by Nicola Jane
“Do you know the guys?” she asks. I nod. “Blade?” she adds, and I nod again. She throws her arms around me. “Then you were definitely sent to help me.”
“Okay, I’m confused. Explain.”
“Blade did some work for my brother and dad. I’m crazy about him. You have to make him notice me.”
I laugh. Blade is self-absorbed. “And how am I supposed to do that?”
“We’ll come up with a plan.” She smiles conspiringly, and she reminds me of Anna when she wants something—determined and headstrong.
Cree
I hold out a glass of water for Riggs and he downs it. He’s drunk and we have a meeting to get to. Chains shakes his head, then says, “Look, why don’t we go, say he’s been held up?”
“We might have to. Damn it, Riggs, what the hell is wrong with you?” I growl.
“She left,” he mumbles, resting his head on the desk and groaning.
“Then go get her back, dumbass.”
“She trapped me,” he whines.
“Fuck me,” I groan. “How can she trap you when you’re already together? You each have a kid. We’ve been over this. Pull yourself together!”
The meeting is about forming a new alliance with the men who are stepping up into the role that Anna’s ex filled. Reggie’s been gone for a few months now, leaving the gap open to run his former streets. Vinn is the son of an Italian mafia boss, Enzo. Having just moved to the area, we’re all interested in keeping the peace and working together.
I follow Chains into a small Italian restaurant. It’s quaint and somewhere that Eva would love. I’ll bring her here if business goes well. A small grey-haired Italian woman leads us through the restaurant to a back room where Vinn sits counting money. He looks up and grins, standing to shake out hands.
“Welcome,” he greets us. “Please,” he adds, pointing to two chairs.
“Where’s Riggs?” asks Enzo as he joins us.
“He was called away at the last minute. He sends his apologies, but he’ll catch up with you as soon as he can,” says Chains.
“Let’s get down to business,” I say to steer them away from the conversation about Riggs.
“We plan on working with the club,” says Enzo. “I’m not in the business of upsetting people.”
“That’s good to hear,” I say. “Riggs is happy for you to use the docks, but times and schedules will need to be looked at. The cut we take depends on whether you need our men.”
Enzo glances at Vinn, who shakes his head. “Apparently, we don’t.”
“Then the cut will be forty percent,” says Chains.
Vinn laughs. “Try thirty.”
“It’s not up for discussion, Vinn,” I say, then sigh. “But as we want to remain on good terms, as a goodwill gesture, we’ll accept thirty-five.”
The door opens and a female walks through, singing out of tune and looking down at her cell. “Gia,” snaps Vinn, but she doesn’t hear because her earbuds are firmly in place. I snigger as she continues to sing, then glance at Chains, who stares open-mouthed at the girl. I roll my eyes. It’s the same look he gives Leia. “Gia,” Vinn snaps again and she glances up. When she sees us all watching, she pops the bud out of her ear and gives us an awkward smile.
“Hi.”
“Fuck, Gia. Pay attention,” snaps Vinn, and she rolls her eyes. She goes around the table and kisses Vinn and then Enzo on their cheeks before heading upstairs. “My sister,” says Vinn as a way of explanation. “She’s a bit of a dreamer. Owns a wedding planning business, so that about sums up her idea of life. All about love and dreamy weddings,” he scoffs.
“Weddings?” I repeat.
“Yeah, she owns the shop on—” he begins
“Front Street,” I finish and he nods. I glance at Chains to see if he’s made the connection. “My ol’ lady just took a job there.”
Enzo grins wide. “Ah, practically family already. This alliance was meant to be.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you worked for Giana Romano?” I ask, and Eva stares at me blankly.
“Mainly because I only know her as Gia.” She shrugs.
“It’s probably not a good idea that you work there,” I add.
“What?” she snaps. “Why the hell not?”
“Remember what happened last time you worked for someone that I knew?”
“Unless you’re planning on sleeping with Gia, then we shouldn’t have a problem,” she huffs. “Has your president come to his senses yet?” she adds.
“The last time I saw him, he was falling asleep at his desk drunk.”
“He should know that Anna is really mad with him. I don’t think she’ll forgive him very easily.”
“Eva, it’s not our problem. Now, choose a dress before I fuck you. That underwear is driving me nuts,” I say. She’s been pacing back and forth, getting her makeup done and then her hair. The red lace panties and matching bra are begging me to remove them. “What are you gonna do with this place?” I ask, lying on the bed and staring at her as she goes through her clothes.
“What do you mean?”
“We can’t live separately. I need to be at the club. Your mum is there. Doesn’t it make sense for you to move in there with us?”
She pulls on a short red dress. “It’s too soon. We only just made up.”
“It’s not too soon. We’re together. End of.”
Eva rolls her eyes and smiles. “What happened to taking things slowly?”
“I make the rules, Eva,” I say in a playful bored tone.
Chapter Nineteen
Eva
Cree stands outside the small Italian restaurant. “Gia’s dad owns it,” he says. “I thought we could have dinner here.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Like a date?”
“Yeah, I guess.” He shrugs nervously and I realise what a big deal this is for him. “My reward for this better be a long night of fucking your sweet pussy,” he adds with a smirk.
He leads me inside. There’re no customers in yet, but then it’s still early. We’re greeted like valued, well-known customers and led to a table with a bottle of champagne on ice. “Champagne,” I say. “You hate the stuff.”
“You like it,” he mutters, and I smile as we take a seat. The waiter places a bread basket and some oils on the table. “Thanks,” I smile. Once he’s gone, I turn to Cree and frown. Something’s going on. This is so unlike him. “Okay, get talking, biker.”
“Can’t a guy treat his girl?” he asks innocently.
“Dinner, a date, champagne on ice? You’re up to something.”
“Maybe I just want you to know how much I love you. It’s not been easy . . . fuck, it’s been a disaster at times, but damn, I love you.”
I smile. “I love you too.” I pop some of the delicious bread into my mouth. “Oh, I spoke with Kyle today. Guess what?” I ask. Without waiting for a reply, I continue, “Michelle sold up the business. Apparently, she’s left town.” Cree’s jaw stiffens and he falls silent for a few minutes. “Sorry,” I mutter, instantly regretting bringing her name up. “I just wanted you to know that she’s gone now. That’s a good thing, right?”
“I don’t wanna talk about that bitch. I wanted to talk about you coming to the club to live. And . . . ” he pauses and lowers his voice slightly. “And becoming my ol’ lady.”
“Shit, Cree. Did you just get serious about us?” I joke.
He scowls playfully. “I mean, I’m done fucking up. I want it to be real. I want you to be mine.”
I take his large hand in both of mine. “I know how hard that is for you. I appreciate how you’ve had to change and open up more to be with me. I’d love nothing more than to be your ol’ lady.”
He grins the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on his gorgeous face and I laugh. “Damn it, woman, you just made me the happiest man alive.” He stands. “So that brings me to the next question.” I watch as he drops to one knee and pulls out a small box. He glances up at me and suddenly looks nervous. “Eva,
will you marry me?” He opens the box and a white gold band housing a large diamond twinkles at me. My mouth falls open. I never expected this—a Kings Reaper on his knee asking for my hand in marriage. This has to go down in history as one of the best dates ever.
I nod. “Of course, I will,” I whisper, a tear evident in my eye. “Yes.”
He stands and I join him, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him. “I love you.” He grins against my lips.
“I love you.”
It’s not easy, loving Cree. Our journey hasn’t been plain sailing. But this feels right. Everyone around us seems to be standing still or going backwards, but this feels like we’re moving forwards, leaving Michelle and Callum behind and getting on with our future.
“You captured me from the second I laid eyes on you,” he says into my ear and I grin.
“I captured Cree!” I joke and he kisses my cheek.
“Yes, you did!”
The End
Untitled
The End
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