Page 6 of Savage Reign

The man looked like he wanted to deny the sale. We both knew he would have sold those pieces for a hell of a lot more than seven grand. But he wasn’t in the position to say no. Resignation set in his eyes as he began to pull out all the jewelry he had taken from her. Something about the sight made my heart drop. Fuck.

We wereon our way out when my phone beeped with a text. I stopped, and my brothers stopped with me, looking back, waiting. They probably thought it might be one of our men with news about Mila.

Hell, I had hoped…

Gregory Perez’s name showed up on the screen.

I shook my head, and Silas’ shoulders sagged in disappointment. Without a word, he moved to the car and got in. Killian frowned after him but didn’t follow. I checked the message.

“Who is it?” he asked.

“Perez. He wants to meet up. And for us to bring his cut.”

“He wants us topersonallybring it to him?”

“Seems he has something he wants to discuss.”

Killian shook his head. “Yeah? And that’s why he wants this meet and not some fucking way to exert his power?”

I walked up to my brother and placed my hand on his shoulder. “We’re not the kind of men he could easily exert his power over. He knows that. This is probably to size us up.”

“What? He didn’t get enough of that at the restaurant?”

I shrugged. “Or perhaps there’s something more he wanted to say.”

We both knew communication about the business was never to be made through the phone. Too easily hacked into.

“Whatever. When are we going?”

I looked back at the pawnshop. It didn’t yield the result we wanted. The only thing it told us was Mila’s starting point. And perhaps that would help, but right now, she was still as lost to us as she had been four days ago.

“Right now. Have men stationed around the area. I don’t think she’s gotten far, and it would only be a matter of time before someone sees her.”

Hopefully soon. For all of our sakes.

Without another word, we got into the car. The drive back into the city was made in silence. For the first time in my life, I didn’t want to be the one to take on my brothers’ feelings. To ensure everyone was doing okay. Not when I was so goddamn exhausted. For the first time, I just let it be and took in the silence and the tension and everything else that came with it.

By the time we pulled up to the restaurant, it was late afternoon, and Chicago was bursting with life. Everyone was excited for the summer days to come.

I got out of the car, and my brothers followed suit. We took in our surroundings and, not seeing anything out of the ordinary, made our way to a bistro located just near our company. It wasn’t owned by us or anyone in the organization, which probably played a role in why Gregory chose it. He wanted to meet in neutral territory.

I found him right away. The man sat in the corner, his features seemingly blending in with everyone and everything in the place. His expression didn’t change as we made our way over to him. If anything, I would have said he relaxed further into his seat.

Gregory Perez was a hard man to read, and that said something, considering I made a living on reading people. He had worked with Daniel Hayes of all people, and now he was working with us. A skillful man who’d been able to maintain neutrality during the territory war, not just between us and the MC, but during the times when we left, and Hayes had to defend his territory from the other gangs.

We sat down, with me sitting directly in front of Gregory, Killian to my right, and Silas to my left.

“It's nice of you to take time out of your busy schedule for me.”

I didn’t say anything and neither did my brothers.

He smiled. “Aren’t you curious why I asked you out here?”

“I’m guessing it has more to do with making sure we pay you?”

He waved his hand in front of his face as if he couldn’t care less. “I know you’re good for the money, Tiernan.”

“Yeah, then why did I take time out of my day to see you? It’s as you said, we’re busy.”

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