“Or some kind of warning,” Niran spoke up. “Even I think it’s time to let bygones be bygones, Rico. This could be something dangerous, and this person clearly knows what they’re doing. I still haven’t found them, and I’m the goddamn best at what I do.”
Rico grunted. “I don’t fucking like Anatoly Balakin. He let one of his own men get shot, and he’s not evenattemptingto see if he’s okay.”
I shrugged my good shoulder. “I’m just a soldier,” I muttered, then colored because I knew I was speaking out of line.
Alfonzo growled. “Soldier or not, you are stillfamily, mouse. Weneverleave one of our own out to dry. And if Rurik felt the need to get you out of that house while he dealt with Anatoly, then Anatoly had no interest in hearing what you have to say anyway. He just saw your betrayal, and that was it.”
“La familia lo es todo,” Rico said.
“It means family is everything,” Alfonzo translated before I could even ask what that meant. He looked at Rico. “Regardless of how we all feel about Anatoly, he isstillMaksim’s family.”
Rico grunted and began to gently rock Anurak. “Fine. Get in touch with Rurik and set up a meeting. It has to be on GBMC territory though, or I won’t come, understand? Neutral territory only. All weapons left in Digg’s possession.” Digg, whose real name was Arlo, was one of the Ghost Born MC patched members, and he was the most reasonable out of all six of the GBMC patched members.
“Got it,” Alfonzo said.
A light knock sounded on the door. Niran opened it, reached out, and came back with a plate. Alfonzo took it from him and handed it to me. “Eat up, mouse.”
My heart clenched at the sight of the food in front of me. He just kept taking care of me so effortlessly. I didn’t have to think about eating. Didn’t have to remember to take my meds. He just… did it all for me. Alfonzo was a monster, but he wasmymonster. And I wasneverletting him go.
Fuck what Anatoly had to say on the matter.
“We need to discuss protection for Maksim,” Alfonzo said.
“I don’t need?—”
“You do,” Niran interrupted me. “Not just because you’re being targeted but because you’re now Alfonzo’s… whatever you are to him.” Alfonzo snorted a laugh. “You can be used against Alfonzo, and peoplewilltry. Protection on you is non-negotiable.”
I sighed and focused back on my food. Alfonzo trailed his fingertips along my neck, soothing me. While the four of them began to discuss a protection detail for me, I focused on eating, speaking when someone asked me a question, and staying quiet otherwise. And when I was done eating, Alfonzo conjured up a bottle of water and a pain pill, which I swallowed.
Then, he whisked me back to his room, where he put me to bed and we watched some piranha movie until I fell asleep sprawled across his chest.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Maksim
Everyone was present at the Ghost Born MC clubhouse when we walked inside. Jax’s old lady, Blakely, was sitting at the bar. She simply pointed toward the chapel, a place I’d never been allowed in before, but without a word, Alfonzo guided me that way with my personal guard, Drew, following close behind us.
Drew was a quiet guy and never said much except to wish me a good morning, a good night, or ask if I needed anything. Otherwise, he just remained silent and stoic with a “I dare someone to fuck with us” look on his face. Alfonzo had chosen him for me, and I was pretty sure he’d picked the deadliest bodyguard he could find on their roster.
When we entered the chapel, Drew took up a perch right outside the doors, his hands clasped behind his back. Alfonzo led me to one of the chairs, and I gratefully took a seat. He took up residence behind my chair much as he had in Rico’s office.
“You look like you’ve seen better days,” Cameron, also known at GOAT, drawled as he took me in. “Probably could use a sandwich or something.”
I snorted a laugh and shook my head. “I just ate. Lost a lot of blood a few days ago.”
He nodded and leaned back in his chair. “Blood loss is a bitch, I hear.”
Ace—road name Babe—rolled his eyes at his brother. “Shut the fuck up, Cam. Leave him alone. He’s clearly just tired, and no one wants to listen to you when they’re tired.”
“Both of you hush,” Arlo reprimanded as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Christ, you’d think the two of you weren’t adults.”
The door opened again, this time revealing Rurik and Anatoly. I’d seen their SUV when we got there, but I hadn’t seen them when we walked in. I swallowed thickly. Anatoly skimmed his eyes over me but didn’t say a word—just took a seat. Rurik, however, made his way toward us and gripped my chin, tilting my head back. “You look like shit.”
I scoffed. “Thanks,” I muttered.
He shook his head. “Whoever did this will pay, Maksim,” he swore. Dropping his hand, he looked at Alfonzo. “The guard outside his?” When Alfonzo nodded, Rurik grunted. “Good.” With that, he walked away from us and took a seat beside Anatoly.
Rico was the last to enter. The room went silent when he did, tension rising in the air. Jax stood and shook his hand, and Acegrinned and waved at him. Rico’s lips twitched with a smile at Ace. “Anurak misses you,” Rico told him.
