Turning off his phone, Guilio allowed himself a sly smile. He looked over at me and announced, “And that, brother, is how you deal with the Devil.”
I turned to Guilio, still trying to process what had just happened. “Who was that man?” I asked, seeking clarity.
Guilio answered, “The injured man in the picture is Theodore ‘Tank’ Morgan, your wife’s twin brother and a member of the Silver Shadows. Sitting beside him is Samantha Williams, the wife of a Silver Shadow, and her daughter, Charlotte. When I began dealing with Sinclair, I realized I needed to know everything about the man who held so much power. For Sinclair, like for our family, those closest to him mean everything. Even if he doesn’t show his emotions, the Devil will do whatever it takes to keep them happy, even if it means ignoring his own happiness.”
Chapter Forty-Seven
Stella
Something wasn’t right. I could feel it. I didn’t know what it was, but I hated it—and it was driving me nuts. Mandy was like a sister to me, and I could read her moods better than anyone. Leaning against the cold metal frame of the back door, I watched Mandy’s forced smile as Oliver’s laughter echoed through the room. I’d grown up with Mandy, knew every nuance of her expression, and I could tell she was gutted—she definitely didn’t want company. Yet, the moment Oliver showed up, Whiskey let him into the clubhouse without a second thought. Since then, the interloper moved through the place as if he owned it, acting as if nothing was amiss.
No manners whatsoever.
The air inside the clubhouse felt thick, swirling with the scent of stale coffee and distant traces of motorcycle exhaust. Mandy’s forced smile haunted me—she might have been trying to keep it together, but I saw through it. Watching her gutted like that, pain etched so clearly across her face, twisted something inside me. I hated feeling so helpless, knowing I couldn’t shield her from whatever storm Oliver brought with him. My chest tightened, a familiar ache whenever someone I loved was hurting and I could do nothing but stand by.
Jessica’s voice broke through the static in my mind, hushed and close. “You feel it too?” she murmured, stepping up beside me. Her hand hovered uncertainly near my arm, her eyes sharp and unsettled as she watched the couple outside. I saw herjaw tighten, her breath catching in her throat—a silent show of nerves.
“Can’t explain it, Jess,” I replied, my voice low. The hairs on my arms prickled. “I know he’s Mandy’s friend, and she trusts him, but there’s something about him—like he’s a snake in the grass, waiting to strike.” My fingers curled involuntarily around the doorframe, knuckles pale.
Jess let out a sharp breath, almost a hiss. “Me too,” she muttered, frustration bleeding into her tone. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, fingers trembling slightly. “When I tried to introduce myself, he looked right through me. Didn’t even blink. I know I can be loud, but damn, it’s like he decided I wasn’t worth his time. I’m used to strangers being wary, but being outright ignored... It’s more than rude—it makes me feel invisible. Like I don’t belong here.”
Anger flashed through me, hot and sudden. “Oh, I’d like to see him try that shit with me,” I snapped, clenching my fists and feeling an urge to protect Jess bubble up. My voice was sharper than I intended, and Jess glanced at me, her lips quirking in a grateful half-smile.
Her gaze flickered past me, searching for reassurance. “What does Digger say?” she asked, her voice dropping as if the wrong word might shatter the fragile calm in the room.
I rolled my eyes, trying to force a laugh but finding only tired resignation. “Oh, you know Dig. The world could be burning down, and he wouldn’t notice unless someone waved a pistol in his face. That’s when you know it’s bad—when he finally pays attention.”
Jess laughed, the tension easing for a moment. “Lucas is no better. The lazy bastard won’t do a thing until I’m screaming in his face. But what about Jackson?”
I shrugged, my shoulders heavy. “No clue. Unless it’s about Karlyn, he keeps everything locked down tight.”
“Did he know she was seeing that Italian?” Jess pressed, her voice soft but urgent.
I shook my head, exhaling slowly. The rumble of laughter outside faded, replaced by the hum of the fridge and the distant clink of glasses. “None of us did. We thought she was busy with school until we got the call from Massimo—suddenly they were married and we barely knew what hit us. When Mandy learned the truth... she was destroyed. I’ve never seen her so hollow, Jess. It felt wrong, all of it.”
Jess brushed her fingers over my arm, eyes shining. “She loved him.”
“Yeah,” I whispered, voice thick. “And I’m sure she still does. She’s drowning in everything she’s learned, and that jackass out there is just making it worse.”
Footsteps echoed against the tile, and the soft glow from the kitchen spilled over Karlyn’s silhouette as she approached. Her voice was gentle, but the question felt like a ripple through still water. “Hey, what are you two doing?”
Jess grinned, mischievous. “Spying.” The word hung between us, half-serious, half-desperate.
I slid aside, inviting Karlyn into our uneasy circle. She took my spot and inhaled deeply, her gaze narrowing as she took in the scene outside. “Oh, him.” Her words were clipped, layered with her own brand of suspicion.
I couldn’t help but laugh, my tension easing just a bit. “Guess you don’t like him either?”
“No,” Karlyn admitted, folding her arms tightly. “I don’t trust anyone I don’t know, but with him, it’s different. Jackson knows it too. He doesn’t trust Oliver, not one bit.”
Jess and I exchanged glances—an unspoken agreement that something was off. “What do you mean?” I pressed, my voice barely above a whisper.
Sighing, Karlyn drifted toward the kitchen table, scraping back a chair with a soft clatter. “It’s hard to explain,” she said, her voice trembling faintly. The yellow lamplight caught the edge of her cheek, accentuating the worry there.
“Try,” I urged, sinking into the chair beside her, the wood creaking beneath me.
“Jackson isn’t quick to trust,” Karlyn explained, fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. “His sister means everything to him. He’s spent his life watching out for her, and he blames himself for how she got tangled up with Massimo. Last year, when things were heating up, he called in Reaper, who reached out to Cesar for protection. This morning, when I saw Oliver come up the stairs while Jackson was in Mandy’s room, I tried to warn him—told him Jackson was in there. He dismissed me as if I didn’t exist, giving me a look that made my skin crawl. He smirked, and I flinched. It wasn’t just arrogance; it was a challenge.”
“And you told Ravage,” I said knowingly, watching her nod.
