I gasp at his words. Bush isn’t the only one who knows them.
CHAPTER 25: BUSH
I curse myself for choosing Vita Gustosa for dinner. I wanted to treat Zara to a nice dinner, and this place has the best food and ambience. I chose a different location from the one where Marcus usually hangs out, which is near the hospital, where we spotted him, his father, and his brother meeting with the Bushrangers. I guess he moves between locations more often than I thought.
“Marcus,” I say, keeping my tone cool because I don’t want him to join us. Of course, Marcus being Marcus means he ignored my less-than-welcoming greeting and sat down.
I reluctantly introduce him to Zara and am considering ways to get him to leave us alone when he mentions the Bushrangers.
I inwardly curse when I see Zara tense up. I’d hoped going out to dinner would help her relax.
“We know,” I tell Marcus. “I was there when your dad called Chrome. We also saw you meeting with them this afternoon.”
Marcus’s eyebrows wing up. “You were spying on us?”
I shake my head. “We were tracking down the Bushrangers.”
“So, you know that they’re here and out for your blood?” Marcus muses.
Zara gasps. I reach over and capture her hand, drawing circles with my thumb to calm her. “You don’t have to be scared. They can’t hurt us.”
“But your club is in danger because of me,” Zara protests. “Maybe I should abandon the fashion show and return home.”
I tighten my grip on her hand before forcing myself to relax. The idea of her leaving is more worrisome than facing off against the Bushrangers.
“I don’t understand. Why would you think you’re the reason?” Marcus asks.
“You aren’t the reason,” I assure Zara before explaining about my history with the Australian club and with Zara. “They have more reasons to come after me. They may have been angry with your father and you for evading them, but I’m the one who turned them in and got them arrested. They’re risking war because they want me dead.”
“They definitely want you dead,” Marcus agrees. “They didn’t tell us who they were gunning for, but they told my father they had a grudge to settle with someone who betrayed them. I think they thought this would win my father over to their side. The mafia is big on loyalty.”
Zara sucks in a breath. “You’re with the mafia?” she whispers.
Marcus chuckles at her expression. It’s a combination of awe and fear, maybe with a hint of excitement.
“I am. Well, my father and brothers are more involved than I am. My father is the Don. He’s not a man to cross. I prefer running my restaurants to dealing with the crap they deal with daily.”
“So, the Bushrangers came to you for help in going against us?” I ask Marcus.
He nods. “First, they came looking to buy some weapons from us. They wanted guns. Dad asked them what they wantedthem for. You know how he feels about needless violence in our city?”
I nod. The Don may use violence to protect the Family Business, but he doesn’t tolerate violence from others. Hypocritical of him, but at the same time, he keeps the gangs from turning the Chicago streets into a battlezone.
“How did he react when he learned the Bushrangers told him their goal?”
“He played it cool as he does. He didn’t tell them that we were aligned. I think he’s meeting with Chrome to determine a game plan. You know we’ll protect Cicely at all costs.”
“Cicely?” Zara asks. “Chrome’s wife?”
“She’s not Chrome’s wife, yet,” I say.
“Cicely is like a sister to us,” Marcus explains with a scowl. “She’s best friends with my younger sister. We’ve known her for most of her life. You know my father isn’t happy that they’re not engaged yet, much less married.”
I shrug. “I can’t do anything about it. But Chrome adores Cicely. He’ll propose, and they’ll get married; just give it time. He’s trying to make changes to the clubhouse so that she and any future Old Ladies feel more comfortable there. He wants to make it more family-friendly. I think he’s waiting because he wants Cicely to see his vision before he proposes.”
“He’s afraid she won’t accept if she’s not comfortable at the clubhouse?” Marcus asks.
I nod. “That’s what I think. He hasn’t said as much, but I can tell he’s ready for change.”
