Page 34

We’ve spent the last two days since the attack working on cleaning up Nauti Nibbles. Everyone at the club has taken turns checking on Gavel and putting this place back together.

The first twenty-four hours after Gavel was shot was touch and go. Blackjack kept me informed throughout the night each time his alarms went off and what the nurses were doing.

I stopped by this morning, but he still wasn’t awake yet.

The doctor said everything looked better.

His vitals were holding steadier than they had been.

Gavel’s body just needs rest to recover, he said.

If he doesn’t wake on his own by tomorrow morning, they’ll try to pull him out. Then we’ll go from there.

Birdie took the twins to go sit with him this morning. We’re hoping hearing their love for him will help. I sent Butcher and Cyanide as their protection.

Out of all of the brothers, Cyanide would have the most incentive to keep them safe. Not that I don’t trust all of my brothers with my life, but why wouldn’t I take any advantage I could to protect my heart?

“Hey, Prez,” Malice calls, his voice holding a surprised tone. “You might want to come check this shit out.”

“Fuck. What now?” I mutter, running my hands through my hair.

When I step up the propped open doors, my feet cement to the floor. A huge crowd of Coral Cay residents stand around proudly.

My body tightens, preparing to defend our turf with every breath I have in me. But then I get a good look at them and shock rushes through me. Power tools, hammers, and sheets of wood are held in the hands of many of them.

A man with salt and pepper hair steps forward with a tool belt around his waist. “You all have come through for this city more than once, Pope. It’s time for us to have your back. If you’ll show us where you need the help, we’ll get to work and have this place back in top shape.”

I’m not a man who gets choked up about shit, but for some reason, this puts a little quiver in my heart. Acceptance has always been the one thing we’ve sought from them since we moved into Coral Cay. While a lot of them have, we still assumed most of them were still struggling to trust us.

The guy sighs, hitching his toolbelt up his waist. “There’s never been many opportunities to show your club our appreciation for all that you do for this city. You’ve never needed our help for anything. Now you do. This is our way of saying thank you.”

I hold a hand out to him with a sigh and he slides his palm against mine. “We appreciate the help, Gerard.”

His mud-colored eyes hold shock, as if I’ve surprised him again by knowing his name. If only he knew how important it was that I did. Enemies come from everywhere. Even the people you know the best.

Malice and I spend the next ten minutes going over shit with the crowd, placing them throughout the diner where they’re needed the most. Others work on cleaning up the outside and before long there’s a rhythm between all of us.

It’s been a while since we’ve held a community meet, so I make a mental note to see if Birdie would be interested in planning one with the other ol’ ladies after we get Frankie taken care of.

That was one of her favorite things to do in the past. She’d always have a blast planning them.

Anything that made Birdie happy, I did my best to give to her until everything went to fucking shit because I was an idiot.

My phone rings and I smile when I see Birdie’s name flash across the screen.

“Hey, little mama.”

“Hey. Guess what?”

The excitement in her voice causes my heart to twitch with a few unsteady beats as it tries to catch up with her.

“What?”

“Legend was talking to Gavel and it happened. Gavel squeezed his hand! The nurse thought it might just be a reflex, but when Lovelyn asked him if he could hear her, he did it again. He’s going to be okay, Apollonos. He’s going to make it.”

“Sounds like you’re right, little mama,” I choke out.

We talk for a few more minutes before she says the nurse is allowing them back in. So, we say our goodbyes and hang up.

I’m sliding my phone back into my pocket when it starts ringing again. Thinking she forgot something, I don’t pay attention to the number or name on my screen and just slide my finger across the green phone icon.

“Forgot something?” I answer with a laugh.

“I didn’t forget anything. We just need better aim next time.”

The taunting voice on the other end has my body going rigid as my fingers tighten around my phone.

“Frankie,” I growl.

“Awe. I should feel special that you remember my name.”

“I try to do that with the people I’m going to kill.”

“Such big words for someone so tiny.”

I snort. “This coming from a pussy who can’t even come after me himself. Do you always send someone to do your dirty work? Afraid that you won’t make it out alive if you come after me? It’s probably wise, really.”

“You’ll see me when it’s time. I’m having too much fun playing with you in the meantime. It’s too bad my men missed that old bastard. I might have to pay him a visit and finish the job myself. Send him to his lover ,” he sneers the last word.

As I listen to Frankie’s bullshit, I manage to let Malice know that Frankie is on the line. He’s got Cypher on his phone, but he holds his hand up, palm out, to indicate Cypher said there’s five minutes before he can do anything.

Fuck.

I nod and then do what I can to keep Frankie on the phone. “What’s wrong, little guy? Does it mess with your sensitive little fee fees to know that two men can love each other happily? No one love you enough? You’re jealous, is that it?”

“Fuck you,” Frankie screams.

“I’ve thought about it. That’s going to be a no from me. I like your wife’s pussy too much. I’m thinking about how long it’ll be before she’s swollen with another of my kids. What do you think? Probably less than six months, if I’m honest.”

Frankie’s harsh breathing grates against my ear as his rage builds.

“I’m going to kill you. Then I’m going to fuck her on top of your dead body before loaning her out to whoever wants a taste.

When she’s all used up, I’m going to slit her throat and fuck her while the life is draining out of her broken body.

Because here’s the thing, brother . If I can’t have her, neither will you .

Tell Cypher he’s close, but not close enough. I’ll be seeing you soon, Apollonos.”

“Fuck. Cypher says he didn’t have enough time,” Malice says in apology.

“Is he still on the phone?” I ask, my voice empty as I play Frankie’s words through my mind.

There are so many things that niggle at the back of my mind after our conversation.

“Still here, Prez,” Cypher says.

“You didn’t get anything?”

“No, sir. Whoever he’s working with is fucking good. I’m sorry.”

I blow out a heavy breath, rubbing the back at my neck as I gaze around at the citizens working hard to help get this place ready. I jerk my head toward the office in the back, and Malice follows, letting Cypher know we’re going somewhere a little more secure.

When we get in there, I lean back against the desk as I dig through Frankie’s words. “Did you focus your search on my parents and the church?”

“Yeah. I haven’t had anything come back yet, but I’ve given our guy on the dark web a few more parameters.”

“Is there an ETA on the information?”

“That’s not how they work. You know this shit takes as long as it takes. We have to be careful when we go into some systems. We want as little trail as possible left behind so nothing comes back to any of us.”

“Heard. He knows my birth name. It could be a given since he’s married to Birdie, but my gut warns me that isn’t how. I think we’re heading in the right direction with my past. I don’t know, brother. I don’t know how or why, but there’s a twisting in my gut.”

“Fuck.”

“Yeah,” I say heavily.

It’s building in the air. Zaps of electricity warning us of the impending storm.

I’ve never been scared of them. There’s something to be said for standing in the middle of one.

When the rain falls in sheets so dense you can barely make out the shape of your hand in front of you.

The way the vortex winds whip your hair around your face so harshly, the strands bite your skin.

When streaks of lightning brighten the dark sky and thunder creates a boom so deep, you feel it tightening your chest.

It’s the fear that keeps you alive.

It’s knowing that with one bolt, your life could potentially be over.

Just like the kiss of a bullet to the heart.