Page 16 of Crave

“I know enough to stay the fuck away and if you were smart you’d steer clear as well.” Iron turned toward me. “Or youwillend up like Carven St.James.”

What was that supposed to mean?

Humm…Humm…Humm.

I froze, staring at the fight master as my cell vibrated in my pocket. Iron slowly glanced down. “You going to answer that?”

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my cell. Dragomir. “Shit.” I pressed answer and turned around. “Alexi.”

“Silas.” The thick Russian accent echoed through the line. “How are you, Son?”

“Good, Sir. I’m good.”

“Excellent. I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch since…since the terrible tragedy. You know how fond I was of your father.”

“I understand.” I kept my voice low. “Is there something I can do for you?”

“Yes.” He sighed. “I was wondering if we could meet. I’d like to discuss with you any potential issues with our current arrangement.”

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of my legacy. This was what my father and I had been working toward, me taking over the business…and making sure the millions of dollars a day was washed clean. Alexi Dragomir was one of those clients. “Of course. Whatever makes you feel more comfortable.”

“Excellent. Tonight at ten?”

“I’ll see you then.” I finished, but he was already gone, leaving me to listen to the heavy thud of a fist.

Alexi Dragomir, the king of the cocaine trade in the southwest wanted to see what kind of business man he was dealing with…one who’d better get his shit together…that was who.

I pulledinto the parking lot behind SudzandCycle Laundromat, taking the midnight BMW M5 instead of the bike and parked. It was five minutes to ten, because the last thing I needed was to be late, especially for Alexi Dragomir. I’d spentthe day in a haze, locking myself in my room to stare at that email from London St. James.

The longer I looked, the more savage I became and my rage centred around the one person alive to earn my wrath…my unwanted adopted sister, Angelica.

She knew…she fucking knew and said nothing. I shook my head staring at the brightly lit coin-operated business as people came and went carrying in their dirty laundry.

Yeah, well…she was ours, wasn’t she?

Unwanted.

Dirty laundry.

The day mom bought that skinny, timid little bitch home I knew she was trouble. But that’s all Mom ever talked about, having a daughter. Because having four sons wasn’t enough for her.

No, she wanted more.

Now look at her.

The betraying, fucking traitor. I wanted to do more than tear her room apart. I wanted to confront her in front of all my brothers and force the truth from those tight fucking lips.

Then Gabe would see her for who she was…and he’d hate her for it.

Beep.

My cell chimed making me jump.

Unknown:Did you find what you were looking for?

I stared at the message, and that same fear came rushing back. My pulse raced, the thudding ache like a fist in the middle of my chest.

Beep.