Page 13

One Week Later

“ D on’t you look handsome?” I follow the voice I hear to the door, where Alicia is standing in a black button-up dress that shows off her newly rounded figure perfectly.

“Didn’t think I’d be busting the suit out again so soon.” I smile sadly, lifting my chin so I can continue fiddling with my tie. “I ain’t ever been good with these damn things.” I shake my head and give up.

“Here, I gotcha. I used to have to do Saul’s for him all the time.

” She steps up to me and untangles the mess I’ve made, and I can’t help staring at her while she fixes it.

I’ve always appreciated the way Alicia looks, but it’s not until recently that I’ve found myself obsessing over it.

It makes living here kinda awkward. Saul would be turning in his grave if he knew some of the thoughts that have gone through my mind about her lately. No doubt Alicia would be horrified too.

“There, much better.” She takes a step back to admire her handiwork and dusts off the lapels of my jacket.

“Good job.” I turn to look in the mirror and see she’s done a good job. It’s hardly surprising, Alicia puts her sole effort into everything she does.

“Oh my god!” she blurts out, looking down and touching her hand over the neat little bump she’s got poking out under that dress.

“Alicia, what is it?” I panic, wrapping my arm around her, just in case she falls. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She's smiling when she looks up at me. “I just…I felt it move.” That smile stretches all the way to her eyes.

“The baby?” I check.

“Yeah.” Her head nods excitedly. “I’ve been feeling flutters for a while now, but nothing I could be certain of. But I’m sure now.” She quickly takes my wrist and guides my hand to rest on her lower stomach. “It’s doing it again. Can you feel it?”

There’s a long, awkward silence while we both wait for me to feel something, but as hard as I try, I’m not getting anything.

“I’m sorry.” Alicia laughs at herself as she releases me. “I got a little too excited. I shouldn’t have…You probably don?—”

“What? No... Of course I wanna feel it.” I place my hand back where it was to try again.

“It must be kinda awesome feeling him move around in there.” I look down at her tummy and smile.

Alicia should have someone to share these moments with, and I don’t mind being that person at all.

In fact, it makes me feel kinda special.

“I guess they need to get a little stronger before you get to feel it from the outside.” She blushes like she’s embarrassed.

“It won’t be long, and when that happens, his Uncle Vike will be right here ready to get kicked,” I assure her, patting her bump proudly before picking up the car keys.

“Guess we should head for the club.” I hate to burst her bubble, but we have a funeral to get to.

“We should.” She strokes her hand over her tummy before turning on her heels and heading out the door.

I have to ignore the fact that she’s looking so damn hot in that dress, because it makes me wanna tear it from her body.

Nobody should look that good carrying another man's child, and she’s my dead, best friend's sister. I need to get a fuckin’ hold of myself.

I drive us to the club in Alicia’s car. One of the advantages of Alicia being pregnant is that I’ve always got a ride home after I’ve been drinking.

I left my bike at the club last night after I’d had a few.

I’d spent most of the day polishing her, ready for the procession we’ll make behind Corey’s casket, and I didn’t want to ride her home anyway.

Dev spoke to Raze a few days ago, asked him if we could give Corey a club brother’s burial.

He even asked if we could lay him to rest in a Dirty Soul’s cut.

After all, being a Soul was what Corey really wanted.

Raze was happy to agree to it. We all were. Today is sure to be triggering for Alicia, it’s been barely six weeks since we buried Saul, and although she does her best to hide her grief, I see how much she misses him.

“I guess once today is over, you’ll be storming that shipyard?” Alicia asks, sounding a little nervous.

“Can’t hold it off any longer. Dev’s just about ready to lose his shit,” I point out. Keeping my eyes on the road.

“And did you agree with Raze’s decision to hold it off till now?” She looks across at me. I guess the difference in opinion we’ve had over our next move has reached its way to the girls. There’s nothing they don’t know about these days.

“It’s never a good idea to retaliate straight away; the enemy expects it, and emotions get in the way of logic.”

“Do you ever think that those men are just like you, working for a man…doing what they’re ordered?” She scrunches up her forehead.

“We ain’t ordered by no one. We got a leader, and we respect him, but everything we do is decided by a vote.” Alicia should know this by now, she spends enough time hanging out at the club.

“I know that, but even Raze has to answer to someone. I just can’t help feeling like the club is getting caught up in someone else’s war,” she chews on her lip, and it’s so distracting, I have to focus back on the road.

“It became our fuckin’ war when they tried shooting us down during that run, and they picked the wrong fuckin’ person to kill. Dev’s gonna tear those assholes apart by their limbs.” I tell her, pissed off at my dick for choosing now to go fucking hard.

“He’s broken, I know how he feels.” She admits.

Alicia's right, Dev is broken, but not in the same way she is. Dev is unhinged, and holding him back hasn’t been easy.

He wanted to move in on Quinnell's men the day after all this happened. But Raze likes to play the long game, and I’ll give him his dues…

It works. Those Irishmen who killed Corey have been waiting for the battle to come ever since they dumped the poor boy's body at the club. Now they’ll be starting to feel like sitting ducks.

They’re gonna wonder why we ain’t reacting, and pretty soon paranoia is gonna kick in.

That’s the time to strike.

“Those bastards deserve everything they get. Corey was just a kid.” She looks down and strokes her tummy protectively.

“This club is losing too many people, Vike. I’m starting to wonder if maybe I should consider raising this baby somewhere else.

” Her voice comes out scared again, and I’m surprised at the panic her words set off inside me.

“Alicia, I promise you things are gonna get better. Cliff left a lotta shit behind for us to clear up, and enemies are gonna keep poppin’ up, but I’ll always take care of you.

I’ll take care of both of you.” My hand automatically reaches across to rest over hers, and she smiles gratefully with red, flushed cheeks.

“I appreciate that, Vike. More than you’ll ever know. Saul would be so proud of you.”

I smile back at her while thinking Saul would more than likely wanna kick my ass.

I feel like I'm having some kinda déjà vu when we arrive at the club, especially when I see Corey’s casket laid out on the pool table. Dev insisted on it being closed, and I can’t blame him for that.

I was right there with him when we found him, and it’s a sight I sure as hell never wanna see again. Dev stands beside his brother like he’s on some kinda guard, nodding politely at those who offer condolences, with dead eyes and a blank expression on his face.

Today’s a day he will never have wanted to see; this past week, he’s been living in his own nightmares.

He’s kept himself distant, only showing up to come to church, and we can all see that he’s tired and ready to lash out.

One simple thing could push him over the edge because he’s long overdue a release from the pain he’s feeling.

What he doesn't understand is that killing the men who took Corey from him ain’t gonna make that pain go away.

Saul may not have been my blood, but he was my brother.

I would have taken his place if I could.

Hell, he was needed here a damn sight more than I am.

He should be here watching his son grow up, and seeing for himself how his sister is gonna make a kick-ass mom.

I glance over to where she’s talking with the girls, looking down at her belly proudly, and no doubt telling them all about how she felt her little one move earlier…

It makes me even more determined to keep her safe from this wicked fuckin’ world.

“I ain’t gonna ask you if ya good,” I assure Dev, standing beside him and touching my fingers to the mahogany casket that contains his brother. “But I will remind ya, that every one of us is here for you today. We’re all feeling your pain.”

Dev says nothing, just nods his head, same way he did to everyone else, but when the club door opens and Burlusconi and his brother step through it, something shifts, and his eyes narrow darkly.

“The only people who are gonna feel my pain are Quinnell and his fuckin’ men,” he tells me under his breath as Burlusconi makes his way over to join us.

“I’m sorry for your loss. Raze tells me your brother was–”

“My brother had his whole life ahead of him, and those fuckers took that away,” Dev speaks over him, and Burlusconi looks taken aback. I can’t imagine he’s encountered many men who have had the balls to do that.

“I look forward to hearing how you punish them for it,” Burlusconi answers back, keeping his cool.

“I don’t just want them. I want Quinnell, too,” Dev tells him straight, causing Raze to look between him and Burlusconi nervously.

“Brian Quinnell is a hard man to find. Believe me, I’ve been trying.” Burlusconi and his brother snigger as if sharing a private joke, and it makes Dev look even madder.

“Well, he seems to be making himself pretty fuckin’ present around here,” Dev points out with anger building in his tone.

“Dev, maybe you should–” Raze steps forward, trying to gain some control of the situation.

“It’s fine.” Burlusconi holds him off with his hand. “I understand Mr. Kendrick’s pain. I have a brother myself.”

“Difference is yours is standing beside you, mine’s lying dead.” Dev slams his palm on Corey’s casket, and everyone flinches, except for Burlusconi. “Mr. Kendric–”

“Dev. My name's fuckin’ Dev, and do you know what that is short for, Mr. Burlusconi …?” He keeps his eyes locked on the man who runs the West Side underworld.

“Devastation…It’s what I cause, it’s what I bring to the table, and I will wreak it on any fucker who was involved in taking my brother from me,” he makes sure his warning is heard.

“Dev, I want Brian Quinnell eliminated. Our family has offended him, and now he’s trying to threaten us with a war.

I apologize that your brother got caught in that crossfire.

When we find Quinnell, I will ensure you are a contributor to his suffering.

” Burlusconi nods his head before turning his back.

“And what if I find him first?” Dev calls out, turning the whole club silent and earning himself a stern look from Raze.

Sinner cracks his neck like he’s ready for some action as Burlusconi slowly turns around and steps back up to Dev. He may match him in height, but he’s nowhere close to Dev’s build.

“I have questions for Brian Quinnell. Questions only he can answer, you don’t want to be the reason that I don’t get them,” he warns, clutching his jaw.

“You're under the assumption that threats scare me. I’m a man with nothing to lose.” Dev smirks back at him.

“Okay, let's just…Vike, Sasq, take Dev to my office.”

“I’m good, boss.” Dev looks to Raze, pulling his arm from mine when I grab him.

“I’m just letting Mr. Burlusconi here know that nothing can hurt me now.

If I get to Quinnell first, you got my word that you’ll have your chance to ask your questions.

Just as long as I got yours, that my face is the last one he sees.

” Dev talks calmly and without fear. While Burlusconi shocks us all and holds out his hand.

“You have my word.” He nods his head as Dev takes it and shakes it firmly.

“Come on, let's get you a drink.” Raze releases a steady breath before leading Burlusconi to the bar, while his brother, Rhett, shakes his head at me and laughs.

“Your friend must have caught my brother on a good fuckin’ day. I’ve seen men die for much less,” he tells me under his breath before he follows them.