Page 22 of Creed (Satan’s Fury MC- Little Rock #6)

CREED

“ H ow long?”

The tension in Sergei’s voice had me stopping in my tracks.

I wasn’t exactly eavesdropping. I’d been in his office shooting the shit when his phone rang.

He held up his hand and signaled for me to wait as he took the call.

The air seemed to thicken around me as he shouted, “And you’re just telling me now? ! What the fuck?”

His voice boomed as he roared, “It’s your fucking job to know! Get on this and find out everything you can. I want everything there is to know within the hour!”

He ended the call and slammed it down on his desk so hard that I was surprised it didn’t shatter.

I waited a beat, giving Sergei a moment to collect himself before I said anything.

And it looked like he could use it. His jaw was clenched, and he was holding onto the edge of his desk like it was the only thing keeping him on his feet.

“What the hell was that?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm and controlled, even though I felt anything but.

“We got trouble.”

“Figured that much. What’s going on?”

I wasn’t exactly surprised. It had been weeks, almost two full months, since the two douchebags tried to take the girl at the Vault. Since then, there hasn’t been much of anything. Just the typical nonsense. A drunken brawl here and there and a greedy asshole or two looking for an easy win.

This kind of quiet wasn’t the norm for us, so I knew it was only a matter of time before something came up. I just didn’t think it would be such a hit to the balls. Sergei grimaced as he told me, “Members of the family have been inquiring about the casino.”

“By family, you mean your mafia buddies.”

“The one and only.”

“What the fuck do they want?”

“They’re trying to figure out if they can use what we have going here as an asset for themselves.”

“Damn.”

“Exactly.” He raked a hand through his hair. “We stepped away from all that shit when my father died, you know that. We wanted no part of it, and I thought we’d secured our separation when we proved our uncle was skimming from the top.”

“I’m aware.”

“We thought that was it done.” His expression was a mix of regret and exhaustion, and I felt for him when he mumbled, “What the hell were we thinking?”

I let out a slow breath and let it all sink in.

There were no certainties when it came to the Russian mafia.

We all knew that. We all knew there was always a chance this shit would come back around.

The Bratva didn’t just forget, even if you give them a traitor on a silver platter.

“You were thinking you could do something big here, and you have.”

“Only for them to come in and fuck it all up.”

“What do you think they’re gonna do?”

“Any number of things. More than likely, they’ll want to use it to launder their dirty money.”

“How will they go about it?”

“Hard to tell. Might try to strike a deal or they’ll just muscle their way in.”

We stood there in silence for a moment, thinking about how bad this thing could really be. It wasn’t looking good. If the Bratva wanted in, they weren’t going to ask politely, and even if Sergei told them to fuck off, it wouldn’t stop with them sniffing around.

I stepped closer and looked him dead in the eye as I told him, “We’ll handle it. Whatever comes, we’ll handle it.”

His jaw tightened again, and I could hear the anguish in his voice as he said, “We built this place clean, and we’ve busted our asses to keep it that way.”

“And we’re not gonna let them or anyone else take that away,” I assured him. “You’re not alone in this. Remember that.”

His shoulders dropped a fraction. The weight of it all was still there, but there was slight comfort in knowing it wasn’t his to carry alone. I clapped a hand on his shoulder as I told him, “We’ll need to get with Preacher and let him know what’s going on.”

“Not yet,” he argued. “I want all the facts before I go to him, and I’d appreciate it if you’d do the same. I don’t want to get my mother worried until it’s needed.”

“I’m not one for keeping secrets.”

“I’m just asking for a few hours. A day at the most.”

“You have until the end of the day.”

“Understood.”

I could see it in his eyes. The fear. The anger.

Most of all, I saw the stubborn resolve he had deep within that pushed him to protect what he and his brothers had built with their own hands and to keep the promise they’d made to their mother.

He would leave the ghosts of their father’s choices behind, no matter what the cost.

“What about you guys?” Sergei sat down at his desk. “Heard anything from the girl or the two pricks who tried to take her?”

“Nothing from the pricks, and we won’t. Grim made sure of that,” I scoffed. “Not sure what happened with the girl. I’ve been by her place a couple of times, but there’s been no sign of her. The roommate got so freaked out by all this mess that she moved back in with her folks.”

“Can’t say I blame her.”

“No, but it makes it harder to track down the girl.” I shook my head. “I’ve got a feeling we might never find her.”

“And if you don’t?”

“Then, we don’t. I’d hoped that we might be able to help her out, or at the very least, make sure she didn’t run her mouth about anything she shouldn’t, but we can’t do either if we don’t know where she is.”

“She’ll turn up.”

“I thought the same for a while. Now, I’m not so sure.” I started for the door as I told him, “I’m heading out. Call me as soon as you hear something about your buddies.”

“Will do.”

I walked out of the casino, and after checking in with the guys, I made my way out to my bike.

I was eager to get back to the house and to get things ready for my night with Devin.

It had been a few weeks since that first weekend with her, and things had fallen into a steady rhythm I didn’t see coming.

We’d been to the clubhouse together a few times, and as expected, Preacher and the brothers treated her like she was already one of us. They didn’t take it easy on her. They teased and goaded like usual, but she handled it all with grace and a smile.

When we weren’t at the clubhouse or out for dinner, we were at her place with the kids.

I didn’t mind. I enjoyed getting to know them, but they didn’t make it easy.

Austin had that teenage glare down pat. He kept those arms crossed, and his eyes were always on me, daring me to slip up so he could write me off.

I got it. Hell, I was that kid once, and I didn’t expect him to warm up to me overnight.

Chrissy was easier. She’d respond when spoken to and would even share a story here and there, but she hadn’t completely let me in. I wasn’t sure she ever would, but I was going to keep trying. That was all I could do.

But tonight, I didn’t have to worry about the kids.

They were off to their dad’s, so I had Devin all to myself.

There would be no distractions. No tiptoeing around kids and their teenage moods.

No worrying about what everyone wanted to eat and who didn’t want green beans.

It was just going to be her and me, and I won’t deny that I was looking forward to it.

I planned to use every minute to remind her just how good this can be. Just how good we could be.

Because I wasn’t looking for something to pass the time, I didn’t want temporary. I was in this for the long haul. The messy mornings. The quiet nights. The sideways glances across the couch. The family dinners. And even a few eye rolls from the kids.

I wanted it all.

And it was time to find out if she wanted the same.

I wasn’t much of a homemaker, but I did my best to clean the place up and even threw together some pasta for dinner. I’d even planned something special for her, something I knew would get the night started off right.

I’d just gotten out of the shower and was getting dressed when I heard her car pull up in the drive. A smile spread across my face when I thought about her walking up to the front porch and seeing the water gun and note I’d left for her: ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK.

I’d done shit like this back when we were younger, and she always got a kick out of it.

Maybe it was the cop in her or the fact she got to act like a kid again.

Either way, there was nothing better than the squeals she’d make when I shot her, because no matter how sneaky or clever she might be, I did whatever it took to win.

I’d just pulled on my boots when I heard her call out, “Jameson?”

I didn’t answer.

I just grabbed my oversize Turbo shooter and slipped down the hall. I could see her as she walked inside the house and closed the door behind her. I knew I was in trouble when she stopped and twisted her hair up into a messy bun. She meant business, and I was ready for her.

I pulled my water gun close to my chest and pressed my back to the wall, waiting as she stepped further into the house. “Aren’t we a little old for this?”

Again, I remained silent.

There was no way I was giving up my location.

She held up the neon green water gun with a grin, then crouched down as she started making her way through the house.

The hunt was on, and I couldn’t have been more ready for it.

I watched as she ducked down and hid behind the kitchen counter.

She waited there a minute, then called out, “Are you even here?”

“You know I am.”

“Ha!” I could hear the excitement in her voice when she said, “So, you’re close. Really close.”

I’d already given up too much, so I didn’t respond.

I just held my place and watched as she inched forward, slow and methodical. When she reached the fridge, she called out, “Are you ready for me, Mr. VP?”

“Oh, I was born ready, sweetheart.”

With my gun aimed straight ahead, I stepped out in front of her and was about to take my shot when she narrowed her eyes and warned, “Don’t you even think about it.”

Too late.

I fired first and fired multiple times, hitting her square in the stomach. She let out a squeal as water splashed across her shirt. “Jameson!”