Page 5

WOLF

“We’re meeting Cordova in just a bit at the fight club,” Viper says, glancing around the table.

“I want Cyprus, Aries, Wolf, and Dutch at the meet. The rest of you wait around the clubhouse, make sure nothing goes down while we’re out.

The last thing we need is for someone to come at us while we’re not all here. ”

“Not gonna let anyone get near your woman, Prez, or anyone else’s,” Kevlar remarks, tapping his knuckles on the table. “We’ll make sure all the women stay inside for the time being until we know what’s what.”

“I don’t get what Cordova wants to meet with us for anyway?”

Leaning forward in my seat, I glance around the table before focusing on Viper. “Got a sense that I know why?”

“What do you think it is?” Viper asks, cocking a brow.

“Yesterday, after I had to go yet again and tell her to turn her music down, I noticed a car was in her driveway. Was there a while, when the men who were in the house left, I recognized one as Cordova. I called Vulture and asked him to run a check into my neighbor.”

“Jacqueline Cordova,” Vulture adds. “She’s Izaiah Cordova’s little sister, and he is protective of her. Also found that he’s looking to marry her off. According to rumors at the Gala that Cordova hosted the other day, he introduced her to someone that she brushed off.”

“We gonna have any issues with this sister?” Cyprus asks.

I knew why he was asking. His woman was at my house now with Kale and Bride.

Mace was also there to keep an eye out for anything going on.

It’s the only reason he’d miss church this morning.

With church and this meeting, Kale at the house with Noelle, I wanted to make sure Cyprus’s woman was safe, and Mace was good with ensuring that happened.

“The sister wouldn’t hurt a fly,” Vulture remarks, alleviating Cyprus’s growing tension.

“She’s an artist and dancer. Don’t know what else she does, but seen her dancing in her studio yesterday.”

“She does all sorts of shit.” Vulture grunts. “Glass blowing, paintings, injured herself in an audition for a dance company, lost out of the chance, and hasn’t tried again, she dropped out of that circuit and pretty much became a recluse except for dinners and parties she attends with her brother.”

Hearing this from Vulture doesn’t sit well with me. It’s almost like violating her privacy. Technically, it is violating her privacy, but we have to know what we’re working with.

“Why do you think whatever this comes down to deals with her?” Viper asks brows furrowed.

“Don’t know, but Cyprus moves down the street, then I move in next door. Cordova keeps tabs on his sister. There’s no doubt about it. My guess is that this meet has to do with her as much as it is about the alliance he wants.” I didn’t like it, but I gotta admit, the woman intrigues me.

Seeing her dance, it was hot. I’d caught a good moment or two of her dancing before interrupting her.

She’d been beautiful, graceful. The sight of her had my cock twitching, wondering just how she’d move with me buried inside her.

The thoughts had been what annoyed me most when I finally got her attention about the music.

I hadn’t even given a damn she’d blasted the music so loud. Kale had slept right through it, which was strange. Any other sounds while he was sleeping would wake him up.

“We’ll just have to see when we get there,” Viper remarks and looks to Kevlar. “If Jade tries going anywhere, you call me immediately. Docs told her she needed to rest and not be on her feet. Keep Rosemary on her if you have to.”

“Rosemary will keep her ass in the bed.” Kevlar smirks.

The rest of us either laugh or chuckle. We all know those two far too well. Rosemary will kick Jade’s ass if it means keeping her and the twins safe throughout pregnancy. However, she wouldn’t literally do it. But she would lock her in a room so she’d have no other choice but to lie down and rest.

“Good, now let’s get the fuck out of here.” Viper bangs the gavel down on the table.

Aries and I follow Viper and Cyprus out to our bikes. It’s the first time I’ve really been out on my bike since finding out about Kale.

It doesn’t bother me as much as I once thought it would. When it comes to my kid, nothing else really matters. Though I’ve got to admit, swinging my leg over the back of my bike and straddling my seat, I’ve surely missed it. It’s a freedom unlike any other.

For years, all I had was my bike. Home life wasn’t anything to be upset about, but still, it wasn’t exactly where I fit in either.

My parents were about each other and what they had going.

The first chance I had, I took off joining the military.

It’s where I’d meet my brothers. I ended up prospecting with them and then joining the club.

After getting out of the military, we’d all gone back to the club.

A few of us went to the Franklin clubhouse, others to the National Charter.

Now, those of us who picked to or chose to come to Mississippi are here, and I gotta admit it feels good to be here. Not that I didn’t like being at the other clubhouse, it’s just that if I hadn’t made the move, I wouldn’t have Kale. No matter how fucked up it all came about.

I shake the thought away and glance in my Prez and VP’s direction as I start my bike, more than ready to hit the road. Viper gives the high sign, and we all take off.

I don’t know what all this is going to be about, but I’m going with my gut that he wants to meet about Jacqueline. Finding out that my little sexy neighbor is Cordova’s sister wasn’t something I was expecting. Not in the least.

The ride to the fight club feels shorter than it has been in the past. I guess the difference between this time and the others is the fact that we’re not dealing with threats looming over the club’s head.

We all park near the entrance. My eyes stick to the man standing at the door. I saw him at Jacqueline’s house yesterday. He stayed by the car. Looking closer now, he’s the same one who opened the back of the limo for Jacqueline to get inside when she’d been in the sexy green dress as well.

I drop down the kickstand on my bike and swing a leg over, straightening.

“Let’s get this done,” Viper remarks and starts for the door.

Silently, the rest of us follow behind.

The guy at the door looks directly at me before settling on Viper. “The boss is in his office waiting.”

“Figured,” Viper grunts.

Stepping into the building, we make our way down a hall to where there’s yet another man dressed in black trousers and a black button-up shirt. He motions for us to enter the office and follows behind. Dutch sticks back to stay near him as a precaution.

“You wanted to meet with us, we’re here, so what is it?” Viper demands, jumping right to it, facing Cordova across his desk.

“As I stated on the phone the last time we spoke, I wish for us to have an alliance rather than just a truce,” Izaiah says, glancing at each of us and bracing his elbows on his desk.

“What exactly do you have in mind?” Cyprus asks.

“Please, have a seat.” Cordova motions to the chairs in front of his desk.

Viper and Cyprus take the seats while Aries and I take up positions right behind them.

“I’m taking the fight club in a new direction, and it’s not going to be popular with some of my associates, but it’s happening.

By doing this, I’m proposing an alliance with your club.

You’ve proven several times over in the ring yourselves that you’re a force to be reckoned with.

” He stops long enough to look in my direction.

“I also am doing this to elevate threats that have started circling regarding my sister.”

At the mention of his sister being threatened, my gut tightens.

“Your sister?” Viper retorts in question. “Didn’t know you had a sister.”

Cordova smirks and shakes his head. “Don’t play games.

I’m sure Wolf here has run a check on his neighbor.

Learning who your neighbors are is always a must to keep those we care about safe.

But to answer you, yes, I have a sister.

Jacqueline. She knows nothing of this life.

Her world revolves around her art. Just this morning, I took her to look at a space for a gallery she wishes to open. ”

“And you’re telling us this because . . .” Cyprus draws out.

“I’ve heard rumors that you all were planning to open a security firm. If this is true, I wish to hire the company to oversee the establishment.”

Ahh, now, we’re getting to his reasoning for an alliance. He wants to use the security firm that we’ve been in the works to open. It’s been kept quiet for the most part. We didn’t want it getting out just yet. Not until we were set up and ready to roll.

“You want our club to protect your sister?” Viper asks.

“Yes.” Cordova sighs and leans back in his seat, hands clasped in front of him.

“The thing about Jacqueline is she’s very stubborn.

I didn’t want her to move out and into the house, but she did.

She refuses to have detailed protection on her.

Rebels against everything I ask of her. All to follow a dream of art. ”

Maybe the brother is asking too much. But it’s not my place to say as such.

“Anyway, I finally relented to her wishes about a gallery. She’s got enough pieces to be able to fill it twice over.”

“Why didn’t you want her to open a gallery?” I find myself asking before I can stop the words from coming out of my mouth.

Cordova’s gaze comes to me as he answers, “I required my sister to help me with several things that were time-consuming. She’s now refusing to do those things.”

Right.

“Will your club be willing to take the gallery on as a client? Make the alliance with me?” Cordova asks, returning his attention to Viper.

Viper’s silent for a moment before nodding. “I don’t see a reason we couldn’t, but it’ll need a club vote. I’ll call you later to let you know what the club decides to do.”

“We’ll do it,” I blurt out without thinking.

Fuck me.

I don’t even know my little neighbor, but here I am fucking up agreeing to something when we need a vote.

Viper looks in my direction, one brow cocked high while silently asking without words, “ We will? ”

I nod in answer to his unspoken question. “I’ll take responsibility for her.”

I don’t know what the fuck I’m saying, but yet I’m saying it.

Clearing my throat, I stick with what I said. “I live right next door to her. Closest if something goes down.”

“You claiming her?” Cyprus asks.

I know exactly what he’s asking, and though I never intended to claim any woman, I find myself nodding in answer. “Yeah.”

What the fuck is wrong with me?

I’m claiming a woman without even thinking. Seeing her a couple times, two of them being up close, one of them where I saw her move, and it went straight to my cock . . . fucking hell. I need to have my head examined or some shit. She’s already gotten in my head without me realizing it.

I need to be focused solely on Kale, not getting in some woman’s pants.

“You sure?” Viper grunts, watching me far too closely.

Again, I nod and clear my throat. “Yeah, Prez.”

Viper nods and looks back at Cordova. “Guess a vote won’t be necessary. We’ll agree to the alliance and the security of the gallery. Don’t fuck us over.”

Cordova, who’d been watching all of us closely, stands and sticks his hand out. “I’m a man of my word. I don’t do anything I don’t intend to do. I asked for this alliance, I won’t betray it.”

Viper stands as well and takes his hand. “Good.”

It looks like I not only just claimed a woman as mine but sealed a deal for the club. I hope I don’t end up regretting what I’ve just done.

It could end up being very bad. Then again, it could be very, very good.