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Chapter Eleven

Pirate

“ Y ou’re trying to get me killed. Do you know what Nicolas De Luca’s people will do when they see this?” She shoves my phone out of her face, and I shrug, returning it to my back pocket.

“Start a war, hopefully. Otherwise, I didn’t do my job right.” I smile and sit back in my chair, wishing I had a good scotch and cigar to celebrate the victory I see in the plastered on her devastated face.

She’s trapped and she knows it.

“I took the liberty of buying our rings. I do hope you like them.” She frowns but can’t help the instinct to look around for the mentioned items.

“Side table drawer.” I point to my side of the bed, and she huffs as she pulls it open with more than enough force to rock the furniture slightly.

She grabs the velvet black bag instead of the box, and I grin.

This should be good.

“Why is it so heavy, AH!” She jumps back as the stainless steel butt plug with a jeweled end drops to the floor at her feet.

“Whoops, wrong one, Preciosa. That’s for the honeymoon. Try the box.” She bends over, picks up the sex toy, and hurls it at my head.

I don’t flinch, letting it sail right past my head and lodge itself into the wall. I purse my lips at the horrible dry wall job, but thank Christ that my soon-to-be wife’s aim is horrible.

“Well, you won’t be playing for the Yankees any time soon.” I turn back to see her holding the ring box open with a dumbfounded look on her face.

“Is this a cruel joke?” A tear falls from her cheek, and I’m on my feet in an instant.

“What’s wrong?” The words feel foreign on my tongue and my mind spins to why I even fucking care that she’s so upset.

But I do care, and that is something I need to sit and think on when I’m alone.

“Where did you get this set?” she screams in my face.

“Fuck if I know. Knight picked them out. What the hell is your fucking problem? Why do you care where they came from?” I narrow my eyes at her as she sniffles and snaps the lid on the box closed before shoving the jewelry box into my chest, making me take a step back from the force.

“Those are my mother’s rings, or at least a replica of them, and don’t act like you had no clue.” I shake my head, and the first words out of my mouth are the goddamn truth.

“I don’t even know who the fuck your mother is. You really aren’t that special. Just a means to an end. The sooner you figure that out, the better.” My door opens, and Knight walks in holding a tray full of food.

“Eat something. I’ll be back later.” I walk into the hall and wait for Knight to follow.

“You can’t just lock me in here!” she screams, and my headache from wearing my eyepatch intensifies.

“Watch me.” I slam the door and lock it while she wails behind the steel frame.

“Wow,” Knight says, and I nod, rubbing my temples.

“I think she might really hate you. Good job, Prez.” I groan and walk down to my office with him on my heels.

“That was all your fault, you know.” I don’t bother to check if he’s still there.

I can tell by the sound of his steps. They’re as unique as fingerprints to me. Everyone walks differently. You just need to listen to hear it.

“I think Spector got them from the bank robbery we did a few months ago. They were in the box Torreli had there.” Ah fuck, then she was right.

“Shit,” I sit down at my desk and take my patch off with a heavy sigh.

“Zek?” I don’t like the worried tone in his voice.

“Troy, I’m fine. Just don’t like being ambushed. Those are her mom’s rings. I wasn’t prepared for the emotional blow. I want to fuck with her head but even that was low. How did her mom die?” I may make it a point to only know the bare minimum.

I didn’t want to form any form of permanent attachment. Guess that ship sailed.

“I’ll get you Spector’s full report.” He pulls the newspaper from under his arm like a butler.

“Thanks, Alfred.” He snorts at my wise-ass comment, but I smile when I find a bodega kaiser tucked in between the folded paper.

“Ah, you do love me. Bacon, egg, and cheese?” I look up at him, and he flips me off.

“Like I’d fuck that up after twenty years of buying them for you. No salt, you gotta enough things to bring your blood pressure up around here.” As if on cue, a loud bang sounds from upstairs.

“Are we under attack?” Cyclone yells from the main garage, and I groan.

“Never a moment’s peace around here.” I regret the words as soon as I say them.

“Wait until the baby is born. Then you’ll never sleep. Later!” Knight calls over his shoulder, leaving to make sure our little empire is moving towards our primary goal.

The complete and utter destruction of Marco Santos’ life.

Step one: Erase his family line and replace it with my own.

Step two: Turn his only child against him.

Step three: Don’t fall in love with her in the process.

It was that last part I was starting to have doubts about. Genesis wasn’t anything like I thought she’d be. She’s got a way of sneaking under my armor without even trying.

Another loud bang crashes above my head, actually causing some plaster dust to fall on it. As I’m shaking off my hair, the fire alarm goes off!

“THAT CRAZY BITCH SET THE SHOP ON FIRE.” Spector screams out as he passes my door, loading his gun.

“AH FUCK.”

Guess it’s time she meets her new family. I just hope she’s put on clothes before Spector bursts into my room. I’d hate to lose such a valued member of my club.

Plus, how would I explain that to my Tia on Sunday?