Page 12 of Kaz (Salvation Kings MC: New Freedom Chapter #2)

Kaz

HE BLINKED at the screen, the numbers floating around in front of him.

The noise from the renovation wasn’t helping either.

Not that he would complain about it. Miles was working for free, and while he didn’t know his going rate, he was pretty sure he couldn’t afford him.

Miles’s expertise was the only reason no one objected to letting Miles stay and work with them.

He pushed away from his desk with a groan and stood, rubbing a hand down his face.

They needed to appoint a treasurer, so he didn’t have to do two jobs.

It was more than enough to try and keep the younger members alive.

He had to coordinate their less-than-legal business while also looking at spaces for sale in New Freedom to set up legal businesses that could keep the club running.

His makeshift office above the garage consisted mostly of unopened moving boxes, though he did have two desks set up, both with a working computer. The space was unfinished, but the house needed to be fixed up a lot more than the office needed drywall, so those renovations took precedence.

He headed down the stairs, noting that the noise of power tools had ceased.

He walked outside, raising a hand to shield his eyes from the sun, and found most of the others gathered on the front porch, listening to Miles.

He had blueprints nailed to the wall of the house, a long list of things that needed fixing hanging next to it.

He couldn’t hear what Miles said, but something warm spread through him as he ran his gaze over his brothers and sisters, all watching and listening to Miles with rapt attention. Even the twins, who seemed to have remained in one piece so far.

He returned his gaze to Miles. There was a quiet strength in Miles that he’d always admired. His confidence had grown with time, and the man he was watching now was much more comfortable in his own skin than his nineteen-year-old self had been. It only made him want the man that much more.

He wanted to know how that confidence translated to the bedroom. He wanted to experience everything with Miles anew. He wanted to touch every inch of him. Relearn what made him tremble. How to make him lose control.

But he couldn’t. Not yet.

No matter how often he reminded himself to give Miles time, to earn back his trust before he let anything happen between them, it didn’t diminish how much he craved the man’s touch. It only made the need burn hotter.

Amber eyes snapped toward him, and he lost the ability to think.

There was something unreadable in Miles’s gaze, and as much as he wanted to find out what it meant, he wouldn’t.

He had to ignore that pull inside him that wanted him to go to Miles and bug him until Miles either exploded or told him what was wrong.

He jerked his gaze away from Miles, swallowing back a curse. He needed to get a hold of himself before he lost the plot and did something stupid like kiss Miles.

He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.

Miles said a few more words and then everyone dispersed, some heading inside while others went to their bikes. Kaz crossed the parking lot, moving toward Miles despite himself.

Killian stepped right into his path, halting him, and making him unsure whether he wanted to thank him or deck him. Before Killian could speak, the sound of wheels on gravel had them both jerking their attention toward the driveway.

His pulse jumped.

They weren’t expecting anyone.

Black cars pulled up, one sedan and three SUVs. The men stepping out of the vehicles all wore dark, tailored suits. They had a dark and menacing air around them, their backs straight and their expressions blank. Mob, if he had to guess.

“I thought you did a thorough check on the town?” he said to Killian, keeping his voice low.

“I did. These mofos ain’t from New Freedom. There’s been zero chatter about a mafia presence here.”

A grunt was all Kaz gave Killian in response, keeping his eyes trained on the men in their driveway.

One of the suits walked to the back of the sedan―a Mercedes―and opened the back door.

A man in a pristine charcoal suit stepped out.

He had sun-kissed skin, short black hair, and gray eyes he ran slowly over Kaz and his brothers and sisters.

The suit started toward Kaz, his goons following close behind him. He didn’t have to look to know they were all carrying, but he still took a quick inventory. They were pretty evenly matched in people and firepower. It didn’t ease the tension in his body whatsoever.

The suit stopped in front of Kaz, who shifted, placing his feet shoulder-width apart before crossing his arms.

“You’ve come to the wrong town,” the suit said, his eyes cold and his voice flat.

“Have I?” Kaz tilted his head slightly to the side. “Or have you? ”

The man’s lips quirked, but if it was from annoyance or amusement, he couldn’t tell.

“I’m here giving you a warning to leave as a courtesy,” the suit said, gaze moving to Kaz’s left, where the wall with their colors painted on it was, thanks to Emmett, “because I respect the Kings, but you need to get the hell outta my town, you understand?”

“We’re not here for anybody’s turf. We’re just here to hang out and ride our bikes,” Killian said.

The suit snapped his gaze onto Killian, and with a sneer, he said, “Oh, I know exactly what you are and what you plan to do here, and I don’t want any of that bullshit in my town.”

Cold slithered down Kaz’s spine. A bad feeling hit him in the gut. Something about the way the suit said it had him thinking he might actually know what they did. He didn’t like that one fucking bit. No one was supposed to know outside of the Kings and Disciples.

“Dante,” came from behind Kaz, and he didn’t have to turn to know who’d spoken.

“Kian,” the suit―Dante―said, his voice silky smooth.

“Serrano,” Killian said under his breath, and if Kaz had been worried before, it had nothing on how he felt when Dante gave Killian a small knowing smile.

“Aw, did you miss me so much you came to see me, Danty?”

Dante’s smile dropped instantly, and a look of pure annoyance replaced it.

“No,” Dante said, a slight growl in his voice.

“What? You didn’t miss me?” Kian asked, pushing past Kaz to get in Dante’s face. “You’re such a liar.”

Dante’s guys tensed, hands on their guns, but Dante waved them off while glaring at Kian.

“The only reason I haven’t shot you is because I like your father. So don’t push me, Kian.”

Kian guffawed, clapping a hand on Dante’s shoulder, and while Dante glared at the offending limb, Kian said, “I didn’t know you were into daddies, but you know my Pop’s taken, right?”

Dante grabbed Kian’s hand on his shoulder and twisted his arm behind his back, bringing Kian up against his chest. Kaz had a hand on his gun the next second, and as far as he could tell, everyone else had, too.

“Stop pissing me off,” Dante growled, squeezing hard enough to make Kian cry out.

“Why would I?” Kian gasped out. “I enjoy it too much.”

For a moment, Kaz wasn’t sure if they were going to end up in a firefight or not. He wasn’t one bit surprised that Kian’s big mouth would’ve gotten them into one, though.

Dante pushed Kian back, and Kaz caught him with a hand on his back to stop Kian from crashing into him.

“One week,” Dante said, his gaze on Kaz. He turned and walked toward his car, his goons following. Kaz didn’t take his eyes off Dante and his men until all the cars left their driveway, and then he turned to glare at Kian, who was rubbing his hand.

Kian looked up, a grimace spreading on his face when he noticed Kaz glaring at him.

“I’ll call my Pop. See if I can smooth this shit out,” Kian said and took off, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

Kaz met Solo’s gaze, and when he gave his friend a nod, Solo got on his bike and took off down the driveway. He needed more information. He needed a better idea of what was going on before he took action.

“What a shitshow,” Killian said with a sigh, fingers threaded behind his head. “You think we’re getting into a damned turf war now?”

“I hope not, but if we do, Dante’s gonna have one hell of a fight on his hands.”

This was their home now. They weren’t going anywhere.

He turned a dark look Killian’s way and said, “Find out what else you missed,” before walking off.

He headed toward the front door of the clubhouse, his gaze immediately catching on Miles’s pale face, and his steps faltered.