Page 9 of Wolf's Son
The ride to the fight club feels shorter than it has been in the past. I guess the difference between this time and the others is the fact that we’re not dealing with threats looming over the club’s head.
We all park near the entrance. My eyes stick to the man standing at the door. I saw him at Jacqueline’s house yesterday. He stayed by the car. Looking closer now, he’s the same one who opened the back of the limo for Jacqueline to get inside when she’d been in the sexy green dress as well.
I drop down the kickstand on my bike and swing a leg over, straightening.
“Let’s get this done,” Viper remarks and starts for the door.
Silently, the rest of us follow behind.
The guy at the door looks directly at me before settling on Viper. “The boss is in his office waiting.”
“Figured,” Viper grunts.
Stepping into the building, we make our way down a hall to where there’s yet another man dressed in black trousers and a black button-up shirt. He motions for us to enter the office and follows behind. Dutch sticks back to stay near him as a precaution.
“You wanted to meet with us, we’re here, so whatis it?” Viper demands, jumping right to it, facing Cordova across his desk.
“As I stated on the phone the last time we spoke, I wish for us to have an alliance rather than just a truce,” Izaiah says, glancing at each of us and bracing his elbows on his desk.
“What exactly do you have in mind?” Cyprus asks.
“Please, have a seat.” Cordova motions to the chairs in front of his desk.
Viper and Cyprus take the seats while Aries and I take up positions right behind them.
“I’m taking the fight club in a new direction, and it’s not going to be popular with some of my associates, but it’s happening. By doing this, I’m proposing an alliance with your club. You’ve proven several times over in the ring yourselves that you’re a force to be reckoned with.” He stops long enough to look in my direction. “I also am doing this to elevate threats that have started circling regarding my sister.”
At the mention of his sister being threatened, my gut tightens.
“Your sister?” Viper retorts in question. “Didn’t know you had a sister.”
Cordova smirks and shakes his head. “Don’t play games. I’m sure Wolf here has run a check on hisneighbor. Learning who your neighbors are is always a must to keep those we care about safe. But to answer you, yes, I have a sister. Jacqueline. She knows nothing of this life. Her world revolves around her art. Just this morning, I took her to look at a space for a gallery she wishes to open.”
“And you’re telling us this because . . .” Cyprus draws out.
“I’ve heard rumors that you all were planning to open a security firm. If this is true, I wish to hire the company to oversee the establishment.”
Ahh, now, we’re getting to his reasoning for an alliance. He wants to use the security firm that we’ve been in the works to open. It’s been kept quiet for the most part. We didn’t want it getting out just yet. Not until we were set up and ready to roll.
“You want our club to protect your sister?” Viper asks.
“Yes.” Cordova sighs and leans back in his seat, hands clasped in front of him. “The thing about Jacqueline is she’s very stubborn. I didn’t want her to move out and into the house, but she did. She refuses to have detailed protection on her. Rebels against everything I ask of her. All to follow a dream of art.”
Maybe the brother is asking too much. But it’s not my place to say as such.
“Anyway, I finally relented to her wishes about agallery. She’s got enough pieces to be able to fill it twice over.”
“Why didn’t you want her to open a gallery?” I find myself asking before I can stop the words from coming out of my mouth.
Cordova’s gaze comes to me as he answers, “I required my sister to help me with several things that were time-consuming. She’s now refusing to do those things.”
Right.
“Will your club be willing to take the gallery on as a client? Make the alliance with me?” Cordova asks, returning his attention to Viper.
Viper’s silent for a moment before nodding. “I don’t see a reason we couldn’t, but it’ll need a club vote. I’ll call you later to let you know what the club decides to do.”
“We’ll do it,” I blurt out without thinking.
