by K E Osborn
She sniffles wrapping her arms around my neck. “I know. She misses you, too, more than you know.” She pulls back her eyes meet mine. “I’ll give you a moment, but I’ll be back to cheer you up before dinner starts, and then… then, my dear nerd, we’re dancing until the stupid hours of the morning. No arguments.”
I let out a small chuckle. “Fine. And Cindi?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
“You can thank me by coming to my first cast break up. They’ll be screening some of the already cut scenes so you can yell and cheer when the credits roll.”
I groan. I don’t know if it means Neve will be there or not, but if Cindi wants me there for support, then I can’t not be there for her big moment. “I’ll be there.”
She reaches out patting my arm. “I know you will, or I will hunt you down and slaughter you in your sleep. I know where you live, remember? I’ve been in a Mafia movie so I know the score and how things work now.”
“How it works in the movies is not how it works in real life, Cindi.”
She juts out her hip, raising her brow. “It’s not? Huh. Oh well, my threat is real. Please come, it will mean so much to me if you’re there.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be there. I’ll get some of the other guys to come, too. We’ll be your support crowd.”
She claps her hands together. “Thanks, this means a lot, Ace. I kinda love you.”
I snort. “Go away, I need some alone time.”
She looks me over and exhales. “It’s good to see you.”
“You too, beautiful.” I lean in planting a kiss on her cheek as she turns, then rushes away leaving me reeling from our conversation.
Will I see Neve at the screening? I don’t know.
But a little piece of me, the piece that hasn’t given up on us yet, is hoping so. And that’s the piece which is so fucking dangerous because Neve and I together is all kinds of trouble.
For her.
For me.
For the club.
We’re an electric storm that can cause a massive blackout.
I just hope this thunder rattling inside of me can keep itself contained because my need to see Neve grows exponentially every day, and if she needs me like I do her, it could be about to rain down hell on all of us.
ACE
A Month Later
Tonight’s a big night. I’ve known it’s been coming ever since Pyro and Lala’s wedding, and I’ve been nervous about it ever fucking since. The thought that tonight, after all this time apart, after all the longing and nights I’ve spent awake pining after Neve, I might actually see her is here. Tonight, the boys and I are headed into the heart of Chicago where the cast break up and the first scenes of the movie will be shown. It’s closed. No press, no public, just close family, friends, and those in the Hollywood leagues who are allowed to attend. Plus, a band of bikers by the looks of it. How Cindi wrangled us all invites, I’ll never know, especially with Julian on the warpath.
But tonight, we’re here to support Cindi, and if that means putting my hurt pride aside for a damn moment, I’ll fucking well do it. If it also means I’ll get to see the one woman I’ve been pining over these past five months, then maybe I need that too. I just don’t know how I will actually do if I finally do see Neve. The idea of walking in, then walking out without her, eats at my very fucking soul. But it’s what needs to be done.
Seeing as there’s no press attending tonight, we’re able to wear our cuts, but we know if we go to anything in the future to support Cindi, we’ll have to do something unprecedented and go out in public without them in a show of support for our friend.
Torque and I discussed it, and if we go to Cindi’s preview screening, we will do it unpatched. We’re going to tell her tonight so our tainted history won’t affect hers going into her new career. We can be there to support her, but the press won’t know who we are. Tonight, though, we go as her club, her brothers, her family. For the last time.
As we ride up to the exclusive closed-off bar, the roar of our bikes echoes through the streets of Chicago. My heart’s hammering in my chest like a thousand drummers playing a tribal beat in my torso. The idea that in just a few short moments I could be walking in to see Neve sends a shockwave of emotion through me. I thought I’d be past this by now. I thought I could move on with my life and get over her.
I was so wrong.
We pull our rides down the side alley, and I slide off yanking my helmet from my head and placing it on my seat. I fuck about with my hair making sure it’s presentable. I know my man bun can get messy from my helmet, and I don’t want to seem like a hobo going in there.
Torque walks over to me eyeing me up and down shaking his head. “Unclench your asshole, you look tenser than a whore in church.”
I take in a deep breath, then force it out. It’s what I needed as he slaps me on my shoulder while we walk toward the side door that has three guards stationed on it.
They look us up and down like they think we’re here to cause trouble. Torque steps up to the main guy who appears like he’s done stints with the secret service but has now been reassigned to security for A-listers instead, and he looks pissed about it.
“This is a private party. We don’t need your kind here,” he grunts.
Trax steps forward to say something, but Torque places his hand on Trax’s chest holding him back. “Check the list, think you’ll find our names under Defiance.”
The corner of asshole’s lip turns up as he glances at the guy with the clipboard. “Ha, like they’d let bikers—”
“They’re here,” clipboard guy clarifies before secret service dude can finish his sentence.
His face falls like he knows he’s just caused an issue for himself as I step forward. “You do know one of the actresses inside is with us, right? And if you piss us off, then she’ll be pissed off. Doesn’t that mean you could, you know… get fired?” I mock.
He stands to the side. “Enjoy your night,” he grunts.
I strut past him cockily to let him know he can’t fuck with us and through the entry into the upscale bar. It’s like something you’d see in a movie. The décor’s all white, but there are neon lights everywhere making it feel exclusive. The seating is all swanky, and this place is definitely screaming Hollywood and not biker in any-fucking-way. I feel completely out of my depth as I glance around to see Cindi drinking a giant glass of champagne as she walks around the room looking fucking amazing. She screams one hundred percent A-lister right now being she’s all dolled up for the occasion.
I glance at Torque and the rest of the guys as we huddle in the corner feeling out of place. We stick together wondering what the fuck to do while everyone else mingles knowing each other.
“Are we supposed to talk to people at this thing?” Torque asks me over the fancy music.
I shrug, scratching the back of my head as a shiver runs down the base of my spine. I don’t need to know what it’s from. Neve is near, and I grit my teeth as I turn my head to look near the bar. She strides up to it wearing a flowing white Grecian gown, her long black hair falling elegantly over her shoulders in waves like a fucking goddess.
Fuck, she’s everything.
She’s so much more than I remember.
After so long of not seeing her, my eyes feel like they’re on fire at seeing her beauty before me. I’m fucking awestruck.
Noah walks up to me slapping my shoulder as he leans into my side. “She looks fucking amazing tonight, brother,” he murmurs. I turn to look at him wondering why the fuck he’s talking about Neve like that, only to see his eyes firmly fixated on Cindi.
I can’t help but pull my lips up in a slow show of support. “Yeah, brother, Cindi is amazing.”
He turns, looking at me. “Enough about Cindi. Is this the first time you’re seeing Neve tonight since…” He doesn’t finish the sentence.
I grimace glancing back at her. “Yeah.”
“‘Bout time you two got back together. Y
ou’re both sad sacks of shit.” He punches my arm then walks off toward Cindi leaving us all behind. I let out a loud exhale as I glance back at Neve, the curve of her bare back fully on show doing something to me even I can’t comprehend. She’s the most stunning woman in the room, and trust me, there’s a lot of women in here.
As if to sense me staring, she turns, her hair swooping over her tanned shoulder as if in slow motion. Her gorgeous face adorned in perfect makeup she doesn’t need, but the way she’s made up in this Hollywood glamor looks so electrifying on her, she fucking takes my breath away. Her honey brown eyes lock onto mine and glisten instantly. It’s like the music stops, the atoms in the air charge and dance with the electricity in the room. Everyone disappears—it’s just Neve and me staring at each other from across the room.
Her chest heaves like she’s having trouble catching her breath as I take all this in. She’s so far away, but I can take in every detail of her like it wasn’t already ingrained in my memory, and seeing her here in real life only tells me I honestly know her. Every inch of her. We may not have been together long, or even officially, but when the connection is this strong, it just feels fucking right.
Staring at her now feels fucking right.
So how can we be so wrong for each other?
Her bottom lip trembles as if she’s thinking the exact same thing as Julian steps in beside her, glancing from her to me then back at her. He exhales turning her away from me, breaking our connection, then leads her further away out of sight.
I let out a heavy sigh as Sensei walks up and hands me a beer. “Sorry, brother. That was harsh.”
Taking a long gulp of my drink, I cherish the amber liquid running down my gullet.
I need this right now.
“We can’t work. I’ve had it drilled into me so fucking much by now you’d think it would have sunk in.”
Sensei lets out a small laugh. “That which seems like it cannot work is often that which works the best.”
I raise my brow. “Which Japanese proverb master taught you that?”
He lifts his chin. “Hiro Maki.”
“Your stepfather?”
He bows his head. “He’s a wise man, Ace, and we all know his teachings are often correct.”
I clink my beer glass to his. “True, Sensei, very true. You saying you think there’s hope for Neve and me?”
He shrugs. “I’m saying with the looks you were just throwing each other, I think love will find a way.”
There’s that word again—love.
Suddenly, the music shuts off and tapping starts over a microphone. “Can I have everyone’s attention, please? If we could all move forward into the viewing room, we will take a peek at some of the snippets from the movie,” Julian calls out.
The crowd migrates to the rear of the room where they have set up a viewing area.
Walking off with all my brothers, I see Cindi and the other actors are all here up near the front of the seated area as we walk into the small auditorium type layout. There’s a screen up the front. It’s not as large as a cinema screen because the room isn’t that big. Then there are rows of chairs. I notice Neve talking to an older man and woman, and with them are two younger girls who kind of look like her.
It hits me they must be her family.
It’s her parents and sisters.
Shit.
Her family is here.
I have a chance at meeting the rest of them, but I can’t because we’re not even a thing right now. Anguish rips through me as I stroll in taking a seat a couple rows back with my brothers lining the seats next to me. Neve sits directly in front of me three rows up, and it’s doing my damn head in as I sit back in my seat. I know we’re here for Cindi, and every other brother in here will be focusing on her, but me, I only have my thoughts trained in on one woman right now, and she’s here with her entire family including her father.
A father I had men, friends injured because of.
A man, my relationship with Neve, is fractured partly because of.
If he hadn’t placed bets with Sal Ossani, then Brody, Grier, even fucking Enzo wouldn’t have paid the damn price.
I have so many emotions running through me right now. I need to try and keep my head together. I need to keep my wits in order because this night is important to Cindi, and she is important to the club and me, so I can’t fuck this up.
I just can’t.
The lights dim, and the screen flickers as Carter and Neve flash up in front of us. You can see the footage has been partly edited. It’s actually kind of cool to see the same scenes through the lens, rather than in person. It’s totally different.
There’s music but no sound effects. It’s still raw, but you can feel the emotion and what it will become. It changes scene, and Cindi comes on screen for her first time as an actress, and the room erupts. My brothers all go crazy. Cindi turns around laughing as she tries to tell everyone to hush, but all I feel is excited about how much support our girl has.
If only the press would see it that way.
If only they knew we aren’t the bad guys in all this.
If only they knew they are the ones who are tearing apart a relationship before it’s even had a chance to fully begin. With the news breaking on Eric, I don’t know what Neve thinks of me now either.
It flashes back to a scene with Carter. He’s torturing some poor guy, it’s gruesome and gory. It’s all fake, but it’s also fascinating as my brothers take it all in beside me. The picture on the screen starts to flicker as little holes appear on screen like the film’s burning. Everyone tenses as we turn around. Instantly I place my hand on my gun while gasps filter through the room. Sounds of a scuffle echo from outside the auditorium while everyone glances around to see the two entryways blocked with dark shadows.
“What is this? Who are you?” Julian calls out as men start rushing down the aisles.
We all glance at Torque while my hand on my gun grips tighter. His head moves side to side ever so slightly, telling us to keep our cool for the moment. I guess to see what happens. The men keep filtering in as tension fills the room and murmurs echo through the space.
“We don’t want to make a scene, we’re only here for one person,” a familiar voice rings through the darkness.
Cindi and Neve both stand as I tense all over while watching Noah’s head snap toward me like he knows straight away too.
“Danny! What the fuck are you doing here?” Cindi calls out.
“Oh, the language, Cindi. You’re going to need to tone that down if you’re going to be a superstar in this world, my dear. We didn’t come for you, we just need what we’ve wanted all along.”
“No,” Neve calls out as she rushes to her father’s side.
My muscles clench as I sit on the edge of my seat wondering why the fuck Torque isn’t letting us handle this right here, right now.
Danny storms up to Neve who’s cuddling into her father’s side as he stares right at Danny. “This isn’t up for discussion, Neve, your father comes with us. Now. He’s the reason my entire family is dead… blood for blood.”
Franco stands shoving Neve down in his seat as her sisters and mother all cling to her. “Danny, please, please, there must be something we can do? Surely there’s something someone can do?” Neve calls out. I know it’s a plea for us to help. She won’t let Danny know we’re here, hiding out in the dark, but she’s asking for our help. I just need Torque to give us the word.
Danny shoves the tip of his gun into Franco’s forehead making Neve’s mother scream out as she bursts into tears. “The only thing anyone can do is to let us walk out of here with our debt. Then you all can get on with your party.”
“Papa, no,” one of Neve’s sisters calls out.
“Shhh… Seraphina. You be a good girl and take care of everyone for me,” Franco murmurs, his face unreadable in the dim room.
The De Villa family burst into tears as one of the Ossani soldiers slams the butt of a gun into the back of Fr
anco’s head making him stumble slightly as another grabs him while they yank him toward the exit. I wriggle in my seat waiting, biding my time. I know Torque won’t let them leave with him, but everyone’s watching as Danny, now the head of the Ossani Mafia famiglia, walks out with ease, the man who caused this damn mess. They stride like they’re the kings of the fucking world, and Torque just lets them. My heart races so fucking hard while I wonder why the fuck Torque is delaying when we hear the close of the front door.
“What the hell are you waiting for?” Neve yells out.
Throwing her hands in the air almost belligerently as she stares directly at us. I turn to Torque wondering the same damn thing. Torque stands, straightening out his cut as the lights flick on to see a room full of stunned and scared onlookers.
“Neve, you wanna watch how you throw demands around. Your father caused a hell of a lot of damage to the associations of this club. He technically means shit to us. We owe him nothing. We owe you nothing. So don’t you go throwing around fuckin’ demands like that at us again. You got me?” Torque grunts.
Cindi reaches up placing her arms around Neve as she bursts into tears, her face pulling the same amount of confusion I’m going through. It’s unlike Torque not to help. I know he’s torn up over Enzo, but this shit’s too far.
He glances at me gritting his teeth letting out a heavy grunt. “But, you mean something to Cindi, and more importantly you mean everything to Ace. I’m delaying right now to give the Ossani enough time to get far enough away, so whatever shit happens next, it’s not close to here for the civilians to get hurt.” I open my eyes wide in surprise, I shouldn’t have doubted him. “We were always going after Franco, Neve. I just need some distance before we go kick Danny’s ass.”
Neve glances from Torque to me, then back at Torque. “Sorry… it’s just tonight’s already been so hard and now this.”
As I stand, I watch her pain-filled eyes. “We’ll get your dad back, Neve.”
She sniffles, her eyes not leaving mine as Torque grabs the back of my cut pulling me with him toward the exit on our way out. He grunts at me shaking his head. “You shouldn’t promise shit like that. You want her back in your life, don’t start by telling her we’ll get her father back when we have no way of knowing how this shit will go.”
