Page 42 of Lawless God

He slowly blinks at me, unimpressed with my response, but he doesn’t say anything.

“A good challenge.”

His eyes dart over my shoulder, as the hint of a smile pulls at his lips. “Is that right? Well, here’s one for you. Your future wife is sprinting across your front lawn.”

I spin around, looking out the window. In the dark of the night, I can barely see Kay as she climbs the brick wall of my gated yard. The last thing my exterior lights illuminate is her long black hair as she jumps off, and I assume, starts running down the Stoneview street.

“Huh.” I scratch the back of my head, mentally adding this to my list of things to do. “I’ll have to deal with that.”

“Before she comes back to kill you, if possible,” Sam adds.

I wave a hand dismissively. “The girl has a horrible concussion, and someone just tried to drown her.”

“Could that someone be you, maybe?”

“Well, not all proposals are done with flowers, Sam. My point is, she’s going to need some rest over the next few days before she plans anything.”

As he stands up, his massive body makes the stool next to him look miniature. “I’m going home, then.”

Grabbing my phone out of my pocket, I keep talking to him as I look for Emma’s number.

“I just need you for one last thing, then you’re free to go back to your football team of lovers.”

I press call without even waiting for a reaction from him that I know won’t come.

“Nathan,” Emma says sharply at the other end of the line. “What can I do for you?”

“The two guys with you this morning.”

“Logan and Law.”

“Bring them to my house. Now.” I hang up before she can come up with any excuses.

Sam’s black eyes cross with mine, already knowing what our late-night meeting will be about.

When Emma walks into my office, she’s alone and with a scowl on her face. I’m sitting behind my glass desk, a tumbler of whiskey in my hand and a ton of documents in front of me. Attorney Garcia-Diaz doesn’t really care what I’m up to. Legal or not doesn’t matter to her, as long as she can make it look legit on paper.

“Before you say anything,” she starts. “They’re right outside. I just wanted to talk to you first.”

I take a sip of whiskey, letting the liquid soothe my throat.

“I’ve had a rather long day, Emma. Why don’t you make this quick?”

“What…is your plan for the North Shore? I know you won’t give it to me for free, Nate. Even after I helped you.”

Her eyebrows pinch, and she starts biting the nail of her thumb. She is obviously anxious to be here.

“My plans don’t concern you. I gave you the North Shore. You have police protection, thanks to me, and I will be supplying you with drugs and weapons.” I take another sip of whiskey. “Congratulations, you’re officially a big fish in what I consider a puddle. Now bring your little fishes in before this conversation gets even more boring.”

Her jaw works from side to side for a few seconds before she nods. She opens the door to Logan and Law, and they walk in, followed closely by Sam.

“Wonderful.” I stand, undoing the buttons of my sleeves so I can roll them up. As I do, I walk around my desk, standing in front of it.

“We’re all here to learn a lesson tonight, and I don’t always feel in a teaching mood, so make sure you pay attention.”

Emma is the first to eye the door and the way Sam stands in front of it, turning my office into a room without an exit.

“This is mainly for you, Emma. So you understand how to run a gang. Watch and learn, will you?”

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