Page 20 of Pearl (Royal Harlots MC, Phoenix, Az. #1)

Carver

P earl looks visibly shaken and if I were her, I would too.

There is no vendetta like that of a mafia man, and even worse, a Larussio.

Whatever happened though, she’s not shying away.

My fearless beauty will own up to anything, and won’t succumb to fear or cowardice for anyone, not even them.

Of that, I’m fucking sure, and she proves me right with just a few words.

“You can take me to them. I’m not going to run. ”

Capone and Ryker both look as impressed as me and every fucking man standing around her, but yet the Harlots, they don’t look surprised at all.

They would expect nothing less from their leader.

Capone looks at Pearl. “They’re coming to you.

They were already on a plane and will be here shortly.

I think they were hoping to confirm for certain that the DeSantis family was behind the trafficking, but it appears there are none left to tell that story. ”

Pearl raises her eyebrows in challenge. I put my arm around her, hugging her to me as the two bike presidents walk a short distance to talk.

I lift her eyes to meet mine with the tip of a finger to her chin.

“They’re reasonable men, baby, tell them the truth.

You couldn’t have killed him unprovoked. I know that about you.”

Pearl tries to look tough, but her voice betrays her. When she speaks, it comes out more like a harsh whisper. “I didn’t but it’s not going to matter, Carver. You and I both know that. An eye for an eye, it’s how the families live. He was a cousin, pure blood, and that trumps everything.”

I pull her to me, whispering in her ear as I slip a Beretta into the back of her waistband. “Whatever happens, do not go anywhere with them willingly. We fight, you do not let them take you. Otherwise, you won’t come out alive.”

She looks up at me with those deep blue eyes, and finally I see what I never thought I’d see.

Trust. I draw her to me and kiss her lips lightly, gently running my finger over her already bruising face.

If I get out of this alive, any of those fuckers we didn’t already kill will pay dearly for what they’ve done to Pearl.

They won’t know what fucking hit them when I come for my revenge.

Ryker and Capone’s faces are grim as they talk, glancing over our way every once in a while. Getting on the wrong side of them and the Larussios was not what I intended to happen today, that’s for damn sure.

This fucking day keeps going from bad to worse, but no matter what, I’m going down fighting if Pearl is in any danger at all.

Because the hour it took to fly across that fucking desert while those bastards had her was the longest of my life.

No one is going to take her away from me, not without a shit ton of fury raining down on them first, and I don’t give two fucks who they are.

Mafia, the Rival presidents, or any other fucker in the world.

I protect what’s mine and Pearl is mine.

But I did promise them complete loyalty if they got her back. “There’s one thing you should know before they get here, baby.”

She looks at me with those deep blue eyes open and filled with trust that I hope I’m not about to fucking shatter. “I work for the Larussios. It’s something that just happened. A promise I made them to get you back.”

Pearl swallows, looking over at the two bikers still talking by some of the dead guys, and over to Hawg and Lucky who’s talking with his crew, and then to the Harlots, meeting the eyes of Onyx.

Onyx gives her a solemn nod, one that I’m not sure gives me any assurance.

Instead makes me question what the hell I’ve gotten myself into the middle of.

Because I’ve come clean, but she still hasn’t said a fucking word. “Did you kill their cousin?”

Her eyes flash. “Yes.”

“Is that all you’re going to tell me?”

She shrugs. “If they’re as ruthless as rumored, my guess is you’ll be the one killing me.”

My eyes open wide. “Come again?”

“In the movies. To prove your loyalty. The new guy is always asked to kill the person that he knows, as a sign of loyalty and commitment to the family. If they want me dead, they’ll make you do it or kill you too. I want you to do it.”

The Arizona heat has fried her fucking brain because I’m not about to kill her. “I wouldn’t have given you a weapon if I intended to kill you.”

“No, I know, but that’s how they work. They’re not going to let this go unpunished.

I killed one of their own. And I am not going to lie about it.

They know it’s my knife, and I’m not denying it.

I’ll ask them to let the Harlots go, and I would ask them to let you go too, but I’m afraid you’ve sealed your fate by agreeing to work for them.

They’ll ask you to prove your loyalty, me or them.

I want you to pick them, otherwise, they will kill us both. ”

It takes my mind a minute to catch up. She may not be wrong, but that’s not how this is going to play out. “I agreed to work for them to save you, but I was already considering it even before that. That’s why I went to talk with them.”

“Why would you do that? I thought we had something. Something real, that would make you want to stay near me?”

“That’s exactly why, baby. I can work for them and be in Phoenix, but I sealed the deal because they agreed to get me on a plane after they got word that you had been taken.

That’s the only reason that Capone, Ryker and I got here so fast. You might be dead otherwise. That’s the reason you’re alive.”

She nods as though understanding the situation, but something has changed. It’s like she’s already resigned to her fate, accepted it, as though she’s known it’s been coming for years, and I don’t like it one fucking bit.

“I should tell you something,” she says, “you know, before it’s too late.”

“I’m all ears.” I’m half expecting to hear the story about the cousin she killed but that’s not what’s on her mind.

“I’ve never said this to one other living person in the world, except for my dad. I love you, Carver. Whatever happens, know that I love you.”

She turns away and walks toward the Harlots. I track the movement of Ryker and Capone, keeping a close eye on her movements without making it too fucking obvious, not concerned that she’s a flight risk as she stands talking to her next in command and doesn’t make a move to mount a bike.

If they knew what was running through her mind, they might be.

I walk toward Hawg, who meets me halfway. “Things are about to go south. The Larussios are on their way. The big guys. Apparently, Pearl killed one of their cousins a long time ago, I don’t know the details, but I’m not letting them kill and bury her in the desert.”

His jaw tightens. “Fuck. We’ve got no beef with the Larussios.

We have a strong alliance with the Rivalry, but if push comes to shove, we owe the Royal Bastards.

Even the Harlots are under their protection, meaning ours by extension.

You give the word, and we will light this mother fucking desert on fire to save her or go down trying. ”

Something tightens in my chest. Years and years of being alone on the trails, fighting my own battles with little to no help, no one to lean on when times were hard, and Hawg and the rest of the Phoenix Crew have not only had my back but are willing to put their lives and reputation with the Larussios on the line.

It’s hard now not to understand the appeal of being part of a group, a club, a brotherhood where everyone protects everyone, and their families too.

But it’s too late now. I’ve made my promise to the Larussios and as long as they don’t try to hurt Pearl, I’ll work for them. Because no matter what else I am, I am a man of my word, and if I promise you I’m going to do something, you best believe that I’m going to keep that fucking promise.

Somehow, though, I’ll find a way forward for Pearl because I’m not willing to let her go.

And when a black SUV carrying the two notorious cousins of the Larussio crime family, the capos no one in their right mind wants to double cross, pulls up, knowing they may be coming to avenge a family death, my chest tightens like a vice closing off the very air that I breathe.