Page 70 of Creed

I have no idea why they’re there or if Sophie is in trouble, but everything inside me screams that I need to get to her—now.

Massimo and Vito immediately grab me, and I fight like a gorilla who got a shot to the ass. Snarling, fists flying, yelling at my brothers to get the fuck out of my way. It takes both of them to overpower me, slam me down on the desk, and pin me down.

“Creed!”Papáslams his fist on the desk by my head, snapping me out of my red haze.

Andro stands by, his jaw and fists clenched. His loyalty to me and our family is at war.ZioMarco has risen and stands at his son’s side to stop him from doing anything rash, like attacking the Don or the heir.

“Get off me,” I grit to Massimo and Vito. They relinquish their death grips.

“Crispin, do you know why Morales and Ortez are in San Diego?”Papáasks, but he doesn’t take his eyes off me as I get off his desk.

“No, Don.”

“Do they travel there often?” Massimo asks.

“Morales has periodically. Ortez is on all the fed’s watchlists, so he’d move under the radar, and I have no way of knowing.”

“The Garcia Cartel’s main US territory is Texas,” Marco says. “They have no trade agreements with us for California; this is Lopez Cartel territory. Therefore, if Garcia's man is here, that’s an act of aggression.” He interlinks his fingers and taps his thumbs together. “Against us and the Lopez Cartel.”

Criminal world politics alive and well.

“Do you still have your contact in the Garcia Cartel, Vito?” Papáasks.

“Yeah, if the bastard isn’t dead.”

“Well, that’s reassuring,” I snap. “I’m taking the plane to get Sophie.”

“I’ll call the pilot and crew and tell them to get ready,” Andro says, and I give him a grateful nod.

“I don’t care the reason those fucks are in our city,” I growl at my father, brothers, and uncle. “Sophie is there alone. I need to get to her.”

Papástands. “Creed, if they are there for her, you won’t make it on time.”

The reality of that hits me like a tsunami. If Morales has found out about Sophie and me, and he’s there to use her against me…

“Send Benny,” I say, referring to the Capo, AKA captain, who oversees San Diego. “Or I’ll send Greer and a team to her dorm to collect her.”

Vito grabs my arm. “If Morales and Ortezarethere for her, sending any of our men—hell, even seeing anyone who looks like an Italian—they could act rashly to get to her.”

I shove both hands in my hair and pull on it. “Fuck.”

“Hold on, baby brother,” Massimo rumbles, pulling out his phone. Once the call connects, he puts it on speaker. “Ash, I’m calling in a big favor.”

I don’t know what has transpired that the Havoc Guardians owe my family a favor, but I won’t look a gift horse in the mouth if they can keep Sophie safe until I can get to her.

“What you need, brother?” Ash’s gravelly voice echoes in the room.

“I need your most trusted man in San Diego to pick up a precious package.”

The mother chapter of the Havoc Guardians is based in San Francisco. They have sister chapters across the state, including one in San Diego.

“We’re talking precious-precious?” Ash asks.

Massimo looks at me as he answers, “Yeah, the ultimate.”

“Well, you’re in luck. Both my VP and Road Captain are in San Diego. I’ll send Bane. Give me the details.”

Sophie could balk at this because I’m drawing in the criminal aspects of my family’s world to protect her. But I can’t get to her for almost two hours, and a lot can happen to her in that time. I need to get Sophie to safety, even if it means sending a high-ranking member of a motorcycle club.

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