He puffed on his cigar. “You know, son, I only brought you out here to chat about my daughter. I didn’t expect you to hardball me.”
“With all due respect, I didn’t expect to find out I was sold off like cattle from my mother. Frankly, it was shitty that you didn’t speak to me about it instead of sending it to her, by my hands,” I said as I patted my chest.
He nodded. “Your father had a letter for her as well and asked me to share them both with her. Perhaps he thought it would be better coming from her in the wake of his passing.”
“Well she didn’t fucking tell me until a few days ago. Did he tell her that, too?” This whole thing was so insulting.
“That, I cannot say. ButIdid ask her for more time.”
My brow furrowed. “What? Why?”
He gave a thin-lipped smile. “I lost her mother too soon. I just needed to get used to it first.”
“But now you’re pushing her off on me? So you’re good?”
Petrov chuckled. “Hawk, I understand this feels sudden to you, but it’s not for me.”
“Okay, well what’s the rush then?”
He took a few puffs from his cigar, then said, “You know I’ve not been well. I need to see this through. Maybe with enough time to meet my grandchildren.”
Grandchildren. Children. Jesus Christ.
“And?” I asked, hoping maybe there was another reason besides that so I could put a pin in it.
“Well, if you must know, Romero was working for the Martinelli’s and they weren’t too happy to have lost him.”
Romero had been running a trafficking ring from his strip club in Jersey. We’d been there the night I got a text that there was a problem back home. It turned out that Pops had been killed and Ma was in the hospital. We left Jersey in the middle of the night and rode home with minimal stops.
After Romero’s guys kidnapped Daisy, Falcon and a few brothers, including some from Bristol, went after him and took him out.
“If they have a problem with us, they can deal with us. I allowed the hit because he took Falcon’s woman during a planned ambush.”
“I know,” he said. “Remember we loaned them some extra firearms and took care of Falcon afterwards? We also sent our cleaners in for you.”
One of the things they had been holding over our head. “And I appreciate it. But what does this have to do with your daughter?”
He tipped his head in the direction of the house then started walking. “Martinelli figured out who it was and that we were involved. There may have been conversations about forgiving our involvementifwe agreed to a union.”
“So just tell them no.” I scoffed, following him.
“I plan to. But it’ll be easier for me to sleep once I do,knowing she’s safe far away from here. Plus, it was going to happen eventually. I just hoped to have more time.”
I hadn’t even formally met this woman yet, but knowing a man connected to trafficking women wanted her heated my blood. Maybe I didn’t know her, but according to Pops and Petrov, she was mine. And nobody fucked with what’s mine.
My jaw ticked and my hand tightened around the tumbler, the other balled into a fist.
“Son, you alright?”
Knocking back the last sip of whiskey, I said, “She’ll be safe with me.”
“Wonderful,” he said as he smacked my back. “Let us go introduce you before dinner.”
I stopped him, sticking my hand out. “Do we have a deal?” Just because he had a good reason for this, I wouldn’t let him forget my demands. I’d resolved myself to not having a wife, but I didn’t want to dishonor my father. If I had to change my trajectory, I wouldn’t squander the opportunity to fortify the club’s future.
He grinned. “You’re bold and brave. Your father would be proud.” He took my hand. “You have a deal.” He squeezed my hand, leaning closer. “Don’t make me regret this.”
HopefullyIdidn’t regret this.
