Page 97 of Blue-Eyed Jacks
“You got a problem with that?”
He winced.“Yeah.See, the thing is?You’reourasshole.”He kicked the dirt at his feet.“I kind of got used to your bullshit.”
The feeling was mutual.But I’d be damned if I wussed out now.“Yeah?You’re still ugly.Wolf?Do I need to insult you, too?”
He laughed.“Fuck no.I’ve seen through you since I was a mere speck.”
I dipped my head at him.“That’s why you’re where you’re at.I need both of you ruthless for the next bit.I can’t tell you it will be quick.Shock’s been trying to get revenge on me for over sixteen years.He’s patient.”
Except for one thing.Zoe was the age he liked best.I couldn’t voice that fear out loud because I knew both Bear and Wolf would have a huge problem with that.I wouldn’t like ‘em if they didn’t have that code of honor running through them.Sure, both were damn dangerous, and both had done more than their share to contribute to the club’s illegal activities, but they also were good men.Ones I was proud to call “brother.”
I finished my little diatribe.“So when shit blows up, put the club first.Got it?Ruthless.”
There was a commotion at the gate.Two blacked-out sedans and a bevy of bikes rolled in.“Nonno’s here.”
Sprout strolled outside, those long legs eating up the distance between the building and our little group.He had his hand in his pocket as if he hadn’t a care in the world, but that speed wasn’t his usual saunter.
He noted the entourage arriving and kept walking until he met up with us.
“What’s wrong?”
He stared at the cars, then turned his back so no one could read his lips except our little circle.“Nonno’s got Kate and Zoe.Ma called as soon as she could.He pulled rank on the security team.”
Fuck.
I tapped Wolf on the shoulder.“Make that call.Let’s go.Party’s starting.”
I’d never been much of a gambling man.In every deal, every transaction, every plan, I always made sure I stacked the deck.
But for the first time in my life, I wasn’t the one holding the cards.And that was dangerous territory.I wanted to pull the plug on this little farce immediately.But first, I needed to seemyfamily.
Which meant I beat even Sprout’s long-ass strides to get to the cars first.
I stood no more than an arm’s-length back from the guy opening the first car.I glanced at the second one.There were four bodies in that one.I’d picked wrong.Nonno climbed out of the first car, and I pretended I’d been rushing to greet him.
As usual, he ignored my hand.
I tipped my head to the second car.“I see you met my family.”
Sprout helped Zoe out of the car, keeping a protective arm around her as he hustled her from the vehicle and to our little group.He made a fuss of straightening her hoodie and grinned like an idiot.“Check out that eyebrow, Nonno.Looks just like our man J, doesn’t she?”
He was not helping.Nonno didn’t like being told the obvious.
Nonno proved me right by ignoring Sprout and focusing on Kate, who was bright red with fury.One of Nonno’s guys got handsy as she exited the car, and she spat rapid-fire words at him.“You already searched me once at the lake house.Get your fucking hands off my ass!”
The corner of Nonno’s mouth went up.
I jumped into the fray.“That’s my woman.Show some respect.”
Only then did his minion back off.Fucker.
“You finally admit you fucked up,” Nonno observed.
I pointed to Zoe tucked in at my side.“That’s right, plus evidence.Is that good enough for you?”
He acknowledged Zoe.Then he tossed an accusation at me.“You lied to me.”
“When?Name a time and place.”I knew he was searching for something to pin me with.But in all my dealings with people, I kept the truth tucked right inside neat little packages of deflections and bluster.“I never outright lied.”
