I sigh. “I’m not doing this again, Mom. I told you, I’m gonna patch into the club and nothing you can say will change anything.”
“You’re forgetting I know the club, Ko. I don’t want that life for you. I don’t want to stand over another son’s grave and say goodbye.”
I can’t help but laugh. I have had enough of this conversation being recycled every time she calls.
“So its fine for you to fuck your way through the club and it’s okay for me to join so I can kill the pricks that killed your golden son, but now you want me back, to what? Look after you? Handyou everything I earn to pay your bills cause you can’t hold down a job.”
“Ko-ko, don’t be like that. You know Kelly wasn’t my golden son, you’re both equal in my affections. I worry about you. I should never have asked you to join that club.”
“But you did.”
I was happy to, but since I’ve been around Luca and the club, how I once felt about my mom, how she raised us, it’s changed.
I’ve changed.
“There’s only two ways out of this life, Konan, dying a bloody death or spending the rest of your life in prison. I don’t want either outcome for you.”
“Then trust me to watch my own back. I’m grown and I don’t need my mother telling me how to live my life.”
I end the call and slide my phone into my pocket. I’d put the thing on silent, but Luca might need me. I dig it out again and shoot a text to Adriana. My brother’s girlfriend, or now, ex-girlfriend since he’s dead and never coming back.
Now I’ve pissed my mom off, she’ll no doubt be on her case. I give her the heads up and head back down to the bar. How fucking hard is it to understand this is the world I’ve chosen to live in. Somewhere I finally feel like I belong. I loved my brother, and I would’ve stood at his side forever if he were still here, but now he’s gone, I don’t want to live in his shadow.
We were little fuckers. Always getting into trouble. Most of the time we were only looking to find some fun, but it always ended in trouble. Since his death, Mom acts like he was the most well-behaved son there ever was.
“Come with me.”
Luca is stood on the other side of the bar, snapping his fingers in my face. I shouldn’t have zoned out. I follow him outside and I’m surprised when he settles on his bike.
“Take your bike.”
“Is anyone else coming with us?”
He shakes his head and brings his ride to life.
Luca isn’t one for sharing what’s on his mind. I follow him across the city, and I’m surprised when we ride onto Gold Mile. The wealthiest street in the city. The people who live here are worlds away from how the rest of us live.
Not that I’d ever admit it to the cops but there are a couple of houses along this stretch of the community that Kelly and I burgled. The ironic thing was we didn’t get away with nearly as much as we thought we would, considering the people we were robbing were wealthy as fuck.
Luca rides through the Gold Mile like he isn’t considered a criminal in these parts. It’s one of the things that draws me in to the Lost Souls. There are zero fucks. They do what they like and go where they like. There are no boundaries they won’t cross if it gets them where they want to be.
We ride up to a modest sized mansion and kill our engines. It’s strange the place has no gates. Every other mansion around here is hidden from the road.
One thing I’ve learned being a prospect is not to ask too many questions. I know what I need to know and no more. I came to terms with it soon after I came to the club. Once I’m patched in, it will change.
Luca heads up the front steps and turns back to me.
“Come with.”
He lifts the heavy lion door knocker, and I swear it vibrates through me.
“Why is it when people have money, they buy stupid shit?” Luca inquires. “Out of everything in the world, they pay for lion knockers.”
I shrug. “A sign of wealth I suppose.”
A maid answers and takes one look at our cuts and pales.
“How can I help you?”
