Page 38 of Death's Deal

I scoff, “Nah. I just have this expectation someone will burst through the front door to tell me there’s been an arrest, a crash, a fire, a fucking hurricane, or something of the sort. My luck hasn’t been this good in a long fucking while, T.”

Even my phone has been silent and that scares me. Hers, on the other hand, hasn’t quit. Turning it toward me all the time to show me the texts and photos she has of Tristan, I feel a part of his story seeing it through her eyes. It’s a sharp pain to know I missed it all, but knowing I can change that is okay with me.

It’s easy to see he loves his mother; she tells me he’s kind and he tries to make her laugh all the time. He’s respectful, she said, even though my interaction with him was solely based on his conversation with Carlos. I can’t blame him for being a prick to Carlos. I roll my finger along her tiny ear. “Tomorrow, we’ll head out early to see Mayhem.”

Turning her head to face me, Toni’s expression doesn’t suggest she wants anywhere near Mayhem. “I just don’t want someone like Mayhem knowing about Tris. I’d like to keep the details about Tris a bit of a secret between us. At least for a while longer.”

It would be ammo against the mayor; which I don’t give a shit about, but more than that, it would make Tristan a target. “It’s not Mayhem’s business. He doesn’t deserve to know. What I want is more on Hylo, then we’ll leave.”

Distrust, destruction, and deceit. That’s all I expect from Mayhem. I know the only truth will be in his expression. Mayhem has a tell. It’s minuscule, but if you don’t know it, you don’t look for it. I know it.

“I think you and Tristan will get along great, but someone like Mayhem is—” Pausing, I can tell she’s trying to think of the right thing to say.

I interrupt, “He’s a lot.”

With a sweet giggle, she agrees, “Yep. I would’ve said, deadly. But it’s all in the perception.”

“We Crows are a lot. A family full of intensity.” There’s no other way to describe us.

This situation will be unpredictable. I am tasked with her protection and nothing more.

Feeling a grumble crash across my stomach, alerting me to my dire need for nourishment, I start to peel myself out from under Toni’s perfectly naked body. “I’m fucking starved, T. It can’t wait any longer.”

Sauntering to the kitchen, pulling two plates from the cupboard and utensils, I’m slipping a knife into the lasagna as the doorbell chimes. Exasperated, knowing our peace is ending, and my starvation will continue, I’m sort of pissed.

“I guess I can wait a bit longer.”

Turning from the kitchen, heading to the door, and remembering Toni sprawled along the couch, I tell her to go before I open the door. “Go get dressed.”

With a smirk, rising from the couch, removing my cut to leave her naked form for all to see, she leaves a small kiss on my lips. “I’m hungry too. But not for food.” Sauntering down the hall out of sight, I stand here like a lovesick fool, eyeing her retreating form.

Fucking woman will be the death of me.

As she slips away to dress, impatiently the doorbell rings out twice more.

“Hold the fuck on!” I shout while grabbing my jeans from the floor. Buttoning them hastily, my attention is now solely on the asshole who’s now hit the buzzer no less than four times. Moving to the door, I curse, “Fuck, asshole! Hold on.”

Pulling it open, I’m equally pissed, and also deeply intrigued why he’s here, ringing my door instead of giving me a shout on the phone. “What’s so fucking important, Boyd?”

“We need to talk about—” cutting himself short as Toni swings around the corner, dressed; thankfully, in a sweater of mine that hangs from her frame to cover her to her knees, his lips clip shut and his glare changes tempo. “Antonia.”

With a sweet tone, stepping up beside me, smugly and tightly Toni addresses him, “Hey, Boyd. Great to see you again.”

The tension between them is awkward, unruly, and, honestly, fucking boring.

Without wanting to see bloodshed, I point at Boyd and comment, “Garage.”

As he turns for the door, yanking it, and walking through on a crusty huff, he crosses into the garage, leaving Toni and me alone.

“What the fuck was that about?”

“Years of resentment.” He hated I was sent to jail and my life was fucked up by her family. He doesn’t know the truth of it, or why she did it, and once he does, it may change his outlook on her.

I can only hope.

“Get something to eat,” I state softly, giving her a smile as I pull the door for the garage. “You’ll need your strength for later.” Pausing, I realize things won’t change between her and him until I let him in on the “son” secret. “I’ll have to tell Boyd about Tristan.”

Tristan is one secret I don’t think I can keep from Boyd. He’s the one person I hold nothing back from. And yeah, sometimes I hate all the secrecy about the club and crap. “I think telling Boyd will change the dynamics between you two.”

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