Page 23 of Guardian

I hesitated before knocking. I listened to see if Prime was still on the phone. I was in a hurry, but I wasn’t suicidal. Then, there was the fact that if I got shot Jemma would be alone.

No sound reached my ears, so I raised a fist and pounded on the door.

“Get your ass in here, Sweet!” Prime yelled. “I saw your sorry ass on the security monitor. You’ve got some explaining to do.”

I held my hands up in a sign of surrender as I entered. There was every chance that Prime would indeed shoot me. He wouldn’t aim to kill, but he wouldn’t miss either.

I winced when he pulled the ice pack off his face. His lip was swollen and had been bleeding as Flame had said. But, more than that, a large bruise covered his right cheek, and his eye was turning black. I was in deep shit.

“This should be you,” he spit out between clenched teeth. “I did your damn job because your fucking ass wasn’t where it was supposed to be. If I wasn’t in pain I’d beat you to a pulp and kick you out the door. But my head’s throbbing, and I can’t see straight.”

“Aspirin and whiskey coming right up,” I stated, while I poured him a double and pulled a bottle of pills out of the cabinet over the tiny bar in Prime’s office.

“This won’t gain my forgiveness, but it’s a start,” he declared as he gulped the whiskey.

“Why didn’t you self-medicate already?” I dared to ask.

“Because I had an important call to handle. I needed my mind sharp, not dulled by whiskey. Someone has to take care of this club,” he reprimanded.

“I should have been here. That’s obvious. I fully intended to do my job tonight, but there were circumstances that I couldn’t control that kept me away. I’m truly sorry, boss. You can exact punishment if you want, but I wouldn’t do things any differently if I was given another chance,” I told him.

“I assume this has something to do with the kid and the woman. I warned you about loyalties, Sweet. You swore an oathto this club and to me. I expect you to put the club first,” Prime reminded me.

The muscle in my cheek twitched as I replied, “And you said they were under our protection. I took you at your word.”

He slammed the glass onto the desk and swore, “Fucking hell! I must have had a soft moment. It was a stupid thing to say since we’re in the middle of our own mess, but I keep my damn promises whether they are stupid ones or not. Fine! What the hell is your excuse?”

“When we came back from our evening out, the cops were at her place. It was Carmichael and some tight-assed newbie who took a dislike to my appearance. Anyway, the babysitter, an old woman who couldn’t have protected Jackson from a fly, found a bag with a bloody dead animal on the porch along with a threatening note. The cops know, just like I do, that the cartel is involved. They can’t do anything without evidence as usual. It’s a damn crock of shit!”

Prime’s eyebrows drew together is anger and thought. He asked, “Why are you so sure the cartel is in on this? There are other loan sharks just as deadly.”

“The things Jemma says about what her ex mentioned while he was drunk make me think about the cartel. The damn note sounded like a threat they’d make. It said any sin of his was hers too. It warned that they’d get payment in flesh if necessary, and they didn’t care whose.”

“That’s not enough to start a war with them, Sweet. It’s a standard threat. We’ve heard it all before. Any asshole who had loaned him money would say the same. He’ll eventually pay or be killed, then it’ll be over,” Prime proclaimed.

“I can’t count on that, Prime. I have to take the threat seriously. Jemma’s scared, so scared she agreed for me to come back and stay there. Jackson believes in me in a way I neverthought anyone would. I’m his damn hero. I won’t let him down. I can’t,” I answered.

“You’ve taken on a lot, Sweet. You’re needed at two places, and I can’t cut you in half. We’re spread thin trying to maintain our territory. I can’t spare you 24/7. You can go tonight, but I need you back here tomorrow. I think she’s safe for a few days. If it’s the cartel they won’t make another move for a while. They’ll give a few days to allow her or her ex to get the money. It’s more important to them than hurting her or the kid,” Prime explained.

“What if he doesn’t pay? What if they kill him and still come for Jemma? We need more information, Prime. We need proof that he’s involved with Aguilar.”

Prime rubbed his face, forgetting his injuries. He released a yowl of pain and gave Sweet a glare to remind him the hurt was all his fault.

“You ask a lot for a man who’s already pushed me too far. But you’re also a good enforcer when you’re present, and an excellent friend to us all. I’ll set aside your loyalty issue for now. I have one source that can help us find out what Mitch got himself into. I hate calling in favors so soon, but it’s a necessity,” Prime admitted.

“Favors from who?” I asked.

“I recently cut a deal; one I may regret at some point. The phone call I was on sealed the pact for better or worse. I met with the pakhan of the bratva; the mafia boss; recently. We agreed that we could help each other. It’s a shaky alliance, yet safer than the one we had with the cartel until recently. Petrov or his brigadier can get us some answers. They’re excellent at digging out information. They’re into me for a favor already since I’ve done one for them. I’ll see what they can prove for us,” Prime promised.

“Can I count on Jemma and Jackson getting protection? As you said, I can’t be in two places at once,” I asked, knowing I was going too far again.

“I already told you we’re spread too thin. I don’t know when or if I can spare a damn bodyguard. Even if I can she lives near the cartel’s territory. I know they’re selling there despite the fact that it’s intruding close to our space. It’s supposed to be neutral territory, but if we’re seen there they could take it as a threat. It would start the war I’m trying to avoid. Is this woman worth it?” Prime asked me straight out.

Without a hint of hesitation I answered, “Yes.”

Chapter 12

Jemma

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