Page 110 of Indecent Lies

Say what now?

The mafia?

For real?

Outside of movies, she didn’t know that they actually existed. With the way the bar had turned grave with every set of eyes bouncing between the two groups of men, it was evident that whoever the well-dressed man was, he was not welcomed by anyone.

“Is… is he dangerous?”

Tait gave her his dark somber eyes. “They’re all dangerous men, Poppy, but in a choice, always side with the MC, got it?”

She didn’t know why he was saying it to her, she didn’t live in a world of bikers and mafia men but she guessed now, she kind of did.

She nodded and watched just like everyone else was watching.

It was the head biker… Rider, who spoke to the Russian man. He didn’t look intimidated at all, in fact, Poppy thought he looked like a badass in blue denim and his man bun.

“You don’t listen very fuckin’ well do you, Russian. Told you to stay away and yet here you are, like a bad fuckin’ disease we can’t get rid of.” Snickers followed from the bikers who were in formation behind Rider’s back.

A sneak glance at Tait, she saw his jaw tight and his fingers flexing on the table, she covered them. “You want to go over, don’t you?” She whispered.

He did, she knew it.

“Can’t. None of my business.”

The tension scared her. Maybe Tait heard it too, because he took her hand and laced their fingers together, kissing her knuckles.

It was like watching an old western standoff.

“Told you to get out of town.” She heard.

When the Russian man spoke, it sounded like silk wrapped around nails, as though he smoked a lot and had a bucket load of confidence to go with it when he taunted with a smirk.

“If you noticed, my men and I did indeed leave in the summer,da? I took a much needed visit with my family.” Oh, that smirk was dangerous, she thought to herself. “Your threat did not say we could not return.” The thugs behind him chuckled. “I find I like the city; it is how you say? Grown on me. Feels like home.”

Besides her, Tait rumbled a noise in his throat. It was a negative noise, one that mirrored by the bikers behind Rider, but none of them made a move.

The rest of the bar were just as gripped by this as Poppy was.

“Can’t Rider make him leave?” She asked quietly.

“He’s tried.”

Then Rider spoke and all ears flapped to listen.

“How’s the funds, Grigori? Missing a few, I expect.”

Only now did the other man show any sign of reaction when the muscle in his thick jaw started to tick and his otherwise pale face fused purple.

“Yeah,” Rider went on, thumbs in his belt loops, smirking behind him before he faced the man again. “If I had to guess, and I’m only taking a stab here, I’d say 17.5 mil. So if you’re sticking around, well…”

The taunting went back and forth, Rider taking great pleasure.

“Get the fuck out, you’re not welcome and if you were smart, you’d keep going.”

Just like that, Rider dismissed him and en masse the bikers strode back to their tables. It was as if the crowds parted and the Russian man saw Tait who stiffened at her side but showed no other outwardly signs.

The Russian man smirked and nodded at Tait, turned on his heels and the cavalcade of men left by the exit.