Page 85 of Filthy Devil

“Are you telling me that the other members have been taken care of?” Nash asks.

“Thanks to your club, they have. We’re from underground, and we are ready to get back out there. We are the real Southern Mafia.”

I wish that, at this moment, I had popcorn. This water is not cutting it at all whatsoever. Gil chuckles, then he clears his throat, his gaze flicking between us again to land on Nash. It’s clear that he doesn’t want me here, but Nash hasn’t sent me away, so I’m staying right where I am with my water and, unfortunately, no popcorn.

“You want my woman, but in order for me to keep her out of your hands, you want the Dark Horse MC to do something for you which would include, but not be exclusive to, kidnapping women and transporting them.”

He chuckles, lifting his arms over his head as he fake stretches. I watch him as Nash brings his glass to his lips and takes a sip of his Crown. I don’t understand how both of these men can be so cool, calm, and collected.

This seems like a really,reallybig deal.

“I don’t want James. It’s obvious that you’re together. That was the other people who were running the Southern Mafia. We don’t want anyone who isn’t fully accepting of the contract they sign.”

“But?” Nash asks.

He smiles, dipping his chin slightly. “But she did sign a contract. And if we just let her walk away, it looks bad as fuck.”

Nash leans forward slightly. “She’s not going to be going anywhere. No matter what you think or say.”

Gil jerks his chin in the air. Then, he clears his throat before he speaks. “The only way to keep her completely safe is if you agree to my terms.”

I wait for Nash to blow up completely, but he doesn’t. Instead, he tilts his head to the side. “Well, the Dark Horse MC isn’t going to help you with a fucking thing.”

“Then I’ll be taking James with me.”

My breath hitches. These two men are sitting in front of me, acting like I’m not even here. Acting like I’m not a human but, instead, a commodity to trade among one another. I hate it. And I know that Nash doesn’t see me that way, but it doesn’t change how this all makes me feel.

Unable to sit here and listen to another second of it, I decide to excuse myself. I need a few minutes to breathe.

Making my way toward the bathroom, I stop in the hallway and look over my shoulder at the table. The urge to flee takes over. I know that Nash isn’t going to do anything to me. He wouldn’t hand me back over to these assholes, but I panic.

And when I panic.

I run.

Even if it’s fucking stupid of me.

I take off.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-THREE

NASH

“You’re not takingmy woman. She’s mine,” I grind out.

I’m about done with this piece of shit, and I’m not making any deals with him or anyone else.

“And now that she’s gone and you don’t have to worry about comparing your dick to mine in front of her, why don’t you tell me what you really want? What is it going to take for you fucks to stay away from the Dark Horse?”

He presses his lips together. “There’s nothing we can do to make a deal? Our organizations work well together, and it would be mutually beneficial.”

Shaking my head, I clear my throat. “Gil, that part of our club is done. We attempted to make a deal and were fucked over. There will be no more deals. We also tried to let the Southern Mafia do their own thing and, again, were fucked over. So, forgive me if I’m not willing to make the same mistake again.”

He dips his chin in a single nod. “I can understand that. I’m not unreasonable. However, what am I supposed to tell my men?I’m their leader now, and I can’t walk away without a deal and without the representation of winning.”

“Meaning James,” I murmur.

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