreetly scope out the meeting site, although whoever picks it will already have the logistics in mind. I’d say two days from now is likely.”

“Two days!” Shock lanced through me. “The suspense is already killing me. I can’t wait two days!”

Thor shrugged, picking up a cookie and examining it like it was prepared to bite him. “Not like you have a choice.”

I hated it, but he was right. “Can I at least go see Beast, then? I don’t want to sit here for two days without him.”

Thor and my father exchanged looks.

“I’ll call Beast and see how he feels about it.” Thor pulled out his phone and walked out of the room.

I turned to my father. “Why can’t I call him? I’m the one asking.”

“Because the big bad biker has a much harder time saying no to you directly. If Thor asks, he’ll reason it out and give an answer based on risks and facts.”

“Oh.” I gave him a wry smile. “I’m the weak link, aren’t I?”

He suddenly looked sad. “Problem with caring about someone is they can be used against you.” Something about the way he said that made me wonder who’d been used against him.

I made a mental note to ask him about it.

Later, after this whole mess got cleaned up.

There was a lot we didn’t know about each other.

Thor walked back into the room. “Beast said yes. He’s going to have the prospects bring over a couple of trucks. One for you and one for a decoy, just in case anyone is watching.”

“This is starting to sound like a James Bond knockoff,” I muttered, but I was willing to do whatever it took to get back to Beast.

“Gets better.” The grin on Thor’s face should have warned me.

“Once those two set off on a wild goose chase, we load you in a big box and put it in one of the Bureau’s off-road Jeeps to make the trip home.

Four of us will be in the Jeep to cover any angle we might get attacked from, and there will be half a dozen bikers on the pavement to make sure no one gets close. ”

“You just said two trucks -- one for me and one for a decoy.” I frowned. “I’m confused. Why the Jeep?”

“The two-vehicle stunt is standard protocol, and anyone watching is going to think you’re in one or the other.

They won’t know which, so they have to follow both.

We just split the enemy force in two. Not much chance they’re going to wait around for a third option, but if they do most of the firepower is in the Jeep. ”

“Which is bullet proof,” my father pointed out.

* * *

Beast

I could barely contain myself when the Jeep rolled into the compound.

Thor had kept me up to date during the entire transfer, but I didn’t relax until Piper stepped out of the vehicle and into my arms. I didn’t care who was watching, I held her to me and kissed her like we hadn’t seen each other in months.

Fuck, this woman had me wrapped around her pinkie.

Thor cleared his throat. “You might want to take that inside.”

I gave him the finger, and he laughed. “Just saying. I’m not against free entertainment.”

“I am.” Her father tried to sound fierce, but I knew better. He was glad to see his little girl had someone to look after her.

I loosened my grip, and we climbed the stairs to the front porch.

“Someday, I’d like to come here just for fun. Maybe a party, or a dinner. A barbecue. There always seems to be something hanging over my head.” Piper leaned into me as we crossed the porch and entered the house. “I bet the twins love parties.”

“Yeah. Sometimes a little too much. Not sure how I’m going to handle it when they start dating.”

Piper laughed, and the sound lit up my heart. “You’ll handle it just fine as long as the guy respects them. I’d hate to be the guy who hurt one of them.”

I thought of what I’d like to do to Drake and kept the opinion to myself. “You tired from the long trip?”

“He’s hoping you say yes so he can take you up to bed.” Thor smirked. “Trust me. Napping is not what he has in mind.”

I glared at him. He wasn’t wrong. “Don’t you have somewhere you have to be?”

Thor grinned. “Nope.”

Ace appeared in the doorway. “Need to talk to you. My office.” He nodded at Piper. “Welcome back.”

“Thanks.” Piper tilted her head. “Can I come, or is this a Riptide only kind of meeting?”

Ace looked from me to her. “This is about you, so you’re welcome.” He pivoted and headed down the hallway.

“Should I worry?” Piper asked.

“No.” I shook my head. “Likely just finalizing plans for tomorrow’s meeting.”

She looked doubtful, but I took her hand and we followed Ace to his office. Ace took a seat behind his desk, and I sat on one of the chairs facing it, pulling Piper down onto my lap.

Ace steepled his fingers. “Walk me through the plan.”

“First, Drake is now the don. His father officially passed the torch a couple of weeks ago, which is probably when this whole mess started. We haven’t figured out why, but the theory is Piper knows something even if she’s not aware of it, and that makes her a liability.

They’ve agreed to a meeting at the old gazebo on the cypress trail.

It’s out in the open, so no cover for any kind of surprise attack by either side.

Not that I expect one. Drake’s group has a reputation for sticking to their word.

Rattler and Hawke scouted the area yesterday just to make sure it was viable.

They didn’t see any issue. Piper and some of the Bureau guys will be holding back at the edge of the clearing.

If things go south, they have clearance to protect Piper, her father, and whoever else they can cover on our side with lethal force.

Meet time is noon, so neither side will be blinded by the sun in their face.

Each side brings a maximum of four people, including the primary.

We’re going in from the east. Drake’s group will come in from the parking lot side on the west.”

Ace narrowed his eyes. “Who’s on your team?”

“Rattler, Deuce, Thor, and me.”

“Does this Drake fucker know Piper will be there?”

“Yeah. He agreed to it. As long she and whoever’s guarding her are back by the tree line, they’re not counted as part of the team.”

“Sounds like you have it all under control, then.” Ace looked at Piper. “You okay with this?”

She frowned. “I need for this to be over. I feel guilty that people are in danger because of me.”

“Not your fault.” A faint smile curved the corner of his mouth. “Great chance for us to put your father in our debt. Who knows when a favor from the Bureau might come in handy.”

I felt Piper stiffen. “We done here?” I asked.

Ace nodded, his expression softening. “Yeah. Good luck with the meet. Hopefully you can get this thing settled without any more bloodshed.”

“Any more?” Piper’s brows furrowed.

“Figure of speech.” I threw Ace a quelling look from behind Piper. I never told her how the interrogation had ended.

Ace stood up, signaling the meeting was over. “Anything changes, let me know.”

“I will. Thanks, Prez.” I nudged Piper off my lap and got to my feet. Reaching for her hand, I headed for the door. She looked up at me and caught her bottom lip between her teeth. Her gaze dropped to my crotch.

My cock jumped in response. Looked like she was on board for a quickie before the promised nap. Good way to settle the nerves.