Page 48 of Hash

Cyrus and I both look at each other because what the fuck?

Dress pants?

“Where the fuck are we fucking going?” I call after him and am met with laughter. “I don’t know what’s so funny about this,” I grumble to Cyrus.

“No clue, brother.” Cyrus shrugs. “I don’t mind it. My slacks let the air flow against my balls. It’s breezy fucking central down there.”

My mouth hangs open as my brows bunch up. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Nothing!” Cyrus retorts. “You just aren’t man enough to admit it.”

“Jesus fucking Christ,” I say as I shake my head. “I’m going to get dressed.”

I glare at Cain’s back as we walk into Bella Vita.

If I had known this was the type of dinner we were going to, I would have bailed and gone to Aisling’s, meeting or not. I’m not a going out to dinner type of man, and I’m sure as hell not the

fancy dinner type where you need to use two different forks to eat. Whoever came up with that is stupid as fuck.

The hostess takes us to the back corner of the restaurant, making our way through the tables in a line, one by one. Every single person in there is looking anywhere but at us. They know where they’re eating, and they know who owns it. You wouldn’t step foot in an establishment owned by the mafia if you didn’t agree with the lifestyle. Cain scares me, but Matteo has more connections than even the club knows about.

“Cain,” Matteo greets with a smile on his face as we approach the table.

“Adduci,” Prez greets back as he shakes his hand and brings him in for a one-armed hug.

“No Trick tonight?” Matteo asks as he watches us all sit down around the round table.

“He stayed back with the girls.”

“Ah, yes. I know how that is. They never listen or stay in when you tell them to. I love the chase, but sometimes I’d like one night without stabbing a motherfucker for touching what’s mine,” Matteo says as he swirls his tumbler of whiskey and signals the waiter over. “What are you guys drinking tonight?”

We all grunt in agreement.

I ordered an 18-year-old whiskey on the rocks. If I’m going to be forced into wearing clothes I didn’t know I had in the back of my closet, I’m going to drink something that comes out of a five-hundred-dollar bottle.

The waiter comes back with our drinks and leaves silently after taking our food orders, dropping bread with olive oil and seasoning for the table.

I grab an end and dunk it in the oil, letting the bread soak up as much as it can before shoving the entire piece in my mouth and moaning. “Jesus Christ that’s good.”

“And you call me the fat ass,” Cyrus grumbles as he follows suit.

“Do you two have any fucking manners?” Prez asks, sounding annoyed, but his eyes are dancing. He knows damn well he shouldn’t have taken us here.

“Sometimes,” I say as Cyrus nods along.

Matteo laughs, not in the least bit fazed by this. “Let’s get down to business, shall we?”

We all nod.

“I’ve been hearing things about a member of an MC club a few hours away coming into my city and moving product. Do you know anything about the Black Diamonds?” Matteo asks, looking directly at Cain.

Cain leans back in his seat. “One of their guys has been buying from us when they run out and are still waiting for their shipment from their supplier. He’s a piece of work. Thinks he can waltz into wherever he feels like and own the place.”

Matteo hums as he taps his finger against his rocks glass. “So not a friend of yours?”

We all snort as Cain says, “Hell no. I actually wanted to talk to you about it.”

Matteo’s brow raises as he waits for Cain to continue.