Petrov took a seat on one of our oversized chairs while his three goons fanned out behind him. My brothers and I spread out around the room, warily watching our visitors, and Duke took the chair opposite Riordan.
“Can I offer y’all a beer?” Duke raised a brow in question. Thing One and Thing Two, who had yet to speak, shook their heads in unison, declining the drink, but the tall blond man who seemed to be Riordan’s shadow grinned. “A welcome like this, who could say no?”
Riordan shot him a quick disapproving glance. “What Ivan meant to say was that we’d both appreciate a beer, thank you.” Duke nodded to Bones, who went behind the bar to grab two bottles of lager. Bones handed the bottles to our uninvited guests, not even trying to hide his sneer when he handed Ivan his. A gleam flashed in Ivan’s eyes, and even though I had never met the man before, I knew exactly what wascoming. Cricket got the same look when he was feeling nasty and wanted to stir some shit.
“Tell me, where is the luscious Lennon this evening? She and I hit it off at Savage Delights. I’m thinking maybe it’s time we got to know each other a little better.” Riordan’s mask slipped for a single second, but I caught the look of irritation that flashed in his eye at his companion before it slammed back into place. Ivan was baiting Bones, for fun or simply to pass the time, but he picked the wrong damn subject matter to bring up.
“The fuck you say, boy?” Thankfully, Sticks was on the opposite side of the room, but upon hearing his baby girl’s name on the lips of a Russian gangster, he put some pep in his step and barreled toward Ivan. Now it was Bones’s turn to smirk at Ivan, who had unknowingly riled the wrong man. Bones was more than happy to sit back and watch Sticks kick the shit out of Ivan, but Duke’s reflexes were still on point. He got between his enraged brother and the Russian. Duke’s hands were planted on Sticks’ chest, straining slightly but trying not to let it show.
“Calm down, brother. Calm.” Duke kept his hand on Sticks but turned a face like thunder toward the irritating Russian. “If I were you, son, I’d keep Lennon’s name out of your mouth. She’s Sticks’s daughter, and none of us will take kindly to any disrespectful mention of her or any of our women.”
Riordan held up a hand in a placating gesture. “Of course, we would never disrespect you or yours in your own house. Ivan can be an annoying bastard, though he means Lennon no harm. Correct, Ivan?” Riordan was glaring at his man now, who was trying to look contrite and failing miserably.
“I meant no offense, Mr. Sticks.” Ivan did a shitty job of apologizing because he forgot to tell his face to match the tone of the words coming out of his mouth. The fucker looked positively gleeful at the drama he’d initiated, and I prayed a silent prayer to the god of mischievous fuckery that Cricket and Ivan never became friends.
Bard, never one for awkward silences, drummed his fingers on his thigh. “Anyone wanna play a game of pool while we wait?” Stony silence stretched on for a moment or two before Riordan looked at Thing One and Thing Two and said, “Idi igray.”The Things moved in unison,which was a little creepy, and followed Bard over to a table. Thor joined them and passed out cues to our guests. Bones and Sticks continued to glare at Ivan, who looked delighted he’d managed to piss them off. Ace went behind the bar, presumably in search of whiskey, while the rest of us waited. Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait much longer. The girl I’d—we’d—been waiting for stumbled through the front door carrying a takeout container of hot wings and accompanied by a laughing Cricket.
Indi stopped in her tracks, her green eyes widening as she took in the assembly in the common room. She had hot sauce on her chin and a maniacal-looking grin spreading across her face. “Aw, you guys! Did you finally start that Boy Scout Troop I was talking about the other day? Who’s the Pack Master? Or is it Beast Master? Duke, I’m sorry but you can’t be the leader guy since you’re already a president; it would totally be a conflict of interest. Oh!” She placed her container of wings on the bar and sucked the sauce off her fingers and did a little happy wiggle that was annoyingly adorable. “We can have a jamboree, which I think is some kind of bonding ritual that requires two rabbis and a certified lifeguard, so if anyone knows a guy, now’s the time to phone a friend.” Duke waited for her to pause for air, which took a lot longer to occur than it did with normal women, but when she inevitably did, he cut in.
“Indigo, darlin’, you have visitors. Riordan Petrov came by to see you.” Duke raised an eyebrow in question. “Somethin’ about a debt to pay?” Indigo spun to face Riordan, and her manic Boy Scout tangent took a sharp ninety-degree turn toward the mobster.
“Too damn right.Heowesme. I beat your Tough Guy at Savvie D’s, and you got all coy when it was time to put out.” I tried not to laugh, but I couldn’t stop a snort from escaping.Savvie D’s?An expression of mischievous glee spread across Cricket’s face at hearing Indi’s nickname for Bear’s beloved fight club. I can already see the little shit-stirrer tucking that one into his back pocket for later when it will provoke the most entertaining reaction from Bear.
Indigo crossed her arms under her tits and popped a sassy hip out as she glared at Petrov. “Put up or shut up, Riordan. Why are you so curious about me? I know I’m interesting, but damn, dude, you stare more than Creepy Steve.”
“I came to answer your question,lisichka, and the questions that are sure to follow. May we speak privately? The subject matter is a tad…personal.” Riordan rose from his seat and buttoned his jacket.
Indigo remained firmly planted in place. “Dude, enough. Just get to the point. I have wings and Animal Planet waiting for me. Tonight isOtterly Adorablenight, and if you make me miss tummy tables and otter families holding hands, I might have to burn your house down.”
Ivan exhaled loudly between his lips, looking up at his boss like he was curious as to what he would do. Men like Petrov were used to setting the stage; they made demands and phrased them as questions purely as a courtesy to those below them, which to them was literally everyone else. Instead of demanding privacy like a highhanded ass, Riordan nodded his head in compliance.
“As you wish. Before I answer your question, would you please indulge me by answering a single question of mine? I swear, your answer will be pertinent to the story I have to tell.”
Indigo rolled her eyes and shifted her weight to her other foot. “Ugh, fine! For the love of otter adorableness,what?”
Riordan licked his lips nervously. “Does the name Roark Callahan mean anything to you?”
Chapter 23
Bones
Chica loca blinked twice before turning to the side and vomiting up her hot wings all over the floor. Cricket sidestepped the mess and tried to help support her as she heaved, but Indigo wasn’t mentally in a place where she could accept comfort. The moment Cricket tried to touch her, she snarled at him like a wounded animal. “Don’t touch me!”Everyone in the room was frozen in place, startled at the extreme reaction provoked by Riordan’s question, and facial expressions ranged from disgust to concern.
Except for Duke and me. We were concerned for her, of course we were, but I saw suspicion for the Russian written on Priest’s and Duke’s faces. I know my expression mirrored theirs. A grim resolve settled on my shoulders. There was no way we’d let Indigo come to harm.
“Ratched, get a mop. Bones, take Indigo into your office. Riordan, you can go with her. Everyone else, get the fuck out.” Los Cuervos leaped into action, Cricket looking torn. I know he wanted to comfortIndi, but she wasn’t in a place he could reach right now. Riordan’s companions were speaking with him quietly in Russian, probably about taking a guard with him.
I slipped my old metacarpal bone into my pocket and slowly approached Indigo with my hands visible. “No te haré daño, ¿vale?Come with me, chica loca. It’s okay; you’re safe here.” I slowly wrapped a hand around her back and gently grasped her hip, supporting her as we walked across the common room. Riordan was arguing with Ivan in Russian while Priest quietly muttered in Duke’s ear, likely arguing that he should be present during any further discussions as VP of the Crows.
I left them to it, focusing on the girl in my arms. She seemed to gather herself slightly as we walked out of the common room and into the business side of the clubhouse. I had never taken Indigo into my office before. Frankly, there had been no need to until now, but she walked beside me as meekly as a child. It disturbed me to see her usually neon-bright light dimmed so harshly. She wasn’t even this out of sorts after Priest held her in the confessional.
I unlocked my office door and ushered Indigo in. Flicking on the light, I guided her to take a seat on the loveseat. Other than my desk, chair, and mini fridge, the loveseat was the only other piece of furniture in my small office. I sat opposite her on my chair, propping my elbows on my knees and studied her. She didn’t look good. Pale, sweaty, and shaking, Indi was truly rattled. I opened the mini fridge next to my desk and took a bottle of water, cracking the seal and handing it to her wordlessly. Indigo took a sip from the bottle, her hand trembling slightly.
We waited in stifling silence for the others to join us. Five agonizing minutes later, Duke stomped into the room followed by Riordan, Ivan, and, surprisingly enough, Priest. Priest closed the door and locked it behind him. I vacated my chair and joined chica loca on the loveseat. Duke sat in my chair, leaving Riordan and Ivan to shuffle to the opposite side of the small room. Priest leaned against the door like he was personally responsible for keeping it shut against the rest of the world.
In a surprisingly gentle voice, Duke spoke to Indigo. “Darlin’, I know you’re going through it right now. If it were up to me, you’d be wrapped up in cotton wool and watchin’ otters do cute shit on TV. Riordan wants to talk to you, but if you don’t want to hear him right now, I can makehim leave. It’s up to you what happens. If you want to hear him, he’ll talk.” Duke shot a dark look at the Petrov heir. “But if you aren’t up to it now, he can leave. It’s one hundred percent your call.”
Indigo studied Duke’s expression as if there would be a test later. She took another sip of water, her hand shaking slightly less than it had before. Our girl was fucking tough, and she was gathering herself before our eyes.
