Page 17 of Bound in the Dark

Diana recognized one of the men as a low-level soldier for the Minetti family. This meeting was going to be so much more complicated than an awkward family reunion. If there were any of the higher ranking soldiers inside they might recognize her. Over the last several years she had done a lot of clean up work for the Minetti family in New York. While their Don loved her, she wasn’t as popular with many of his soldiers since it was their messes she’d been cleaning. Men’s pride were delicate things and having to be saved by a woman often bruised their egos.

“Until we get to talk to your father I need you to keep your head down and your mouth shut. There are people here who aren’t friends. I don't want to have to start killing people because you piss off the wrong person.”

Nadya raised an eyebrow. “I'm not a child. I can take care of myself.”

Diana took a deep breath, teenage egos were almost as annoying as men’s. “That attitude right there is the problem. You think this is about proving to me that you can fight. I need you to prove that you can keep your head. We are outnumbered and in a completely unknown situation. You're not the Bratva Princess anymore. No one will hesitate to hurt you if you mouth off and prick their pride.”

“I promise I'll be good.” The girl’s tone held so much exasperation that it was hard not to laugh. Diana doubted her niece even knew the meaning of ‘good’ but it was the best promise she was going to get.

They got out of the car and Nadya looked around at the place with wide eyes. The Dark Sons' compound was an interesting mix of impressive and functional. The Clubhouse was a two story structure that was a visual mix between a warehouse and a small apartment building. Two other large buildings were visible from where they had parked.

Diana knew one of them was a gun range that was also used for backup weapon storage. The other was a garage where the Brothers kept the spare vehicles. She had spent months memorizing the entire complex and it was like a strange sort of gated community.

Deeper in the property, blocked from view by the Clubhouse, was an actual apartment complex. The single Brothers and those on active duty lived there. Hidden near the middle of the grounds were single family homes where officers and some of the higher ranking Brothers with families lived. It was an amusing mini version of suburbia.

As they approached, a man walked out of the doors to meet them. She recognized Clean from her time spent watching the club. His average looks and non distinct personality made him perfect for going unnoticed. Which, of course, had made her take a closer look. His past was almost as dark as hers. He had been to the government what she had been to the Bratva. An assassin, a cleaner, or more generally a problem solver. Behind his unassuming demeanor was someone nearly as cold and deadly as she was.

He was Highdive’s right hand when it came to taking care of the dirty work within the club. Hopefully she wouldn’t ever have to go toe to toe with the man.

It was time to face the music.

Clean crossed his arms and looked the two of them over. His eyes held no interest in their looks, instead quickly scanning the places where the two might have weapons. Diana was impressed by the fact that he didn't seem to dismiss either of them as harmless. Under his assessment it was easy to fall into the cool persona that she used for business. She wasn’t Diana anymore, she was Silence.

“You've got a package for us?” Clean’s voice was clipped as if he didn’t want to be talking to them.

Diana nodded and her eyes searched over the men at the door. She wouldn’t be talking about anything in front of people she didn’t know.

Clean held out his hand as if he expected her to hand over something. She just raised her eyebrow. Even if the package had been something that could be handed over she knew her sister’s message would have made it clear that it would only be given to Hawk. Did the man think her a complete amateur? They stared in silence for long moments.

“Where’s Hawk?” Nadya’s voice was sharp and demanding and Diana wanted to strangle her as all the men’s attention snapped to her.

Stepping in front of her niece Diana used her body to block their view. She kept her voice low so it would be hard for the men standing at the door to hear her. “I have very clear instructions, the package is for Hawk alone.”

Clean’s jaw twitched. “This isn’t a good time. You’ll have to come back.”

It was tempting to take the offered escape. Unfortunately, they would only have the element of surprise once. If Andre had someone watching the Dark Sons' compound he would have recognized them both. Coming back later was asking for trouble.

“If we leave we won’t be coming back.” Diana kept her voice neutral as if she didn’t care, but Nadya made a sound of disagreement. She turned and glared at her niece until the girl blushed and nodded her head.

“Fuck. This is not going to go well. Fine, follow me. Do not talk to anyone. Do not cause problems.” He walked them inside the Clubhouse at a quick pace.

Diana looked around with interest. She had never actually seen the inside of the Clubhouse since all of her observation had been done from a distance. The place was impressive. The room they entered was large, open, and much cleaner than she would have pictured. To the right was an impressive bar that would have been at home in any high-end club. In the back of the room several pool tables were currently in use. Small seating areas were also scattered around and some of them occupied by dangerous looking men.

The Clubhouse could probably hold well over a hundred people for the types of parties she knew were common on the weekends. Right now, it only held around thirty men, all of them looking their way. Diana wanted to curse her sister's stupidity for not thinking of a better way to approach Hawk.

At least three of Minetti’s men were here and she knew they recognized her by their hostile glares. She also recognized at least three other motorcycle club cuts and even men from some of Denver's worst gangs. The one thing that was completely absent from the room, other women.

The two of them had apparently stumbled on some sort of gathering of soldiers. The lack of anticipation hanging in the room or any sense of purpose told her at least it wasn’t a prep for something about to happen. It was probably some sort of treaty negotiation or strategy meeting.

None of the Dark Sons' officers were in the room, so she guessed they were in the back somewhere with the leaders of these other groups. On one hand, that was good news because she got to put off the coming confrontation for a few minutes. On the other hand, lower level members of criminal groups weren’t always the smartest men. With the way Tony, one of Minetti’s soldiers, was looking at her, a confrontation was likely.

Tony had tried for several years to push her buttons believing she just needed the right man to settle her down. They had become enemies one night when his pushing had crossed the line from words to touch and she had embarrassed him by taking him down in front of other members of the family. He had been banned from attending any meeting where she was going to be physically present because the Don didn’t want her to kill him.

She pretended not to notice him as Clean led them to a table near a side hallway. It wasn’t ideal for defense but she would make do. Diana only held out a small hope that Tony would do the smart thing and ignore her, so she needed to be ready.

Clean glared at them. “Sit here. Don't cause any problems.” He stalked away down the hallway, hopefully, to get Hawk.

“What an asshole,” Nadya muttered under her breath as she hopped up onto one of the pub style chairs.

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