Page 48

Y ou know you're in a dangerous situation when you see Raoul Burlusconi looking nervous. The black Audi pulls up on the other side of the street, and I watch the man climb outta the backseat and cross the busy walkway to join us.

“Interesting meeting place.” The guy looks around the bright, tropical-themed beach bar as he takes a seat opposite us.

“Neutral ground; plenty of witnesses to remind us that we’re gentlemen,” I explain, avoiding making eye contact with Ruckus, who’s sitting at the bar dressed like a tourist, in bright, floral board shorts and a wife-beater.

“There is no neutral ground in Long Beach.” The man laughs, looking outta place in his tailored suit. “But my boss was eager for this conversation to happen.” He crosses his hands on the table.

“Didn’t fancy taking a trip out here himself, then?” Burlusconi smirks. I know how desperate he is to learn the identity of the Prizrak; desperate enough to have joined me for this meeting.

“The boss is a busy man, as am I.” He nods his head at the waitress when she places a glass of water and a drinks menu in front of him.

“Then I’ll get straight to my point. Myself and Mr. Burlusconi here want you to know that we are in no way responsible for what happened to your whore. Yes, one of my members was th?—”

“Do you think we are fools?” he interrupts me with a cocky grin on his face.

“Your man shouldn’t have been on our property; he had no right speaking to the girl.

But, do I believe he killed her and left incriminating evidence on her body…

?” He shakes his head. “My boss wants me to politely remind you that his club is not on your territory. If one of your brothers were to visit it again, you should not expect him to return. He also asked me to inform you that any alliances he had with Quinnell have been extinguished, and he would like the stock you have been holding for him returned to the shipping yard you took them from within forty-eight hours of this meeting.”

“That can be arranged,” I assure him, waiting to hear what the catch will be.

“My boss will appreciate your cooperation.” He goes to stand up, but Burlusconi stops him.

“Hold up, that can’t be it. Are we supposed to believe that the Prizrak is prepared to just move on from this? One of your girls is dead. We took your weapons.” He looks unconvinced.

“I’m sure you were unaware of who the weapons belonged to when you took them.

” There is a sarcastic bite to his tone.

“And the boss is happy with the understanding the two of you made on your wedding day, Mr. Burlusconi. It would be a shame to allow one dead whore to ruin an arrangement that works so well.” He turns his back to leave, and this time it’s me who holds him up.

“Quinnell. Do you know where he is?” Dev called from the hospital to let me know his girl was safe; he also mentioned the fact that Quinnell wasn’t there when he got to her. Dev will want his head for taking her, and I know we’d all sleep a lot easier if he were eliminated as a threat.

“Quinnell shouldn’t bother you. He’s been cut from all his resources. If he’s got any sense, he’ll be making his way back to his homeland.” He places his shades back on, then taps Ruckus hard on his shoulders on his way out the door.

“You see that?” Ruck joins us at the table. “That fucker knew I was watching the whole time.” He shakes his head as we watch this car pull away.

“That's why we must never underestimate them.” Burlusconi flares his nostrils.

“You think we can believe what he said?” I look to him and check.

“Oh, you can believe it; from what I’ve learned, the Prizrak is a man of his word. Return their weapons to them, and be ready for him to call in a favour.” Burlusconi leaves and Ruckus takes off the baseball cap he’s wearing and throws it at the table.

“Least we can call the girls back.” He looks up at me, trying to be positive. “I’ll call Dev, tell him to turn back around. He ain’t gonna be happy about the Quinnell situation.”

“Dev’s got bigger things to take care of; his girl’s gonna need to do a lotta healin’.

We’ll find Quinnell eventually, and he will pay.

” I take a long, relieved breath. I wasn’t expecting this to be the outcome of our meeting.

I really thought we would be going to fuckin’ war.

And as much as I hate that the Prizrak has got us exactly where he wants us, I have to be grateful for the lack of bloodshed.

The club has lost enough men on my watch.

“Bet you’re gonna be relieved to have your old lady home, hey, boss?” Ruck slaps me on the back as we get up ourselves and head out to our bikes.

“Sure.” I nod back, though deep down all I’m feeling is dread. I’m running outta excuses. It’s only a matter of time before I have to tell her the truth about what the future holds for us, and I’m getting more and more certain that when I do, I’ll lose her.

“I missed you.” Peyton rushes through the clubhouse door and leaps onto me.

“I can tell.” I smile at her, squeezing my arms tight around her and appreciating how it feels to have her.

“Where's Millie and Dev?” She looks around the bar room like she’s expecting to see them here.

“Millie had a rough time when she was taken. Dev took her home. They’re gonna need some time alone together,” I tell her calmly, knowing that what she hears is gonna hurt her. Peyton is the most empathetic person I know.

“Did they…? Raze, please tell me they didn’t.” Her head shakes as her eyes fill with tears.

“Come here.” I tuck her head back into my neck and hold her even tighter. It wasn’t long ago that she almost suffered the same fate. Thankfully, I got to my girl in time, but images of that day still fuckin’ haunt me. I can’t imagine how Dev will feel, knowing that he was too late.

“Are they dead?” she asks, looking back up at me.

“Quinnell’s still out there. Dev killed one of 'em, and I sent Ruck and Sinner out last night to pick up the other two,” I tell her, watching the horror expand all the way to her eyes.

“All of them? She must have been so scared. I need to speak to her.” She goes to pull away from me.

“You’ll have plenty of time for that. Dev and her need some space, and me and you need to talk. Can we go home?” I ask her, desperate to get this burden I’ve been carrying off my chest.

“But we just got back. I’m going to need to speak to the girls about what happened so we can find a way to help.” She looks around the room at everyone. All the girls look so happy to be home, and I watch Wrath stroking my sister’s tummy and feel a stab of jealousy.

“Let 'em celebrate tonight, we got lucky with the Russians, and Quinnell’s not a threat to us anymore. We had a lucky escape, darlin’.”

“You look worn out.” She slides her hand through my hair.

“I just wanna get you home.” I carry her out the door to the balcony and then down the steps onto the beach, and when we get to our beach hut, Reg flaps his wings as I open the door.

“Looks like someone missed me.” She makes a fuss of him when I place her back on her feet.

I head straight to the cupboard and grab a bottle of Jack so I can pour myself some Dutch courage.

What I'm about to tell her is gonna break her heart, and what makes it worse is the pity I know she’ll feel for me.

I don’t want her pity. I want to be able to give her the whole world.

“You should have seen Vike and Greaser flapping around Alicia. They even fought over who poured her a glass of water.” Peyton laughs to herself as she feeds Reggie some seeds from the palm of her hand.

“D’ya know you can feel her baby moving now?

” She dusts off her hands and comes toward me.

“She let me feel; it was kinda of strange. I can’t imagine what it’s gonna feel like when I feel ours moving around inside of me.

” Her hand rests on her tummy, and she makes that dreamy little smile that breaks my heart.

“Darlin’. We need to talk about that.” I finish what’s in my glass and move toward her, taking her hands.

“I was hoping you’d say that.” She bites her lip excitedly.

“Raze, I know you’ve been under a lot of stress with the club, and you're worried about bringing a kid into all this.

I know you're scared, but you don’t have to be.

You were made to be a father. You're gonna be amazing at it. I downloaded this app to my phone on the way home; it helps keep track of my body and tells us when the right time for us to conceive is.” She pulls out her phone to show me.

“Look.” She smiles up at me and points to today's date.

“What does that mean?” I notice that it’s highlighted red.

“It means that I’m primetime ready for you to knock me up, silly.” She slaps my chest. “You wanna try and make a baby with me, Prez?” She pulls at the bottom of my t-shirt like a needy kitten, and seeing the thrill of excitement in her eyes makes it impossible for me to crush it.

“Course, I fuckin’ do.” I lift her up off her feet and start carrying her to the bed. I smile on the surface as I lie her down and start kissing her body. I’m fully aware of how selfish I’m being, but I’m not ready to crush her dreams, and I sure as fuck ain’t ready to let her go yet.