“Fuck, yeah!” Cruz cheers as if he’s on my side.
Excitement sprints through me. I turn round to the boys, and Asher claims my lips in celebration. “It really is your lucky day, princess. You got me and now a big win.”
I can’t help but laugh. “I think we should head back to the room.” I smirk at the three of them. Playing games is fun, but I know what I want right now.
Jagger’s phone springs to life. I watch him as he answers it. His eyes slowly rise to meet with mine, and I wonder who has him all serious suddenly. “Yeah, okay. I’ll let her know,” he tells the person on the other side.
“Why do I feel sick all of a sudden?” I ask him.
Jagger waves me off, covering the phone so whoever is on the other side doesn’t hear us bickering. “It’s nothing to worry about right now. We can still go on and have some fun.”
I glare at him, making sure he knows that’s not the correct response.
He huffs out a breath. “That attitude will only get you in trouble, flower.”
“Does it look like I care, Jagger? Tell me what’s going on or you’re in more trouble than me.”
He rakes a hand through his hair. “It’s just Mal giving us the heads-up. Your brother’s awake and is requesting a meeting with you.”
I huff out the breath I was holding on to. “Well, he’s going to have to wait, isn’t he,” I mutter, trying not to let the mention of him cause the anxiety to take over when I was finally relaxing and having fun. I knew he was improving every day, and I’m glad I didn’t kill him when I shot him. But today isn’t about anyone in my family except me.
“Yeah, we have some celebrating to get to.” Asher grins back at me. I think this is the happiest I’ve ever seen him.
I know it’s the happiest I have ever been, and my old family will not ruin what I have with my new family.
Jagger uncovers the phone. “You can tell his people she’s out of town on business and we will be back in a few days. If Daisy is up to it, we can sort out a meeting then.” He nods. “That’s the plan.” Jagger disconnects the call, his eyes darken and lock with mine, and his change in intensity sends a thrill right through me. “Now where were we? Something about our girl wanting to have a little fun back in our room? Is that what you wanted from your win?” I run my tongue over my bottom lip. “Show me what it means to be Mrs. Stryker.” I smirk all cheeky, so ready for whatever they have planned for me.
Chapter 34
It’s My Life
Istareintoeyesthe same as mine. They’re cold and detached, filled with hate I never thought I would see from my brother. My own flesh and blood. But unfortunately, they are a direct reflection of my own. I have learned a valuable lesson this year—family is what you make it, not what you were born into.I have my family now, a bunch of bikers. And I couldn’t be any more in love or any happier.
Thick unsettling tension fills the air of the boardroom. It’s almost suffocating, but there is something so satisfying about this very moment as well.
I cross one leg over the other, the fine fabric of my suit pants soft and luxurious against my skin, the jacket tailored just so, making me feel powerful in a way I really needed today, just like Sloane said it would. I never wanted to return to Italy, but I have been waiting for this moment my whole life, I just didn’t realize it until recently. The flight was totally worth it to see the look on my papa’s face when he realized I wasn’t the stupid little girl he brought me up to be. I have learned a hell of a lot in the last six months and become someone I can be proud of, because instead of cowering to my family, I’m my own person, and she’s so much stronger than I ever could have imagined.
From the head of the table, Sloane gives me a smirk. She despises Italy about as much as me, but she knows we are about to get everything we want and the trip will be worth it. Today she’s in a white pant suit with her long hair in a high ponytail, and she looks so in control. I wish I had a little more of her confidence, but I’m me, and I will deal with my family in my own way.
“I think you can see our offer is more than generous, given your current situation,” I say when neither my brother nor papa has uttered a single word after we laid it all on the table for them. When the boys and I got back from our wedding, I looked into my family’s business, and turns out they were in desperate need of a huge cash injection or they would go under. Thanks, Leone, for giving me the tip-off on that little nugget.
My papa signs the contract, throws his pen down, then stands and storms from the room, his chair flying back and clattering to the parquet floor, the slam of the heavy doorvibrating through the boardroom at Moretti Media Italy as he leaves. There’s a finality to it that should sting. I will probably never see him again, but I know that’s for the best. I was nothing but a trading tool for him, and now I get to show him just what that feels like.
Asher takes my hand under the table, running his finger over my wedding band. It’s a strange gesture, but a silent “I’ve got your back, princess” comes with it, and I love that. We haven’t been married for long, but he’s been so supportive of me in this whole process. Truth is, they all have. Both Jagger and Cruz came to Italy with us, even though I know they have shit of their own going on. They put me first, and I’m starting to see they always did, even if they had a funny way of showing it.
Dante leans over the table, his eyes narrowing in on me in a way that would have sent a shiver down my spine in the past, but now it has no effect. I glare back at him just as intensely. “You’re starting a fucking war, little sister,” he seethes, his voice so dark it’s deadly.
I sigh heavily, letting his hate wash over me like it’s nothing. “You can try and blame me for your unfortunate situation all you like, Dante, but we both know it was not me who got our family business in so much trouble. Perhaps you should have been more careful who you were aligning yourself with.” From what we could see, Leone was siphoning money from my family company for years. His relationship with my late husband was closer than anyone including my brother guessed, leaving my family in quite a predicament. “We have all made our choices, there’s no time for regrets now. Maybe take this as an opportunity and the very generous payout to reinvent yourself. You can be anyone you want to be, more of a choice than you were willing to give me.”
He flinches as I say the last part. “You know your offer is bullshit.” His voice is low, like he’s trying to keep ourconversation private, even though there are five of us in the room. Asher, Sloane, Alex Moretti, as well as us.
“My offer is fair, considering how much trouble your company is in.”
His eyes glance over Sloane then land back on me. “Smugness doesn’t suit you, Daisy.”
I huff out a laugh. “Don’t be bitter, Dante, you should be proud. I’m the product of my upbringing, much like you are. Media has always been in my blood, and now you get to watch me flourish. You always wanted me to achieve big things with my life, isn’t that what you used to say? Don’t worry, I will take great care in looking after the company you and Papa built.” Great care breaking down every fucking part of it and turning it into part of Moretti Media to expand our business. And I will take pleasure in enjoying every single step of the way. They fucked my life up, and now I get the revenge I always wanted. Funny how the anger eating away at me has vanished.
His glare narrows, but he knows as well as I do, he has no choice but to sign the contract Sloane and I have drawn up for him, absorbing my family company into our own. He signs the contract and shoves his chair back. “Watch your back, Daisy. You might be a Stryker now, but it doesn’t mean I won’t come for you.”
