I can’t work out if his huff is lazy laughter or a snort. “Warren’s been working on that woman Ford whisked up to his room last night. She’s been to a few of our parties, and he’s been all over her, not that he’s been getting anywhere.”
“Do you think it’s gonna be a problem, cause the way he’s looking at Ford right now, I’m thinking it will be.”
“I’ll have a word,” Angel tells me.
“You do that. I ain’t having brothers fighting over pussy. Ford has history with her, you tell Warren to stay away.”
Angel grins and my stomach tightens. “What?”
“I knew Victoria would make you soft.”
I smirk. “Nah, I can’t run a club that demands respect and fear, then have my boys crying over a woman.”
“Not sure we can tell them which pussy they’re allowed to chase or not.”
“You’re wrong. The club comes first and as president, I say how we run it. They follow or they don’t. Simple.”
My phone rings. Answering and pressing it to my ear, Ritchie’s voice fills the line.
“Luca, meet me at the café by the car park by the east river.”
The line goes dead.
Car park? He must mean parking lot in his British ways.
“Ritchie wants a meet. You’re with me,” I instruct Angel.
Tor is taking a nap while River sleeps so I shoot her a text so she knows I’m gone when she wakes.
Winter is creeping in fast, and I zip my hoodie up to my chin and wrap the black bandana around the lower half of my face. The thrill that runs through me as I bring my bike to life and ride through the city is euphoric. I come to a stop at the red light and the car next to me taps their horn.
A middle-aged woman is panicking, pointing to something over my shoulder. I don’t know if I just take my time or if time slows down around me. Before I can see what’s got her scared, Angel’s ridden up beside me and is yelling, “Floor it!” I don’t hesitate, I thrash the throttle, and Angel remains beside me as we luckily make it through the traffic and then he falls behind me as shots ring out.
My first instinct is stop and turn around, find out who’s shooting at us but if I stop too abruptly, I’ll cause Angel to come off of his bike. It goes against everything in me, but I continue riding until we’re free and clear of bullets.
The café comes into view, but I pull over and cut the engine. Angel follows suit.
“Who and what the fuck was that about?” I demand.
Angel stares off into the distance, his chest heaving with heavy breaths.
“Fuck knows. Whoever it was, was wearing a ski mask.”
“Text the others, tell them to watch their backs if they leave the club. We’ll see what his lordship wants then we’ll deal with this shit.”
While he gets busy on his phone, I take mine out and text Tor again. I warn her not to leave the club until I get back.
We set off and Ritchie’s stood at the water’s edge, overlooking the river. Angel hangs back and lights a cigarette.
“I was under the impression that you weren’t gonna be stepping on our fine soil that much anymore,” I say joining him.
“That was the plan, only my family thought it was best to deal with the Mayor face-to-face because he has a powerful platform. I’m only here for a few hours and then I’ll be gone.”
“That tells me I’m here for a reason.”
“It’s looking like he’s going to be re-elected and that means the city approves of him so he could cause unnecessary trouble for us. Which means trouble for you as you’re here permanently. Until we can dig out his weaknesses and any skeletons he has, he holds the power over us.”
That doesn’t sound right to me, but I keep my opinion to myself.
