“I did actually come here on business. I just got distracted,” he slurs.
“By whores and liquor,” Sinner boasts proudly, inspiring Connor to raise the glass in his hand and make an imaginary toast before drinking.
“Then we'd better go through to the office.” I grab the drink from his hand, slam it on the bar, and use the guy's shoulders to spin him around and push him toward the door.
“What's the problem?” I ask, slamming the door and not needing any more bad news today.
“I thought we agreed that the businesses you set up here in Long Beach were gonna be legit.” He sways some more on his feet before I force him to sit down.
“Yeah, and they are,” I assure him. The gym and garage are just the start of what I have planned. I know we have a long way to go before the people in our community start trusting us again, but we’re making a good start
“That's not what I’ve heard today.” He shakes his head.
“What the fuck have you heard?” I feel myself bubbling with rage; whoever's saying shit about my club chose the wrong day to do it.
“I got called in to represent a kid earlier, he’d been busted for stealing cars,” he explains. “I spoke to him before his interview with the cops; told him the best way for me to help him was for him to be straight with me.”
“And?” I wait for him to get to the fuckin’ point.
“And he told me he’s been taking his cars to your garage,” he reveals.
“What?” I stand in shock.
“Luckily, I convinced him not to rat on the club. If the cops find out you're runnin’ a chop shop, Raz?—.”
“We ain’t runnin a fuckin’ chop shop. I told you, the garage is legit.”
“Not according to Jenson Dunn; he told me he’s been taking hot autos there for well over a month.”
“Sober the fuck up,” I tell him, leaving him in my office, heading back out to the barroom, and scanning the room looking for Greaser.
“Hey, how’d it go with the kid today?” Wrath steps up to ask me, and I shake my head, not wanting to get into it now. I need to get to the bottom of whatever shit Greaser’s pulling.
“You seen Greaser?” I ask, ignoring the question. Feeling anger is much better than feeling hurt.
“Not since earlier. It’s his wedding tomorrow, he’s probably having himself an early night.” I barge past my VP and head outthe back door, making my way toward the beach hut and hoping I’ll find Peyton there.
When I get to the patio doors and see her curled up in a ball on the couch, crying into her knees, I open the doors to go to her, but the pain she looks up at me with is far too much to take.
“I need to head out; I gotta deal with something,” I tell her, stepping inside and stroking my hand over her soft blonde hair.
“Now?” She looks up at me through her lashes, her eyes swollen from the tears I fuckin’ caused.
“I’m sorry, darlin’, this can’t wait.” I swallow all my anger and give myself a second to appreciate her. I don’t wanna let her go, but it’s starting to feel like my only option.
“I hate it when we fight,” she whispers, standing up on her knees and wrapping her arms around my neck.
“Me too,” I tell her, smiling sadly when I’m reminded that losing Leo is just the start of the problems she’s gonna face being with me.
“Don’t be long, Raze. I need you tonight.”
“I love you. You know that, right?” I hope she knows how much I mean it. The sad truth is, this woman doesn’t need me at all. She’s grown so much since she’s been here; she’s found a family, and in doing that, she’s found herself.
“I love you, too.” She kisses me, and I taste the salt from her tears as they spill between her lips. I manage to tear myself away from her, heading to the door.
“Hey, Raze…” she calls after me, and when I turn back around and see the brave smiles she’s pulled together for me, my heart breaks a little more.
“There's nothing we can’t get through,” she promises, somehow looking hopeful and devastated at the same time, and I nod my head back at her, not feeling convinced as I leave before she sees my own tears.
