Page 19

Fury

I was an idiot.

I fully intended to return to her once I had successfully settled Bri into bed, but in the end, I failed to do so. Instead of taking action, I found myself perched on the edge of the bed, plagued by self-doubt and relentlessly scrutinizing every decision I’d made in the time since I met her. Considering the complex and sensitive nature of her situation, I couldn’t, in good conscience, become involved in her life. The fact that she was a daughter of the Golden Skulls was already problematic enough, but to learn that she would lead the Society added insult to injury.

That was a can of worms I didn’t want any part of.

She was right about one thing though. There was no place on earth she could hide because there would always be someone after her. If it were just me, maybe I could tolerate the constant hiding and running, but I had my girls to think about.

I couldn’t do that to them.

They deserved a stable life, free from all this shit.

Eventually, I found solace by climbing into bed with my girls, attempting to push away thoughts of her intoxicating presence in my embrace, the fiery allure of her lips, and the undeniable feeling of regret gnawing at my insides.

I was damned if I did and damned if I didn’t.

Honestly, it was all my fault really.

I didn’t expect to see her standing there in my room. I had thought she’d gone to bed. But there she was, all doe-eyed and blushing, her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue that spoke of something beautiful. I couldn’t resist the temptation. And when she snapped out of her daze and vacated my room, I just smirked and figured why not?

I should have known she wasn’t a hit-it-and-quit-it gal.

Hell, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been with a woman, but fuck me, I knew how to read the damn signs, and whether or not she intended to, her body was definitely giving off the fuck me now signal.

So, what did I do? I reverted to my old ways like I always did, only for it to bite me in the ass. I should have known that anything involving her would be complicated and frustrating from the get-go. Hell, nothing was ever easy in my life. The only woman I ever fucking admitted to loving was my girl’s mother, and she was married to an asshat before he and his bitch of a mother fucking conspired with her cousin to kill her.

So why should Carly be any different?

“I think it would be an easy way to blow off some steam.”

Snapping out of my daze, I turned to see her staring at her hands. Her knuckles were white, as if she were wrestling with something unseen. “Huh?”

“All I’m saying is that it could be fun.”

Bewildered, I furrowed my brows, trying to decipher her strange words, the sound of her voice echoing in my ears.

“I mean, if you don’t want to, I understand. I just thought since we were going to be in this SUV for a while, we might as well take advantage of the opportunity and make the best of it.”

Cautiously, I asked, unsure where she was going with this line of thought. “Make the best of what?”

“Our situation.”

Crap. She was talking about me leaving her hanging last night.

Shit. I was hoping she would have moved on from that.

Guess not.

Grabbing the bull by the horns, I just said what needed to be said. “Carly, you are a very beautiful woman, and I sympathize with everything you been through, but I don’t think it will work out between us. I need to concentrate on my girls. I’m all they have left.”

When she remained silent, I glanced at her, noticing her eyebrows furrowed in a frown.

Puzzled at her expression, I muttered, “What?”

“I was talking about stopping at the Play Palace in Chicago so the kids could burn off some energy. What the hell did you think I was talking about? You know what? Never mind. I don’t want to know. I think you’ve already said enough.”

Well shit...

Sitting on a bench, I kept a keen eye on my girls and Drew, who were in the kiddie foam pit having a blast, while Carly went to get them lunch at one of the food shacks in this massive place. Using my foot to push a sleeping Charlie in her stroller, I leaned forward in my chair and whispered into my phone, “I need to see him, Aurelio. I’m in town. I don’t want to be rude.”

“It’s not a good time, my friend.”

“If he finds out I was here and didn’t stop by, and word gets back to New York, I will be in a lot of trouble.”

“Word is you are already in trouble. Did you really drop your marker?”

Groaning, I closed my eyes. “Yes.”

“That was stupid.”

“I know, but you know how Montana can be. I couldn’t stay and let him use me or my girls as a bargaining chip.”

“Did you honestly think he would accept your marker?”

“Fuck no. I mean, I’m the fucking SSA of the Mother Chapter. You know as well as I do, there is no fucking way he can just let me walk away. I’m just hoping the asshole calms the fuck down, and Mercy can talk some common sense into him, before he starts a war he can’t win.”

Aurelio laughed. “Dream on, my friend. Your best bet is to get to California fast and pray Reaper grants you sanctuary.”

Sitting up, I asked, “What do you mean?”

“I mean, Montana put out the order. There is a bounty on your head.”

“Shit,” I cursed, leaning back as I rubbed my hand down my face. “What about Vicious and Storm?”

“Montana is concentrating on you.”

“Because I’m the bigger threat.”

“Yes, and I’d watch your back if I were you. Unless you plan on returning to the city? In which case, I will happily call Montana and tell him you’ve seen the error of your ways and are returning home.”

“I can’t do that, Aurelio, and you know it.”

“Well, then brace yourself, because your troubles are just beginning. Braesal O’Malley has formerly asked the table for an inquiry into your past. Something about your mother and an adoption from 1953. According to the table, O’Malley’s provided credible evidence that proves you are only half-Italian and that you have a direct link to his organization. I don’t need to tell you what shitstorm that will cause if proven correct.”

“O’Malley is a fucking prick. He can’t formally ask the table for shit without express permission from Brian Buchanon, and last I heard, Buchanon was still in Ireland taking care of a problem over there.”

“Is there any validity?”

“Maybe,” I groaned, rubbing the back of my neck. “I’m not sure. Yes, my mother was adopted in 1953 by my grandparents Armando and Valencia Guillermo, but her adoption records were sealed. As to who her real mother and father were, I have no clue. Besides, he doesn’t matter.”

“Keep thinking that, because rumor is, Braesal O’Malley doesn’t like competition. If he considers you a threat in any way to his organization, he will not think twice before ordering a hit, and then where would your girls be? The best thing you can do is to turn around, go back to the city, and let your club handle O’Malley. That Irish thug will think twice before taking on the Soulless Sinners.”

Returning with a full tray laden down with food and drinks for the kids, Carly looked around then asked the one question no parent ever wanted to hear, “Christian, where is Drew?”

Snapping my head up, my eyes immediately darted to the kiddie foam pool where I only saw Andi and Bri playing. Getting to my feet, I quickly scanned the massive fun place and whispered, “Aurelio, I need to go.”

Hanging up the phone, I absentmindedly pocketed it and said, “He can’t have gotten far. I’ll go look for him.”

“Drew!” Carly shouted loudly, which alerted other parents in our vicinity, and then, my eyes landed on him.

Not thinking, I ran over to where Drew was standing before a kneeling man, and the last person on the fucking planet I ever imagined seeing stood up and smiled.

“Hello, Fury.”

“Lorenzo.”

“We need to talk.”

“Look, Chris.” Drew smiled up at me. “This man has my face.”

Gulping, I slowly nodded. “Yeah, buddy. He does.”