Page 74 of Whispers of Fire

There's so fuckin' much I have to deal with right now. Between trying to find a way to avoid movin’ to Seattle, the takeover of the Steelhawks, and stoppin’ Rose’s fuckin' wedding, my plate is full.

I arrive at the club and park my Harley.

How can I save her without putting her at risk and losing my place in the club?

Ash comes out of the main iron gate, his red hair disheveled. He's new, got into the club last year after eating enough dust as a prospect to show his loyalty. Good kid, seventeen, and has a good enough wit to make any room laugh so that's that.

His usual grin isn't on his face today.

“What’s up, kid?” I ask as I remove my helmet.

“Prez is in a mood.” He whistles.

I lift a brow, asking him to talk.

“Trashed the bar after gettin’ a package from Chicago.”

Fuck, didn't want him in a bad mood knowing what I'm about to ask him.

“Go get a new barrel in town.” I figure it will do some good for him to breathe a bit. It’s not like him to not have a smile on his face.

“Head to Larson’s, it's on the house.” We do their protection, so we get anythin’ we want for free. Same for all the houses we take care of. No need to convince the owners, it's free or the house burns down.

Leaving the parking lot, I enter the warehouse, surrounded by hard rock blasting in the speakers and metallic sounds coming from the back of the building. That's where the guys work on their bikes. I pass the bar where bottles and broken glass are spread on the floor.

“Aaaaaargh!” Ares shouts echo in the room as I watch him pounding on the punching bag on the left side of the hall. He's in fighting shorts, his black hair dripping from sweat, his knuckles covered in blood.

Two things can make him angry: club business and women. And since I know all about the current takeover and deals, well, it can only be about O'Brian’s daughter, Mia. He hasn't talked much about it since O'Brian fucked up and offered his daughter to cover his debt. All I know is that she has a reputation of being a firecracker, which is kind of the opposite of Ares’s control freak nature.

“What did she do?”

Avoidin’ my gaze, he punches the bag relentlessly, even though he heard me. The fighter in him is always aware of his surroundings. I saw him knock down a giant under two minutes at the last cage fight we organized.

“Don't wanna talk bout’ it,” he answers, giving a last punch. “She fucking sent me this.” He stops, his body heavin’, and walks to his office.

What could possibly make him this mad?

Bringing back a box with him, he hands it to me. Frustration is written all over his face. I give him a nod, giving the box a quick once-over.

What could it be? A gun? An arm? A death threat?

"What the hell is this?" I grunt, popping open the box and peering inside.

Ares pinches the bridge of his nose, his jaw clenched tight. "It's from her, " he growls, his voice rough with anger.

I fish out the crumpled note and look at the red lace panties in the bottom of the box.

"A glimpse at what you'll never have," the note reads. Mia O'Brian sure knows how to push his buttons. I can almost hear Ares' blood boiling next to me as he waits for my reaction. But instead of matching his rage, I can't help but chuckle at the audacity of this chick. Mia O'Brian might be a pain in the ass, but you gotta give her props for ballsiness. I don't know a single man on earth who isn't afraid of Ares, but she sure doesn't look like one.

“Looks like you finally found a worthy opponent,” I say with a smug grin. Ares grunts, his fists clenched at his sides.

"I'll show her who's in charge," he says, his voice low and dangerous. Taking a water bottle from the floor under the punching bag, he empties it then looks at me.

“Give me a heads-up on Seattle.”

I give him the box back. “Got thirty of our brothers there setting up the operation. The Greeks are backing us up, closing the perimeter to their border in case they try to flee,” I state like a soldier to his officer. “Should be ready in three weeks.”

“Good,” he says, looking far away. “Want you there on the 30th, at dawn, ready to take the warehouse from them. Steele and Carter will come with ya in case things go south.”

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