“Sorry,” I mutter, though my pulse is still racing. “I just… I didn’t like how Kade was with those guys.”
Fern yawns. “It’s probably nothing. Go to bed.”
KADE
I wait for Eden to disappear out of sight before setting my sight back on the brothers.
“I told you not to come here,” I growl, stepping into Jimmy’s space.
He shrugs, casual as ever, like this place isn’t brimming with people I’d burn the world down to protect. “I like to know who I’m doing business with.”
“And you chose five in the fucking morning?” My voice is low, dangerous. “There are families here. That’s why business happens in my office. On my terms.”
Jimmy’s gaze flicks toward the building behind me, and I clench my fists.
“You shouldn’t keep secrets from your wife, Kade. It doesn’t make for a good marriage.”
“She’s not my wife.” The snap is out before I can catch it. The last thing I want is their attention on her. Their eyes linger too long already.
“Ol’ lady, wife, whatever,” Jimmy says with a bored roll of his shoulder.
Footsteps pound across the gravel, and Diesel barrels around the corner, half-dressed and fully pissed off. He stops dead when he takes in the double act and their bodyguard. His lip curls.
“Did we miss the memo for a meeting?” he snaps.
“Apparently,” I say, arching a brow at Jimmy, “he wants to know who he’s dealing with.”
Diesel doesn’t wait for permission. He draws his gun like it’s muscle memory and slams Liam against the wall.
“I’ll tell you who the fuck you’re dealing with,” Diesel snarls, pushing the muzzle under Liam’s jaw. “A tired fucking biker who was getting his cock sucked. Only now you fuckers have turned up, she’s probably gone to sleep!”
Liam freezes. Jimmy’s smirk falters. The bodyguard shifts, but Diesel’s eyes are wild enough to make even armed men hesitate.
I let it ride for a second. Just long enough for Jimmy to understand who the hell runs this ground.
Then I clap Diesel’s shoulder. “Easy, brother. Put the gun away.”
He releases Liam with a shove and tucks the weapon back into his waistband, muttering under his breath.
I face Jimmy again, stepping forward until he has no choice but to look me dead in the eyes. “I don’t do business around my family. Your uninvited visit at this hour causes me problems.” I say leaning in to assert my dominance. “And I don’t like problems.”
Jimmy raises his hands, the cocky smirk returning but thinner now. “Okay, okay. Apologies. You men have a good rest of the day.”
He turns, but I don’t step back. I watch him walk away, every instinct in my body screaming that it’s not over.
“What the fuck was that about?” hisses Diesel. I shrug. “What was he expecting to find us doing at this time of the morning?”
I head back inside with my VP hot behind me. “I don’t know but I’m beginning to regret agreeing to this fucking deal.”
Eden’s already in bed when I push the door open, covers pulled up to her chin, eyes wide and alert. She’s been waiting for me—of course she has. There’s no way I’m getting out of this without questions.
And that’s exactly why I’m furious those idiots turned up here. She’s naturally inquisitive. Sharp. She doesn’t miss a damn thing.
“Are you okay?” she asks the moment she sees me. Her voice is soft, but there’s a tremor of worry underneath it.
I love that she cares, and I hate that I’m about to lie.
“Yeah, Queenie.” I force a smile as I slip out of my kutte and hang it on the back of the door. “Why do you look so stressed? I’m fine.” She doesn’t buy it. Not for a second. “I know them from days of old,” I say as casually as I can while kicking off my boots. “They were passing by.”
