Before he can answer, a heavy hand knocks on my office door just a second before Owen’s deep voice rumbles through the space, “Boss, you ready? Novikov is here.”
Jake pulls back to straighten up and leave, but I grab his hand first. Warmth and calmness wash over me. “You let me know when you’re ready to call a truce. Please?”
He nods once as he straightens his spine and stands to his full height, effectively separating our hands. “I think I’d be okay with a truce.”
He grins at me and pushes a hand into his pocket. My eyes drop to the movement as I watch him discreetly adjust himself. Huh, interesting.
“I’ll text you after my meetings.” I tell him as he turns to leave.
“Text me or don’t, Byrne. I don’t care.” He looks back and shakes his head with a grin on his face before opening the door and stepping out of my office.
Yeah, he doesn’t care, and I’ve got oceanfront property in Colorado.
* **
“I do not care what he said. He wasn’t one of my men!” Aleksandr roars until the sound reverberates off the walls. We’ve been doing this shit for over an hour.
“Right, I hear you. What I’m asking is if there are any men who have gone rogue recently? Any other small time group trying to move in on your territory?” I ask for at least the fifth time.
“No. Anyone stupid enough to do so would die quickly. Declan, we’ve been on fine terms since I took over years ago, but now we butt heads? Why would I start a war in our streets when we’ve been fine for years?”
“I’m not saying you have. But I am saying that the next time dead bodies in my territory and Russians are brought up in the same sentence, Boss and I will come knocking. And I can assure you it won’t be as friendly as this conversation now.”
Aleksandr throws his hands up in frustration. “Yeah, you got it. Whatever you say, Mr. Byrne.” He shoves up from his chair and heads out the door. “I’m out of time. Maybe we need to reconvene when we both settle.”
“I agree. I’ll be in contact, Mr. Novikov.”
I don’t even stand as he storms from the room. The door is still swinging shut when Owen lets out a low whistle.
“Well that was fun.” He laughs until I shoot him a menacing glare.
“Owen?”
“Yeah, Boss?”
“Get out of my office. I’m packing up.”
Owen exits without another word while I get my things together. I didn’t ride my bike today, so after making sure I have everything, I move out the doors and into the parking lot where my blacked out Silverado waits forme. I’m so over today, but as my phone vibrates in my hand, I can’t help but smile at the name that pops up on the screen.
Mortal Enemy: Did you change your mind yet?
Declan: No. Did you?
Mortal Enemy: Only time will tell.
I can’t help but laugh at his dramatics as I put my phone in the center console and drive home.
11
Chapter Eleven
Jakob
What the absolute fuck am I doing right now? This is a terrible idea, and if I’m caught it could be detrimental to Dec. I’ve done everything in my power to shield him for the past four years from the absolute evil I’ve dealt with. Even still, knowing all of that, my heart kicks up a notch when my phone vibrates in my pocket. I’m making a flight of shots right now so I can’t check it, but I know it’s him.
We’ve been texting for a couple of days now, and where at first it was awkward, we’ve now fallen into an old sense of normal. We’ve changed so much since that day, but the framework is still there. The basics are still the basics.
His favorite color is still orange, but not bright orange. No, it’s a deep burnt orange, the same color as his bike. Dec stillhas a passion for helping any and everyone, no matter their background or what territory they grew up in. He’s still in the background helping guide his younger brothers on the right path. He does it so subtly that I doubt they even realize he’s doing it.
